Patent Attorney

Albany International Corp.•Portsmouth, NH

About The Position

Albany International Corporation seeks a Patent Counsel to support the development and execution of the Company’s global patent strategy. Reporting to the Assistant General Counsel, Director of Intellectual Property, the Patent Counsel works with business, R&D, and legal stakeholders to identify and assess innovations, evaluate intellectual property protection, and recommend practical actions aligned with business priorities. The role oversees patent application preparation and prosecution, directs outside patent counsel, and contributes to strategic patent portfolio management. The Patent Counsel serves as a business partner, translating technical and legal issues into clear, actionable recommendations. The role requires sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage matters across Albany’s global businesses and technologies. Albany International is a multinational corporation specializing in advanced textiles and materials processing. It manufactures engineered components primarily for the aerospace and paper industries, including composite aircraft components, custom-designed fabrics and belts for paper manufacturing and other process industries, and advanced engineered materials. As a member of Albany’s global legal team, the Patent Counsel is expected to act as a full business partner, support sound decision-making, facilitate innovation and responsible risk-taking, and contribute to continuous improvement within the Legal Department and the businesses it supports.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
At least five years of relevant patent experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or a combination of both.
Experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications.
Ability to evaluate inventions and provide pragmatic recommendations balancing legal protection, business value, cost, timing, and risk.
Experience drafting and negotiating licensing and other technology transactions.
Experience managing outside counsel and patent portfolios across multiple technologies, business units, and jurisdictions.
Ability to understand complex technologies, ask effective questions, and communicate legal and strategic advice clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong business judgment, collaboration skills, and commitment to building trusted relationships with internal clients and external partners.
Exceptional diligence, organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or another relevant technical discipline.
Patent prosecution experience involving complex mechanical, materials, manufacturing, aerospace, textile, or process technologies is preferred.
Experience with licensing, technology transactions, patent disputes, post-grant proceedings, or intellectual property due diligence.
Experience in machine clothing, aerospace, advanced materials, manufacturing, paper, or industrial technology sectors is preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with R&D and technical teams to identify, review, and evaluate innovations and potential inventions.
Assess patentability, strategic value, competitive considerations, disclosure timing, and other relevant factors, and recommend whether and how to pursue patent protection or alternatives.
Provide business-focused advice on patent strategy, freedom-to-operate considerations, invention disclosures, public disclosures, confidential know-how, and trade secrets.
Oversee preparation and filing of U.S. and foreign patent applications, including setting priorities, reviewing and editing drafts, drafting applications and claim sets, and ensuring filings reflect the technology and business objectives.
Manage U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, including reviewing office actions, developing response strategies, coordinating with inventors and outside counsel, and advising on claim scope, continuation practice, appeals, and abandonment.
Direct and manage outside patent counsel to ensure high-quality, timely, and cost-effective work aligned with intellectual property and business strategies.
Participate in patent portfolio reviews and management, including pruning and maintenance decisions, family and country filing strategies, budgeting, and alignment with business priorities.
Monitor competitor patent activity and technology developments and provide strategic analysis to business and technical teams.
Support patent-related due diligence, post-grant proceedings, disputes, licensing, collaborations, joint development activities, and other technology transactions.
Draft joint development agreements and collaborative research agreements.
Coordinate with internal legal colleagues on intellectual property provisions in confidentiality, supply, licensing, and other commercial agreements.
Review proposed technical publications, presentations, marketing materials, and other external disclosures for patent and confidentiality considerations.
Develop and deliver practical intellectual property training for employees on invention identification, invention disclosures, confidentiality, and patent processes.
Maintain accurate matter records, improve database integrity, support portfolio reporting and budgeting, and contribute to improvement of patent processes and tools.
Travel to Albany and external facilities as needed to engage with business and technical teams.
Contribute to other intellectual property and legal matters as needed.
Act as a full business partner, support sound decision-making, facilitate innovation and responsible risk-taking, and contribute to continuous improvement.