VP of Legal

Turtlebox Audio•Houston, TX

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The VP of Legal leads the entire legal function, reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the executive team. This role has primary responsibility for the company's intellectual property portfolio (patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, and trade secrets) while also overseeing corporate, commercial, employment, litigation, and compliance matters. The VP of Legal will work in close partnership with the company's outside law firm, serving as the primary point of contact to direct patent prosecution, litigation, and specialized matters, while managing that relationship to ensure efficient use of outside counsel spend. The ideal candidate combines deep IP expertise with the practical judgment to serve as a trusted business advisor to a lean, fast-moving organization.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing (state to be determined by company headquarters).
10+ years of relevant legal experience, with substantial focus on intellectual property law (patent and/or trademark prosecution, licensing, or IP litigation).
In-house experience at a consumer products, hardware, or technology company strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing a patent portfolio and directing outside patent counsel and prosecution strategy.
Working knowledge of trademark, trade dress, copyright, and trade secret law as applied to consumer products and branding.
Experience negotiating commercial, licensing, manufacturing, and distribution agreements.
Sound business judgment and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders.
Comfort operating as a hands-on, generalist legal leader in a lean organization, balancing strategic IP work with day-to-day corporate needs.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Registered Patent Attorney (USPTO registration) or technical background (engineering, physics, or related field) supporting patent work.
Experience in the audio, electronics, or consumer products industry.
Prior experience building or scaling a legal function within a growth-stage or private equity–backed company.
Familiarity with international IP protection and enforcement in key manufacturing and sales markets.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive IP strategy aligned with product roadmap, R&D investment, and brand growth.
Manage the end-to-end patent portfolio, including invention capture, prosecution strategy, filing decisions, and outside counsel coordination.
Oversee trademark, trade dress, and copyright registration, maintenance, and enforcement across all markets where the company sells product.
Lead freedom-to-operate and clearance analyses for new products, features, and packaging prior to launch.
Monitor the competitive landscape for infringement and counterfeiting; direct enforcement actions, cease-and-desist efforts, and litigation strategy.
Negotiate and manage IP licensing agreements, both inbound and outbound, and structure IP terms in manufacturing, supply, and channel partner agreements.
Implement trade secret protection programs, including confidentiality policies and employee/contractor IP assignment practices.
Advise engineering, product, and marketing teams on IP risk as an embedded partner throughout the product development lifecycle.
Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements: supply and manufacturing agreements, distribution and retail agreements, licensing deals, and vendor contracts.
Serve as the primary in-house liaison to the company's outside law firm, working closely with external counsel on patent prosecution, litigation, and other specialized matters requiring outside expertise.
Manage outside counsel relationships and legal spend across all practice areas, with particular oversight of IP litigation and prosecution costs.
Oversee corporate governance matters, entity maintenance, and support for the Board of Directors and any investor relationships.
Lead or support litigation and dispute resolution across commercial, employment, product liability, and IP matters.
Advise on employment law matters, workplace policies, and HR partnership on sensitive personnel issues.
Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including product safety, advertising, data privacy, and consumer protection laws.
Support M&A, strategic partnership, and investment activity, including diligence on target IP portfolios.
Build, mentor, and manage the legal function as the company scales, including hiring additional in-house counsel or paralegal support as needed.