Counsel, Intellectual Property

Compass Pathways • New York, NY

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Counsel, Intellectual Property will play a critical role in supporting and executing the global intellectual property (IP) strategy for Compass Pathways, working closely with the VP of Intellectual Property, as well as the Senior Manager, IP. This role is essential to identifying, protecting, and defending the company's innovations, particularly concerning our proprietary formulations, novel treatment protocols, and expanding pipeline. You will serve as a collaborative partner to the scientific, legal, and commercial teams, ensuring our IP portfolio aligns with the company's overarching mission to transform mental healthcare.

Requirements

• Qualified US Patent Attorney (registered to practice before the USPTO)
• Advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field
• Strong understanding of small molecule chemistry
• 5+ years of experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, conducting FTOs, and managing IP portfolios, with a strong preference for background in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
• Understanding of the drug development process, from early discovery through clinical trials and product commercialization
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific and legal concepts into actionable business advice for cross-functional teams
• Experience working with external counsel and operating effectively within an allocated budget
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a highly collaborative and proactive approach to problem-solving
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, exercising independent judgment while contributing to a mission-driven team
• Alignment with our culture and values

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Intellectual Property team and other key stakeholders to support the development and execution of the global intellectual property strategy to protect the company's innovations, including COMP360 synthetic psilocybin and other pipeline assets
• Manage the preparation, filing, and prosecution of patent applications worldwide, ensuring robust protection of novel therapies, formulations, and treatment protocols
• Conduct validity, freedom-to-operate (FTO), patentability, and infringement searches and analyses to help inform research and development programs and commercialization strategies
• Partner closely with R&D, Clinical, and Commercial teams to identify new inventions and file patent applications throughout the product lifecycle
• Support the strategic direction and management of external patent counsel effectively to ensure high-quality and cost-efficient patent prosecution and legal advice
• Monitor and analyze the competitive patent landscape within the mental health and psychedelic therapy sectors to identify potential risks and opportunities, reporting findings to the VP, Intellectual Property
• Assist with IP support for business development activities, including providing input on due diligence for potential partnerships, licensing opportunities, and acquisitions as needed under the guidance of the Vice President, IP
• Educate and advise internal stakeholders on IP matters, fostering a culture of IP awareness and compliance across the organization
• Support potential patent litigation or administrative proceedings (e.g., US IPRs, European oppositions) as needed under the guidance of the Vice President, IP

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree