Senior IP Counsel

The Chemours•Wilmington, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Chemours is seeking a Senior IP Counsel to join its growing Legal team and provide strategic intellectual property leadership across critical business platforms and technology domains. This is a hybrid position reporting directly to the Chief IP Counsel, based in Wilmington, DE, with occasional travel to Newark, Delaware. The role involves setting and owning global IP strategy, overseeing patent prosecution and enforcement, providing strategic IP counsel to business and R&D leadership, leading cross-functional teams, and managing global patent portfolios. The position also includes conducting patent portfolio reviews, managing legal resources and budgets, and coordinating IP enforcement activities.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; admitted to practice, active member, and in good standing in a state bar.
Admitted to practice and in good standing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of experience at a large law firm and/or in house law department.
Deep, progressive experience in complex chemical patent practice, with demonstrated impact at the business or enterprise level.
Proven ability to apply sound judgment in ambiguous, high-risk situations.
Excellent attention to detail and organizational ability, including managing priorities and meeting deadlines.
Strong executive presence and communication skills and the ability to work closely and build relationships with domestic and international business and technical colleagues.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Background or experience in fluorochemistry.
Experience in trademark licensing and enforcement matters.

Responsibilities

Set and own global IP strategy for one or more major business platforms or strategic growth areas, ensuring alignment with Chemours’ innovation, commercial, and risk management objectives.
Oversee complex global patent prosecution, enforcement, and opposition activities, including managing outside counsel and foreign agents, while establishing best practices and governance standards.
Provide primary strategic IP counsel to senior business and R&D leadership on high-impact matters including developing and implementing patent strategies involving freedom-to-operate, patent procurement, enforcement, and offensive and defensive patent invalidations proceedings around the world.
Lead and influence cross-functional and cross-regional teams, including IP counsel colleagues, patent agents, legal professionals, and external counsel, to deliver cohesive, enterprise-level IP solutions.
Lead the development, prioritization, and optimization of global patent portfolios, including working with foreign agents and attorneys, US outside counsel as needed, and in-house legal assistants, paralegals, patent agents, and attorney colleagues.
Conduct enterprise-level patent portfolio reviews to assess strategic alignment, risk exposure, and return on investment, and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
Managing legal resources and budgets associated with assigned portfolios, exercising disciplined cost control while ensuring effective risk mitigation and value creation.
Coordination of IP enforcement activities, including patent infringement and brand enforcement.