Senior Director, IP Counsel

Formation Bio•New York, NY

76d•$275,000 - $350,000•Hybrid

About The Position

From its roots as a clinical development company, Formation Bio is harnessing the power of deep learning and artificial intelligence to break clinical development paradigms and transform how drugs and biologics are developed. We are acquiring and developing a portfolio of clinical-stage assets and looking for an IP leader who shares our vision and energy to protect, enhance, and maximize the value of these innovations throughout their entire lifecycle - from initial diligence through clinical development and eventual partnering or sale. Our preference is for a NYC-based or Boston-based attorney who can sit in our office (we are hybrid in-office), but would be open professionals in the Northeast who can regularly come into the office and interact with various team members. You'll be principally in charge of our patent and IP portfolio, where you will work closely with our business development, legal, clinical, CMC, and data/engineering teams to on-board products with strong IP potential, and thereafter coordinate patent and regulatory activities to deliver best-in-class IP positions. We expect this person to create and influence strategy, assist with deal and portfolio decisions, and directly impact whether our company succeeds.

Requirements

You're an experienced IP attorney (JD required, active bar membership preferred) who thrives on autonomy, strategic thinking and new challenges.
You've spent 10-15+ years in pharmaceutical IP, ideally with experience at both law firms and in-house at pharma companies.
Ideal candidates would think about intellectual property from both a protection and value creation lens.
Deep expertise in pharma/biologics IP lifecycle management, from early development through commercialization
Proven track record managing IP for Phase 1 and Phase 2+ clinical programs
Experience with both in-licensing and out-licensing transactions
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple law firms / global patent portfolios
Experience drafting claims and prosecuting patents (with experience litigating / disputing patents as a bonus)
Strong understanding of regulatory exclusivities and competitive intelligence
Ability to operate independently from day one while building strong internal relationships

Nice To Haves

Experience with Chinese or JPAC pharmaceutical partnerships and transactions
Experience with preclinical assets, such as IND enabling studies
Track record of preparing assets for successful exits or partnerships
Comfort with AI and modern legal technology tools
Scientific background and familiarity beyond pure legal experience
Experience working with Chinese pharmaceutical or biotech companies, or a background involving partnerships with Asian markets
Prior experience in both law firm settings and in-house roles, evidencing a balanced perspective on deadline-driven and autonomous work environments

Responsibilities

Develop and execute IP strategies that maximize asset value from in-licensing through exit
Lead IP due diligence for pharmaceutical and biologic acquisitions, identifying both risks and hidden value in complex pharma/biotech transactions
Build IP portfolios during clinical development that strengthen our competitive position and considering potential asset exit opportunities
Drive IP strategy and negotiation in complex pharma/biotech transactions, including working closely with our dealmakers on items like strength and longevity of IP protection
Manage relationships with outside IP law firms
Navigate formulation findings, method of use patents, lifecycle management strategies, process-related discoveries and labeling-related IP issues
Oversee trademark, trade secret, and data exclusivity strategies
Advise on IP issues to multidisciplinary scientific and engineering teams, including ML/data scientists and with respect to our AI product features
Comfortable working cross functionally, including partnering with clinical and CMC teams to identify patentable innovations during development, collaborating with BD to position IP assets for maximum strategic value, and collaborating with our AI/tech teams as we build out our in-house technology platforms