Intellectual Property Associate Counsel
Associate Counsel, Intellectual Property provides a full range of intellectual property (IP) legal support for one or more portions of Avient’s businesses worldwide.
This position serves as a primary point of contact for IP support to R&D teams and other stakeholders throughout all phases of new product development and commercialization, promoting awareness of and compliance with the company’s IP policies and best practices.
Focused mainly on IP asset protection and IP risk mitigation, with opportunity to work on IP agreements, IP disputes, or other matters as assigned, this position works collaboratively with other IP team members and/or manages outside counsel to deliver appropriate IP support.
This position is based at Avient’s global headquarters located in Avon Lake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
Essential Functions
• Prepares, files, and prosecutes patent applications in the United States and countries around the world in coordination with Avient IP team colleagues and/or outside counsel as appropriate
• Counsels internal stakeholders regarding a full range of IP issues which may include patentability, freedom-to-operate, protection and use of trade secrets and confidential information, etc.
• Acquires in-depth knowledge of Avient’s products, technologies, and/or brands and maintains familiarity with relevant products, technologies, and/or brands of Avient’s customers, suppliers, and competitors
• Works collaboratively with IP team colleagues, other attorneys and legal professionals within the Legal department, and stakeholders throughout the global organization from functions including Technology, Marketing, Product Management, Sales, Sourcing, Global Trade, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax, Finance, etc.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Develops and delivers IP-related training to internal stakeholders
• Drafts, negotiates, and advises on IP agreements, including confidentiality agreements, development agreements, services agreements, license agreements, supply agreements, etc., as assigned
• Manages and/or supports IP-related litigation, IP-based oppositions, and other IP disputes as assigned
• Supports IP-related aspects of M&A activities as assigned
• Participates in the selection, retention, and management of outside counsel for Avient
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of systems, processes, policies, resources, etc., in support of effective and efficient operations of Avient’s global IP team and/or Legal department
• Performs other projects / duties as assigned
Education and Qualifications
• Juris Doctor degree from ABA accredited law school
• Bachelor and/or advanced degree(s) in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, or similar fields
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio (or another state and qualified for corporate counsel registration in Ohio)
• Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Experience
• 5+ years of intellectual property legal experience with a focus on patent preparation and prosecution for chemical technologies and related counseling and opinions
• Demonstrated knowledge of patent practice and procedure with the USPTO and under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and familiarity with patent practice and procedure in other major jurisdictions (e.g., Europe (EPO), China (SIPO), etc.)
• Familiarity with a broad range of intellectual property law concepts especially patents
• Experience with trademarks is not required but advantageous
• Experience with IP agreements is not required but advantageous
• Experience with polymer technologies is preferred
• Experience with a global organization is preferred
Additional Qualifications
• Strong legal, business, and technical acumen
• Detail-oriented, motivated, confident, and approachable
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interface and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization
• Outstanding business judgment, problem solving, negotiation, follow-through, and time management (including docket management) skills
• Solid analytical skills, including an ability to review technical information and data to identify patentable subject matter
• Exceptional document drafting skills (candidate should be prepared upon request to provide a writing sample including at least one published patent application and at least one publicly available office action response that were principally authored by the candidate)
• Ability to provide timely and pragmatic legal advice that guides the business to successful outcomes
• Capacity to quickly learn and comprehend complex technical subject matter
• Ability to function autonomously while possessing sufficient judgment to understand when to seek assistance from or provide updates to management and/or stakeholders
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment and operate efficiently and effectively to manage time pressures and meet deadlines
• Awareness of cultural differences between the United States and other countries
• Good interpersonal skills to build and maintain trusted relationships with colleagues and diverse stakeholders and confidently navigate a complex global organization
• Desire to take on progressively greater responsibilities
• Positive, enthusiastic, growth mindset, proactive, and collegial
Who We Are
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
- Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports
- Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
- Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
- Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
Why Avient
Avient Corporation is a world-class sustainable organization built on innovation, collaboration, and employee development. We are committed to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment where our diverse associates can grow and succeed, as well positively impacting our planet and the communities we serve. Our Great Place to Work culture, values, and benefits make Avient an employer of choice for top talent.
At Avient, we believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.
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