Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for Global BD and M&A

Job title: Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for Global BD and M&A

Location: Cambridge, MA

About The Job

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world.

The Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for Global Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions will be part of a team providing intellectual property (IP) support for Sanofi external transactions including licensing, mergers, acquisitions, investments, and divestments. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, with the ability and desire to work collaboratively with, and provide IP guidance to, a variety of Sanofi stakeholders, including business development (BD), Sanofi Ventures (SV), Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), and Digital Strategic Partnering (DSP), legal and IP colleagues, technical diligence teams, and senior Sanofi leaders. He or she will have the scientific and legal skills to effectively conduct IP diligence, as well as the ability to effectively negotiate and draft IP provisions of complex agreements.

About Sanofi

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide clear, pragmatic IP advice grounded in sound legal and business judgment regarding Sanofi’s external transactions
• Collaborate closely with BD, SV, M&A, DSP, legal, and IP colleagues, technical due diligence teams, and other key stakeholders to ensure the effective and timely management of external transactions
• Conduct IP diligence, including identification of key IP assets and available exclusivity, evaluation of ownership, patentability, validity and enforceability of IP rights, review of freedom to operate, and analysis of third-party agreements
• Assess relative IP position of key competitors
• Advocate for Sanofi’s interests in negotiation of IP-related matters with counterparties
• Draft IP-related clauses in term sheets and complex agreements
• Instruct and take advice from outside counsel when appropriate, and independently supervise the work of outside counsel
• Recommend post-transaction patent strategy
• Keep informed of new laws, regulations, and trends affecting industry and transaction space, and contribute to continuous improvement of IP-GBDMA team skills and ways of working
  
  

Key Competencies

• Highly motivated, business-minded, and solution-oriented
• Strong legal and scientific background with excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to draft and negotiate complex agreements
• Collegial and collaborative, with ability to partner with and influence colleagues and stakeholders in a team-based environment
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, and to prioritize and manage workload among multiple active matters
  
  

About You

Basic Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in the biological or chemical sciences
• Registered US patent attorney with active membership and good standing in the MA or other state bar
• At least 8 years of patent law experience, in-house and/or at a law firm
• Experience providing IP support for synthetic molecules and/or biologics in the biopharmaceutical space
• Experience with due diligence, agreement drafting, and negotiation
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree (MS, PhD) in the biological or chemical sciences
• Experience providing IP support for both synthetic molecules and biologics
• Law firm experience
• Experience with litigation or other adversarial proceedings
• Experience with digital IP matters
  
  

Other Information Related To The Position

• The position is located in Cambridge, MA, US, and will require occasional (~15%) travel.
  
  

Why Choose us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.
  
  

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.