Intellectual Property Counsel

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel
• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development
• Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience

 What You’ll Be Part Of

The IP Counsel role is an attorney position and is responsible for providing IP legal and/or business guidance and support to a business division, the Lifestyle Division.  This position will report directly to senior members of the legal team.  The Lifestyle IP Counsel will also work closely and strategically with the legal team to support matters impacting the Lifestyle Division. The successful candidate must be able to timely complete critical assignments with little supervision.  The Lifestyle IP Counsel must also have a good understanding of HARMAN’s business objectives. The Lifestyle IP Counsel will support with the following:  negotiating and drafting agreements for the SBU or division, consult with and advise internal clients, research and analyze legal issues, execute legal projects or initiatives, and provide strategic legal advice on legal issues that contribute and grow division or SBU market share or minimize division or SBU risk of financial loss or company good will.  The Lifestyle IP Counsel will serve as the liaison for the SBU and division.

Basic level of contract review, drafting, and negotiation experience related to multi-million-dollar agreements is required.  Additionally, the successful candidate will have strong communication skills for purposes of interfacing with key customers and senior legal leadership. This role will also support senior attorneys by providing strategic, practical advice and counsel on various business issues and IP legal issues; as well as assist with litigation and corresponding outside counsel law firms and legal service providers.  

Your Team

This attorney position will work closely and strategically with the legal team and support divisional and/or SBU clients.

How You’ll Make An Impact

Managing Legal and Business Risk

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide variety of IP related agreements and amendments, including licenses, marketing, joint development, technology transfers, NDAs, assignments, coexistence and settlement agreements in coordination with the legal team.
• Collaborate with the legal team and outside counsel to provide practical, creative legal advice and instructions on a broad range of topics based on technology/product and roadmaps, corporate strategy, and global portfolio decisions in a fast-paced, high growth environment.
• Working closely with the legal team to support the teams charged with generating business and proactively establishing relationships across the legal team and with other departments including operations, marketing, finance, product, sales, and engineering, among others.
• Support various members of the legal department with corporate, MD&A including IP due diligence, IP portfolio management, litigation and dispute resolution, and other legal matters.
• Provides specialist legal support in terms of consulting and advising internal clients, developing strategic partnerships, coordinating with external counsel on case strategy, negotiating with contractors, and/or representing the company in important legal matters.
• Promptly and effectively addresses unforeseen legal risks if they arise and communicates to legal colleagues within the legal department in a timely manner; processes, uncertain, or incomplete information quickly to identify potential implications for the business.
• Provide counseling and other legal support for division or SBU with new production introduction, research and development, and encouraging innovation.
• Negotiates and drafts contracts for SBU or division as assigned by the senior attorneys.
• Collaborates with other legal and compliance staff and organizational partners to develop and provide trainings; develop, update and maintain templates, negotiation resources and playbooks.
• Contributes to development and implementation of scale commercial legal processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

What Makes You A Strong Fit

• The candidate should have Juris Doctor and Bar admission (or equivalent in jurisdiction).
• These roles work closely with important division and/or SBU clients.
• Must be able to demonstrate a basic level of analytic and project management skills, task-focused, works on own initiative to get things done, is able to work under pressure, and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Must have hands-on transactional experience including, but not limited to drafting, reviewing, and negotiating IP licensing agreements, acquisitions and divestitures and related agreements.
• An understanding of patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets to develop and counsel clients on protection, risk avoidance, and enforcement strategies.
• Exercises good judgement and sound decision making. These roles may play significant roles in broader strategic projects for the department.
• 5+ years of relevant (generally in-house or law firm) experience and a law degree from law school.
• 5+ years of specialized experience in intellectual property.

Critical skills required to perform the core responsibilities of the position:

Operational Effectiveness and Efficiency

• Effectively prioritizes, delegates, supervises, and monitors work carried out by external legal resources or non-legal project teams to ensure high quality and timely delivery.
• Identifies potential legal and compliance issues and consults with senior attorneys to identify a solution.
• Effectively manage and execute IP related projects.
• Takes initiative to develop or improve internal company guidance documents, using legal know-how for the benefit of the business and/or legal department.

Influencing and Communicating

• Able to translate legal issues for business clients and explain in a comprehensible manner; possesses diplomacy skills.
• Able to communicate effectively and enable the sharing of information and resources across the legal team for the collective benefit of the division or SBU.  
• Networks in the legal industry.
• Is approachable and makes time to support colleagues.

Commercial Awareness and Effectiveness

• Seeks regular feedback and discusses primary client business needs to fully understand business drivers from the beginning.
• Prioritizes resource and effort around key client business deliverables.
• Uses legal experience and knowledge to anticipate client business need and seeks to add value. 

Bonus Points if You Have

• Takes initiative to contribute to the improvement of internal processes.
• Effectively uses technology and other resources to achieve the most efficient delivery.
• Takes ownership of tasks seeking guidance and input from others as appropriate.
• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese (written and spoken) preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Chinese intellectual property laws, regulations, and enforcement practices, including trademark, patent, copyright, and anti-counterfeiting matters.

Things To Know

• Be willing to travel up to 10%, domestic and international travel.
• Be willing to work in an office located in Richardson, Texas (Hybrid).
• Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment

What You Can Expect

• A hybrid work environment that balances flexibility with in-person collaboration, with most office-based roles onsite three days a week.
• Access to employee discounts on HARMAN and Samsung products (including JBL, Harman / Kardon, AKG, and others)
• Learning and development opportunities through our award-winning HARMAN University programs
• Wellness benefits designed to support your overall well-being
• Tuition reimbursement support
• Access to the HARMAN campus fitness center and cafeteria, where available
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that supports both your professional and personal development

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