Sr Legal Counsel, Patents

PayPal•San Jose, CA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Company PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers. We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards. Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade. Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day. We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities. Job Summary: We are seeking a seasoned patent attorney to join PayPal’s Patent Team as a Senior Legal Counsel. In this role, you will assist with the development and execution of PayPal’s global patent strategy for select technology areas, advise product and engineering teams on patentability, manage prosecution and portfolio optimization, and oversee outside counsel to secure and defend PayPal’s intellectual property. Job Description: Essential Responsibilities: Provide clear, pragmatic, and solution-oriented legal advice to enable business strategy while managing legal risk. Participate in complex problem resolution, providing expert legal advice on high-stakes issues and disputes. Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Partner with business counterparts across the enterprise to help drive the delivery of effective legal services. Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing comprehensive risk management frameworks. Escalate complex issues to senior legal leadership where appropriate. Expected Qualifications: 8+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications: Key Responsibilities: Develop and execute patent filing, prosecution, and portfolio strategies across various technology domains. Own end-to-end patent prosecution matters in coordination with other in-house patent team members and outside counsel, including drafting/overseeing drafting of patent applications, responding to office actions, and managing foreign filings (e.g., PCT filings, nationalization decisions). Advise product, research, and engineering teams on patentability, and provide pragmatic, business-oriented counsel. Develop relationships with various product/engineering organizations within PayPal to understand product roadmaps and ongoing roadmaps to ensure effective coverage of the Company’s strategic objectives and innovations. Provide training and guidance to engineers, product teams, and other legal team members on IP best practices and invention disclosure processes; help build an innovation culture that balances protection and speed. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant patent law developments and industry IP trends and apply them to business decisions and strategy. Qualifications: J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Admission to practice before the USPTO. Technical bachelor’s (or higher) degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related technical field sufficient to evaluate and prosecute patent claims in PayPal’s technology areas. Strong experience with U.S. and international patent prosecution, PCT practice, and global patent portfolio management. Proven ability to provide practical counsel to product/engineering teams. Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel. Excellent written and oral communication, drafting, and analytical skills. Able to explain complex legal concepts to technical and business audiences. Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Requirements

8+ years relevant experience and a Juris doctorate degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Admission to practice before the USPTO.
Technical bachelor’s (or higher) degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related technical field sufficient to evaluate and prosecute patent claims in PayPal’s technology areas.
Strong experience with U.S. and international patent prosecution, PCT practice, and global patent portfolio management.
Proven ability to provide practical counsel to product/engineering teams.
Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel.
Excellent written and oral communication, drafting, and analytical skills.
Able to explain complex legal concepts to technical and business audiences.
Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Experience in payments, financial services technology, cryptography, distributed systems, security, blockchain, or adjacent technologies.
Experience advising on IP aspects of contract negotiations, including complex IP agreements (e.g. MSAs, licensing, cross-licenses, tech transfer, M&A/strategic investments)
Prior in-house experience at an internet or fintech company.

Responsibilities

Provide clear, pragmatic, and solution-oriented legal advice to enable business strategy while managing legal risk.
Participate in complex problem resolution, providing expert legal advice on high-stakes issues and disputes.
Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Partner with business counterparts across the enterprise to help drive the delivery of effective legal services.
Manage legal risks and safeguard PayPal's legal interests, developing comprehensive risk management frameworks.
Escalate complex issues to senior legal leadership where appropriate.
Develop and execute patent filing, prosecution, and portfolio strategies across various technology domains.
Own end-to-end patent prosecution matters in coordination with other in-house patent team members and outside counsel, including drafting/overseeing drafting of patent applications, responding to office actions, and managing foreign filings (e.g., PCT filings, nationalization decisions).
Advise product, research, and engineering teams on patentability, and provide pragmatic, business-oriented counsel.
Develop relationships with various product/engineering organizations within PayPal to understand product roadmaps and ongoing roadmaps to ensure effective coverage of the Company’s strategic objectives and innovations.
Provide training and guidance to engineers, product teams, and other legal team members on IP best practices and invention disclosure processes; help build an innovation culture that balances protection and speed.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant patent law developments and industry IP trends and apply them to business decisions and strategy.

Benefits

This role is also eligible for a range of benefits which may include, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, parental and family leave, 401(k) savings plan, paid time off, and other benefits.
At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset—you. That’s why we offer benefits to help you thrive in every stage of life. We champion your financial, physical, and mental health by offering valuable benefits and resources to help you care for the whole you.
We have great benefits including a flexible work environment, employee shares options, health and life insurance and more.

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