Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Oklo•Santa Clara, CA

1d•$200,000 - $225,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Counsel, IP will play a critical role helping to build out Oklo’s intellectual property function. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge nuclear technology and IP strategy. This person’s primary responsibilities will be to lead our patenting efforts, both in terms of helping to develop our patenting strategy, leading patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute applications. They will also be responsible for working closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on patentability, and to have regular touchpoints to discuss potential inventions. Beyond patents, they will be responsible for IP-related negotiations, including licensing discussions (for example in discussions with National Laboratories) and supporting commercial discussions around IP development and ownership, along with other legal needs across the company as they arise. Finally, they will lead on IP-related diligence for potential investments and M&A, and patent portfolio acquisitions. This role, which reports directly to our General Counsel, is perfect for a mid-level IP attorney who is looking to roll up their sleeves and help build a world class IP function in a high growth and dynamic environment. We are not looking for someone who is looking to operate in a silo: we are a lean team and hire lawyers who are great at what they do, but are excited to do work beyond their areas of expertise. Oklo is growing fast and every day presents new opportunities and challenging legal questions—we care more about you and your ability to learn and grow than your specific substantive experience or which boxes you check. If you are someone who thrives in exciting and fast-moving environments, and are eager to grow and push yourself, this role may be for you.

Requirements

A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state
U.S. Patent bar admission
5-7 years of Intellectual Property experience at a large law firm or in-house legal department
Experience drafting patent claims and managing patent prosecution
Experience negotiating IP licensing and technology transfer agreements
A technical background in nuclear, electrical, or chemical engineering (whether through a technical degree or substantial work experience with relevant technologies)
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple matters simultaneously

Nice To Haves

Experience working in-house at a high-growth or startup company
Experience managing IP or licensing discussions with the U.S. government, National Laboratories (e.g., INL, ANL, LANL), or other federal research institutions
Experience building or managing a patent portfolio at a comparable company
Experience with joint ventures and/or project finance
Interest in experimenting with AI and other tools to support a lean IP function
Nuclear and/or nuclear-adjacent technologies or renewables experience

Responsibilities

Help build out our patent program, including helping to further develop our patenting strategy, conducting patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft and refine claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute patent applications
Managing our existing patent portfolio, including making decisions on renewals, international filings, annuities, and potentially patent sales
Work closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on IP related topics and best practices
Lead IP-related licensing and contracting discussions, including negotiations with National Laboratories, federal agencies, contractors, and commercial counterparties
Support freedom-to-operate analyses, IP due diligence, and other IP-related matters that arise across the business, and help build scalable IP processes and policies as the company grows