Assistant General Counsel - Intellectual Property





We are the people who give possibilities purpose

BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of MedTech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities.





Job Description

The Assistant General Counsel – Intellectual Property will provide intellectual property legal support to one or more business units within BD’s Medical Essentials and Interventional segments. The position will partner with business and R&D colleagues to develop and execute practical IP strategies that protect innovation, support product development and commercialization, manage risk and strengthen the value of BD’s patent portfolio.

The role will have primary responsibility for freedom-to-operate analysis, invention identification, patent preparation and prosecution, patent portfolio management, IP due diligence, IP strategy competitive patent activity, trade secrets, and other IP matters and will provide limited support for IP disputes and litigation as needed. The successful candidate will bring substantial patent experience, sound business judgment and the ability to translate complex legal and technical issues into clear, business driven advice.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted legal partner to senior business and R&D leaders to develop and implement business-unit and program-level IP strategies aligned with product, innovation, portfolio and commercialization priorities.
• Drive legal strategy for new product development and innovation programs, ensuring speed-to-market while managing risk intelligently.
• Lead freedom-to-operate assessments for new product development programs, including identifying third-party patent risks, evaluating design alternatives and developing practical risk-mitigation strategies.
• Translate freedom-to-operate analyses and other IP risks into clear recommendations that support timely product-development, investment and commercialization decisions.
• Provide day-to-day intellectual property legal support to one or more business units within the Medical Essentials and Interventional segments.
• Manage patent preparation and prosecution activities, including invention review, filing decisions, claim strategy, office-action responses and coordination with inventors and outside counsel.
• Develop and manage patent portfolios that protect key products, technologies and competitive differentiators and are aligned with business priorities and portfolio value.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews and make recommendations regarding filing, continuation, maintenance, abandonment, geographic coverage and other portfolio-management decisions.
• Monitor and assess competitor patent activity and relevant technology landscapes to identify risks, opportunities, whitespace and potential design or licensing considerations.
• Advise on invention identification, trade secrets, confidentiality, employee and third-party innovation issues and other intellectual property matters affecting the supported businesses.
• Provide IP support for acquisitions, divestitures, investments, collaborations, licenses and other transactions, including due diligence, risk assessment, agreement review and integration support.
• Provide support for IP disputes, enforcement matters, post-grant proceedings and litigation.
• Maintain clear communication with the IP Team and Law Group colleagues and supported business leaders regarding material IP risks, opportunities, and decisions.
• Contribute to IP team initiatives, policies, training, analytics, metrics and continuous-improvement efforts.

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active license and good standing to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, computer science or another relevant technical or scientific discipline.

Experience

• 8-12 years of progressive intellectual property experience in a law firm or corporate legal department.
• Substantial experience providing strategic patent and IP counseling to business and technical clients in the medical technology or related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing patent portfolios, conducting or directing freedom-to-operate analyses and supporting product development and commercialization.
• Experience independently managing patent preparation and prosecution, patent portfolios, freedom-to-operate matters and outside counsel.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of patent law and practice and the ability to apply that knowledge in a global business environment.
• Strong business acumen and ability to connect IP strategy to innovation, growth, competitive position, speed to market and enterprise value.
• Ability to identify and anticipate material IP risks and opportunities and develop practical strategies to address them.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to independently lead complex matters with appropriate communication and escalation.
• Ability to communicate sophisticated legal and technical issues in a concise, understandable and actionable manner.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate across R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal and other functions in a matrixed organization.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively with business, R&D and legal colleagues.
• Effectively manages priorities, outside counsel, matter plans, and budgets with a high degree of operational discipline.
• Integrity, discretion, accountability and a commitment to doing what is right.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in medical technology, medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceuticals or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience with IP due diligence, licensing, transactions, trade secrets or competitive patent analysis.
• Experience with complex patent litigation.
  • Advanced degree in a relevant discipline, such as engineering or life sciences.
• Prior in-house experience supporting global businesses, R&D organizations or strategic product-development programs.
• Demonstrated success in managing teams and fostering employee growth and development.

At BD, we prioritize on-site collaboration because we believe it fosters creativity, innovation, and effective problem-solving, which are essential in the fast-paced healthcare industry. We require a minimum of 4 days of in-office presence per week to maintain our culture of excellence and ensure smooth operations, while also recognizing the importance of flexibility and work-life balance.  This position will be located in Franklin Lakes, NJ, Salt Lake City, UT, San Diego, CA, or Tempe, AZ.

At BD, we are committed to supporting our associates’ well-being, development, and success through a performance-based culture. For this position, BD offers a competitive compensation package along with the following benefits specific to this role: 

• Annual Bonus 
• Potential Discretionary LTI Bonus
• Potential reimbursement of vehicle use/mileage 
• Potential reimbursement of phone use 

  Health and Well-being Benefits  

• Medical coverage  
• Health Savings Accounts  
• Flexible Spending Accounts  
• Dental coverage  
• Vision coverage  
• Hospital Care Insurance  
• Critical Illness Insurance  
• Accidental Injury Insurance  
• Life and AD&D insurance  
• Short-term disability coverage  
• Long-term disability insurance  
• Long-term care with life insurance  

Other Well-being Resources  

• Anxiety management program  
• Wellness incentives  
• Sleep improvement program  
• Diabetes management program  
• Virtual physical therapy  
• Emotional/mental health support programs  
• Weight management programs  
• Gastrointestinal health program  
• Substance use management program  
• Musculoskeletal surgery, cancer treatment, and bariatric surgery benefit  

Retirement and Financial Well-being  

• BD 401(k) Plan  
• BD Deferred Compensation and Restoration Plan  
• 529 College Savings Plan  
• Financial counseling  
• Baxter Credit Union (BCU)  
• Daily Pay  
• College financial aid and application guidance  

Life Balance Programs  

• Paid time off (PTO), including all required State leaves  
• Educational assistance/tuition reimbursement  
• MetLife Legal Plan  
• Group auto and home insurance  
• Pet insurance  
• Commuter benefits  
• Discounts on products and services  
• Academic Achievement Scholarship  
• Service Recognition Awards  
• Employer matching donation  
• Workplace accommodations  

Other Life Balance Programs  

• Adoption assistance  
• Backup day care and eldercare  
• Support for neurodivergent adults, children, and caregivers  
• Caregiving assistance for elderly and special needs individuals  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  
• Paid Parental Leave  
• Support for fertility, birthing, postpartum, and age-related hormonal changes  

Leave Programs  

• Bereavement leaves  
• Military leave  
• Personal leave  
• Family and Medical Leave (FML)  
• Jury and Witness Duty Leave 

Why Join Us?

To find purpose in the possibilities, we need people who can see the bigger picture, who understand the human story that underpins everything we do. We welcome people with the imagination and drive to help us reinvent the future of healthcare. At BD, you’ll discover a culture in which you can learn, grow and thrive.

We believe that when people connect in person, we learn faster, collaborate more deeply, and build a stronger culture. Join us and enjoy a culture where face-to-face collaboration supports your learning, your progress, and your success.

To learn more about BD visit https://bd.com/careers.

Becton, Dickinson, and Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Required Skills

Optional Skills

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Primary Work Location

USA NJ - Franklin Lakes

Additional Locations

USA AZ - Tempe Headquarters, USA CA - San Diego Bldg A&B, USA UT - Salt Lake City

Work Shift

NA (United States of America)



At BD, we reward, support and develop our associates through our comprehensive Total Rewards program. We are committed to attracting and retaining high quality talent by providing reward and recognition opportunities that promote a performance-based culture, as well as a competitive package of compensation and benefits programs.

Benefits may include:

Health & Well-being: Medical, dental, vision, health savings and flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, wellness resources, mental health support, and disease management programs.

Retirement & Financial Well-being: 401(k), deferred compensation programs, financial counseling, DailyPay, and educational savings resources.

Work-Life Balance & Family Support: Paid time off, company holidays, educational assistance, parental leave, adoption assistance, backup care, caregiving support, employee assistance programs, commuter benefits, pet insurance, legal services, and associate discount programs.

Leave Programs: Bereavement, military, personal, family and medical leave, and jury duty leave.

Additional details regarding benefits and well-being programs can be found in Our Commitment to You.

Our salary or hourly rate ranges reward associates fairly and competitively. We regularly review these ranges and factors, such as location, contribute to the range displayed

Our pay is based on the role and the necessary skills and education to perform it successfully. The salary or hourly rate offered is determined by the role's specific requirements, including any applicable step rate pay system at the work location. Salary or hourly pay ranges are influenced by labor laws and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) requirements applicable to the work location which may also affect the workplace arrangement of the role.

Salary Range Information

$230,300.00 - $368,500.00 USD Annual