Tech-Trans/IP Associate [Senior] @ Practice Leading Platform

Overview

Whistler Partners is partnering with a high-end technology transactions and strategic IP group that is actively looking to add senior associate and counsel-level talent, with potential flexibility for the right partner-level candidate.

This is not a routine commercial licensing search. The work centers on sophisticated IP-heavy transactions, including strategic collaborations, complex licensing, M&A support, carve-outs, joint ventures, and other deal structures where IP is central to the transaction.

The sharpest need is in life sciences collaboration and licensing. The group is looking for attorneys who can handle pharma, biotech, and life sciences transactions where collaboration terms, licensing architecture, commercialization rights, and IP strategy are core to the deal.

Why this role?

This is a platform-growth search, not a one-off replacement.

The work is already there, and the group is capacity-constrained. They have significant client demand, strong market momentum, and a real need for lawyers who can step into sophisticated life sciences and strategic IP transactions.

For the right attorney, the pitch is simple: more complex work than you may be getting now. This is a strong fit for someone who has been doing routine licensing, SaaS/MSA-heavy work, or lower-lift M&A support and wants to move into true IP-driven dealmaking.

The platform also appears to have broader growth needs across life sciences, startup, and strategic transactional work, making this a strong opportunity for someone who wants room to grow inside a group that is already busy.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle sophisticated technology transactions, IP transactions, strategic licensing, and collaboration matters.
• Support complex life sciences, biotech, pharma, and strategic collaboration agreements where IP and commercial terms are central.
• Work on IP-heavy M&A support, carve-outs, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and strategic transaction structures.
• Advise on collaboration frameworks, licensing economics, IP ownership, commercialization rights, development obligations, and related deal terms.
• Run complex matters with senior-level judgment and limited hand-holding.
• Partner with corporate, M&A, life sciences, startup, and sector-focused teams on high-value strategic matters.
• Support a growing platform with significant existing client demand.

About You

• Senior associate or counsel-level attorney with strong technology transactions, IP transactions, or life sciences licensing experience.
• Partner-level candidates may be considered if the fit is strong.
• Experience with strategic collaborations, complex licensing, biotech/pharma deals, carve-outs, JVs, or IP-heavy M&A strongly preferred.
• Ability to run sophisticated work without needing to originate business immediately.
• Not a fit for candidates whose experience is limited to routine SaaS, MSAs, vendor agreements, or basic commercial licensing.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, business judgment, and client-management skills.
• Interest in more complex, strategic, IP-centered transactional work.
• Life sciences collaboration and licensing experience is especially valuable.

TL;DR

High-end tech transactions and strategic IP platform looking for senior associate/counsel talent, with potential flexibility for the right partner-level candidate. Best fit is someone with life sciences collaboration, strategic licensing, IP-heavy M&A, carve-outs, JVs, or complex tech transactions experience who wants more sophisticated work inside a group with real client demand and growth momentum. Not a routine commercial licensing role.

About Whistler Partners

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Whistler Partners is a boutique matchmaking firm focused on counseling the best and the brightest attorneys over the course of their careers. We believe that the right move comes from working closely with talent to curate their long-term career paths. When it comes to career advice, what matters is not the size of the agency but the strength of your individual recruiter.

We readily admit that we are elite and only work with the best – after all, a little elitism is okay when it comes to your career. Employers love us because we are picky about whom we represent, and attorneys love us because we get them their dream jobs.