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WSP

Plans and designs infrastructure projects

Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP)Confirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeMontreal, QC, CanadaCA$103.5k - CA$151.8kHybrid

About the Job

Requirements

  • Qualified to practice law in Québec or another relevant jurisdiction.
  • Approximately 3 to 5 years of relevant intellectual property legal experience, in private practice or in-house.
  • A sound understanding of intellectual property principles, including ownership, licensing, use restrictions, and protection of proprietary rights, with the ability to apply them in a practical business context.
  • Strong knowledge of intellectual property applicable to a global organization, including the ability to interpret and apply legal and regulatory requirements in a practical business context.
  • Exposure to legal issues relating to artificial intelligence, digital technologies, software, data use, intellectual property, and innovation initiatives.
  • Comfort using artificial intelligence tools, including generative artificial intelligence, in day-to-day legal work.
  • Ability to analyze complex legal issues, identify risks, provide clear and practical business-oriented advice, and determine when to escalate.
  • Ability to work effectively across functions and geographies.
  • Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload with growing autonomy, prioritize competing deadlines, and support multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong judgment, attention to detail, problem-solving skills, contract-drafting skills, and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Advise on intellectual property issues arising from the development, marketing, deployment, use, and commercialization of digital solutions, artificial intelligence systems, and other technology.
  • Advise on intellectual property issues relating to trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets associated with engineering services, solutions, and technologies provided and used by WSP.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate intellectual-property-related contract provisions and legal documents, including software-as-a-service agreements, end-user license agreements, end-user notices, and artificial intelligence disclaimers, using existing templates and playbooks.
  • Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of intellectual property policies, standards, guidance, and governance processes.
  • Support the Principal Legal Counsel, Commercial & IP, in advising regional legal teams on managing intellectual property matters in their regions, including liaising with external counsel as relevant.
  • Contribute to intellectual property due diligence on digital solutions, covering ownership, third-party rights, open-source software, code validation, and documentation needed before a product reaches a client.
  • Support day-to-day administration of WSP’s intellectual property portfolio on its intellectual property management platform, including trademark clearance and registration, patent filings, invention intake, and protection of trade secrets and know-how; help coordinate external counsel where specialist input is required.
  • Support intellectual property transfers and intercompany licensing and distribution arrangements.
  • Monitor competitive intellectual property activity to identify relevant third-party filings, market developments, risks, and opportunities.
  • Contribute to internal templates, playbooks, negotiation guidance, and knowledge resources.
  • Deliver training and practical resources that facilitate good intellectual property practices across the business.
  • Work across functions and geographies with stakeholders including Tax, Finance, and Procurement.
  • Perform other duties relevant to the position, as assigned and required.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience supporting multinational corporations or global legal, privacy, or compliance programs is an asset.
  • Relevant certifications or additional training in intellectual property or technology law are an asset.
  • Experience with trademark clearance, patent administration, intellectual property management platforms, or global intellectual property programs is an asset, not a requirement.
  • Relevant experience ideally includes commercial law, artificial-intelligence-related matters, privacy, and/or technology law.
  • A clear interest in developing deeper expertise in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, software, data use, intellectual property, and innovation initiatives.
  • An interest in developing practical internal artificial intelligence solutions for the legal team.

About the Company

WSP

Plans and designs infrastructure projects

WSP is an engineering and science consultancy that helps governments and businesses plan, design, and manage infrastructure. Its teams work on transport networks, buildings, water systems, power facilities, and environmental projects, combining engineers with scientists, planners, and technical advisers. Services include feasibility studies, detailed design, environmental assessments, and project management, with specialists supporting assets through construction and operation. Clients pay through contracts priced by staff time, agreed project fees, or a share of project costs. Genivar reorganized as WSP Global in 2014, and the group is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Montreal, Canada
Founded
1959

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