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<p>Intellectual Property (IP) assets (i.e., patents, know-how, trade secrets and copyrights associated with technical aspects of our business) are important to the continued success of Mars Petcare and more broadly Mars, Incorporated. Mars, Incorporated invests significant resources and effort in developing new technologies and our policy is to vigorously protect Mars’ IP assets, make them accessible to all the Business Units, and use them to maximize profitable growth. The Associate General Counsel IP – Patents and Technology is responsible for leading a team of Associates to ensure new technologies and innovations are identified, protected and leveraged by the organization.</p>
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<p><b> What are we looking for?</b></p>
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<li><p> Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school</p></li>
<li><p> Licensed to practice law in a US jurisdiction. If not a member of the State bar in which the position is located then the successful attorney must take steps to gain admission by complying with the rules for that state’s in-house corporate counsel.</p></li>
<li><p> Licensed to practice before the USPTO</p></li>
<li><p> Undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent. (some pre-law school technical experience preferred)</p></li>
<li><p> Minimum of 15 plus years as a practicing intellectual property lawyer; if an in-house lawyer, law firm experience earlier in career is preferred.</p></li>
<li><p> Significant experience in the preparation and prosecution of patents, including the development of IP portfolios relevant to the life cycle of products; significant experience providing clearance opinions; experience working on patent litigation is highly preferred; experience counseling management on litigation strategy and other litigation matters is preferred.</p></li>
<li><p> Possess an understanding of the corporate environment, and specifically the importance of the linkage between a company’s business objectives, research and development efforts, and its patent protection and enforcement efforts.</p></li>
<li><p> Experience leading and developing a team of attorneys and legal professionals</p></li>
<li><p> Exposure to global patent issues</p></li>
<li><p> Experience evaluating the patent portfolios of competitors and general understanding of the competitive landscape globally.</p></li>
<li><p> Experience working with outside counsel on validity opinions and patent litigation</p></li>
<li><p> Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work well with and relate to company personnel at all corporate and scientific levels.</p></li>
<li><p> Demonstration of the ability to be sensitive to cultural issues arising from a global business that may impact a business or legal decision.</p></li>
<li><p> Strong written and oral communications skills, with the ability to communicate and interact effectively with clients and business leaders at all levels of the organization; must be able to identify critical issues requiring action and convey them in a manner that is understandable and useful to the client</p></li>
<li><p> Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to function well in a multi-disciplinary team environment</p></li>
<li><p> Quick study, able to handle complex matters with multiple initiatives going on simultaneously</p></li>
</ul>
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<p><b> What will be your key responsibilities?</b></p>
<ul>
<li><p> Strategic leadership on the preparation and prosecution of the Segment’s worldwide patent portfolio both internally and in cooperation with outside counsel. </p></li>
<li><p>Protects and enforces Global Petcare’s patents; lead all patent opposition and related matters for the Segment globally; assume leadership for Segment patent litigation.</p></li>
<li><p> Hire, supervise, train and evaluate the Segment’s patent lawyers; implement an effective program to continue to motivate, mentor and retain members of the Segment’s IP team.</p></li>
<li><p> Liaise with the Segment’s general counsels across Global Petcare, the Global Petcare Marketing Properties team, R&D teams, marketing and business associates to develop and implement a well-conceived strategy to optimize the Segment’s IP position, including evaluating the patent portfolios of competitors.</p></li>
<li><p> Ensure that the IP team provides necessary IP legal support, as appropriate, to the Segment’s R&D, commercial (procurement), digital technologies, business development, supply, and sales and marketing teams.</p></li>
<li><p> Draft and negotiates R&D related agreements, including, but not limited to, NDAs, MTAs, JDAs, sponsored research agreements, consulting agreements, licenses and other IP related agreements.</p></li>
<li><p> Coordinate with Segment’s Marketing Properties team on overlapping issues to ensure continuity and robustness in the protection and management of the Segment’s IP.</p></li>
<li><p> Ensure proper pre-patent filing review; provide legal advice to the Segment’s management concerning the patentability of its inventions and the advisability of filing patent applications domestically and internationally.</p></li>
<li><p> Continually refine the portfolio mapping and life cycle management program for the Segment’s patent portfolio.</p></li>
<li><p> Generate and circulate competitive intelligence within and outside of the Segment to ensure awareness of and the appropriate response to competitor activities.</p></li>
<li><p> Provide IP due diligence support to other law department members in connection with technology investments and business acquisitions.</p></li>
<li><p> Set and manage the Segment’s patent budget and approve spend against the budget.</p></li>
</ul>
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<p><b> What can you expect from Mars?</b></p>
<ul>
<li><p> Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.</p></li>
<li><p> Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.</p></li>
<li><p> Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.</p></li>
<li><p> An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.</p></li>
</ul>
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<p> #LI-KR2</p>
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