US Patent Attorney – Sr. Patent Counsel, Program Strategy & Litigation

argenx • Boston, MA

2d • Remote

About The Position

argenx is seeking an experienced US patent attorney to protect innovations in immunology and develop intellectual property litigation and contested-matter strategy. Litigation, contested matters and dispute readiness are the primary focus. The attorney will also partner with the broader IP team on portfolio development and serve as lead attorney for a focused portfolio of preclinical and clinical projects and programs. Program allocation will preserve capacity for disputes and will be reviewed with the Global Head of IP as needs evolve.

The role works closely with the Legal, Compliance and Intellectual Property (LCIP) team, including the Head of Litigation and Enforcement, to align dispute strategy with legal and business priorities. The attorney will also help build an agentic IP team, where attorneys and IP professionals work alongside AI agents performing defined workflows under appropriate human direction and review.

Responsibilities include developing and managing global patent portfolios; leading or supporting patent disputes, biosimilar matters, patent-office challenges and oppositions, and related trade secret or contractual disputes; advising drug development teams; assessing infringement, validity, freedom to operate and competitive landscapes; supporting transactions and agreements; and managing external counsel, matter plans, budgets and resources. The role also includes pre-dispute planning and biosimilar readiness, evidence and record management, and piloting bounded agent-assisted workflows with accountable attorney oversight.

Applicants must have a JD, active membership in good standing in at least one US state bar, USPTO registration, at least eight years of life sciences patent experience, substantial hands-on US BPCIA or ANDA litigation or contested-matter experience, and large-molecule experience. An advanced life sciences degree, preferably a thesis-based master's degree in biology or a related field, is preferred. Biosimilar litigation experience is strongly preferred; other valuable experience includes patent-office challenges, cross-border disputes, trial or appeal work, and licensing or settlement negotiations. The position is remote and offers an annual US base salary range of $252,000 to $346,500, participation eligibility in short- and long-term incentive programs, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Active membership in good standing in at least one US state bar.
• Registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• At least eight years of life sciences patent experience.
• Substantial hands-on US BPCIA or ANDA patent litigation or contested-matter experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex disputes or major workstreams.
• Large-molecule experience.
• Ability to connect litigation risk and enforcement objectives with portfolio development, prosecution and business strategy, and lead selected programs alongside contested matters.
• Genuine, demonstrable curiosity and appetite to help drive an evolving agentic IP team, including willingness to learn emerging AI capabilities, question established processes, experiment responsibly and support colleagues adopting improved ways of working.
• Strong legal and business judgment, clear communication of complex issues, practical recommendations, and effective collaboration across scientific, commercial and legal teams.
• Inquisitive, collaborative and composed under pressure; able to make recommendations amid uncertainty, prioritize across disputes and programs, and teach and learn.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced life sciences degree, preferably at least a thesis-based master's degree in biology or a related field.
• Biosimilar litigation experience.
• Patent-office challenges, cross-border disputes, trial or appeal experience, and licensing or settlement negotiations.
• Both law firm and in-house experience are welcome; law-firm-only candidates will also be considered.
• Experience improving legal workflows or using AI, automation or knowledge tools.
• Prior agent-building experience or coding skills are not required.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative, business-aligned patent protection and enforcement strategies that leverage litigation experience to drive portfolio value.
• Build and manage global patent portfolios and oversee patent preparation, filing and prosecution in the United States, Europe and other key jurisdictions.
• Strengthen litigation readiness and lead or support patent disputes in coordination with internal teams and external counsel, connecting prosecution, records and enforcement strategy.
• Lead global IP dispute strategy and execution in partnership with the Head of Litigation and Enforcement, LCIP colleagues and external counsel.
• Cover patent litigation, biosimilar disputes, patent-office challenges and oppositions, and related trade secret or contractual disputes; align positions across jurisdictions and related matters.
• Act as a strategic IP partner to global project teams responsible for drug candidates, translating complex science and patent issues into clear recommendations supporting development, commercialization and portfolio value.
• Work with scientists to identify and protect inventions, assess inventorship, manage public disclosures and strengthen trade secret protection.
• Conduct infringement, validity, freedom-to-operate and competitive landscape analyses, identifying actionable risks and opportunities.
• Lead patent-related diligence and support licensing, collaborations, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions.
• Review, draft and negotiate IP provisions and agreements, including confidentiality, technology transfer and licensing arrangements.
• Manage external counsel and business partners, align priorities and resources, and deliver portfolio reviews, long-range planning and special projects.
• Evaluate infringement, validity, enforceability, evidence and business exposure; develop enforcement, defense and settlement options, communicate recommendations and decision points, and seek internal approvals.
• Select and direct external counsel in global IP litigations and contested matters with the Global Head of IP; oversee case plans, budgets, discovery, experts, witnesses and key submissions.
• Coordinate with the Head of Litigation and Enforcement and LCIP colleagues on material risks, escalation, resourcing and matter management.
• Lead pre-dispute planning and biosimilar readiness, including evidence preservation, legal holds, witness preparation, and strengthening invention, prosecution and development records.
• Lead patent strategy for assigned programs, including global portfolio development, prosecution, invention and disclosure management, freedom-to-operate assessment, and scientific and business partnerships.
• Partner with program attorneys to strengthen portfolio defensibility and enforcement options, applying dispute lessons to prosecution and trade secret practices.
• Support selected diligence, licensing and collaboration matters, with attention to dispute exposure, enforcement rights and litigation-control provisions, while balancing these assignments against contested-matter priorities.
• Pilot approved agent-assisted workflows for dispute monitoring, evidence chronologies, document triage, reference verification and matter reporting.
• Define tasks, authoritative inputs, review checkpoints and escalation rules for agent-assisted work; verify outputs and references, protect confidential and privileged information, respect data-use restrictions, and retain attorney accountability.
• Partner with IP operations, technology and other colleagues to develop repeatable practices, share learning, coach colleagues and assess improvements in quality, responsiveness and capacity.

Benefits

• Retirement savings plans.
• Health benefits.
• Other benefits subject to applicable plans and program guidelines.
• Eligibility to participate in short-term and long-term incentive programs, subject to plan terms and applicable policies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree