Senior Patent Counsel/ Patent Agent, Innovation Law

Bristol Myers Squibb•San Diego, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is seeking an experienced patent attorney or agent to join our headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, or one of our research centers in Cambridge, MA, or San Diego, CA. The patent practitioner will support clients across multiple functional areas to provide strategic counsel to key stakeholders across the enterprise. Responsibilities will primarily include internal preparation and prosecution of patents as well as playing a pivotal role in managing multiple programs, advising on freedom to operate, business development diligences, and cross-functional client counseling. The patent practitioner will work closely with clients in various functions in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment, and will collaborate with other in-house and outside attorneys providing high-level legal support to accomplish BMS objectives.

Requirements

Registered to practice before the USPTO.
10 or more years of patent law experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in chemistry, biochemistry, or pharmaceutical sciences.
Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
Service-oriented focus with the ability to work as part of cross-functional teams and drive results.
Highest integrity, excellent judgment, and the ability to proactively recognize and effectively assess business risk and communicate legal issues to patent, legal, and key stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

A J.D. degree and admission to at least one state bar are preferred.
An advanced degree and/or scientific research experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare and prosecute patent applications, including drafting, filing, and managing responses to office actions on a global level.
Provide comprehensive program counseling to various functional areas, ensuring alignment with BMS’s strategic objectives.
Develop and implement advanced IP strategies to protect BMS’s innovations and support business goals.
Lead cross-functional collaboration efforts working closely with R&D, regulatory, commercial and other departments to achieve project milestones.
Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses and provide strategic counsel on patentability and infringement issues.
Manage patent portfolios, including conducting patent landscape analyses and developing patent strategies to protect BMS's innovations.
Provide due diligence support for business development activities, including evaluating IP portfolios of potential partners and acquisition targets.
Draft and negotiate license and research collaboration agreements.
Manage relationships with outside counsel to ensure high-quality and cost-effective legal services.
Regularly engage with business and technical teams to provide IP-related guidance and support.
Stay updated on changes in patent laws and regulations and ensure compliance with all relevant legal requirements.

Benefits

wellbeing support
retirement and financial protection benefits
insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability)
Flexible Time Off (FTO)
11 paid company holidays each year
160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires
3 optional holidays
paid sick leave
up to two paid volunteer days per year
summer hours flexibility
leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs
annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day