Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Licensing

About InterDigital

InterDigital is a global research and development company focused primarily on wireless, video, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and related technologies. We design and develop foundational technologies that enable connected, immersive experiences in a broad range of communications and entertainment products and services. We license our innovations worldwide to companies providing such products and services, including makers of wireless communications devices, consumer electronics, IoT devices, cars and other motor vehicles, and providers of cloud-based services such as video streaming. As a leader in wireless technology, our engineers have designed and developed a wide range of innovations that are used in wireless products and networks, from the earliest digital cellular systems to 5G and today’s most advanced Wi-Fi technologies. We are also a leader in video processing and video encoding/decoding technology, with a significant AI research effort that intersects with both wireless and video technologies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on Nasdaq.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.

Summary

The successful candidate will join our dynamic and respected international patent licensing team, the team directly responsible for generating the majority of InterDigital’s revenue. This influential and visible position will entail frequent travel to InterDigital’s customer bases in Asia, Europe and the United States. The successful candidate will manage a team of approximately 3 attorneys responsible for contributing to licensing negotiation, enforcement projects and handling legal matters related to patent licensing. This position will report directly to the Chief Licensing Officer.

Responsibilities

Draft, negotiate, review, analyze and finalize cross-border patent licensing agreements (significant experience in drafting and negotiating patent license transactions required)

• Demonstrate and leverage prior experience in contract negotiations including expertise in drafting agreements.
• Review and draft agreements reached in the course of such negotiations.
• Review and ensure compliance with third-party licensing terms and conditions.
• Advise, counsel, and support the company’s licensing activities in the mobile device, consumer electronics and other markets, particularly in the context of and compliance with FRAND licensing programs.
• Participate in the development of strategies, tactics and priorities to protect, assert and enforce intellectual property rights and to develop, maintain and enhance royalty revenues and other benefits accruing from enforcement activities.
• Manage a team of attorneys responsible for supporting patent licensing, including supervising and reviewing draft agreements, correspondence, economic proposals, and other related matters.
• Provide feedback and guidance on opportunities to continuously evaluate and improve related business processes and licensing/legal templates.
• Execute other general licensing and intellectual property matters and special projects from time to time.
• Lend support to the company’s M&A, patent enforcement and compliance activities as needed.
• Provide confident counsel and efficient support to the company’s senior management and within the licensing team, with an optimal balance of facilitating deals while managing risk.
• Input into business’s international litigation activities, including contribution to litigation strategy and review of litigation materials, such as pleadings, witness statements, etc.
• Travel in support of the company’s activities
• If necessary, manage work of outside counsel.
• Provide legal analysis and prepare presentations, reports, research memoranda, etc.
• Perform other corporate or transactional duties as needed
  
  
  

Required Experience

• At least 12 years of relevant patent licensing experience
• Standards essential patent licensing and FRAND experience required
• Prior experience with licensing business models.
• Prior experience working in telecommunications, semiconductor, or related industries preferred.
• Prior experience managing a team
• Extensive domestic and international travel may be required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  
  
  

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be a results-driven team player while maintaining a steadfast commitment to integrity and the highest ethical standards. In addition, the successful candidate will possess the following characteristics:

• Demonstrated effectiveness as a lead/independent negotiator of cross-border IP licensing deals.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills with great attention to detail, while at the same time not losing perspective on the bigger picture.
• Being able to succinctly summarize complex business and legal concepts and issues in an easily understandable and digestible form.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build relationships with customers, within team, department, and across company.
• Strong management and leadership skills; able to effectively manage team of attorneys and supervise and manage work related to multiple accounts across a variety of license program verticals
• Results-oriented, with sense for detail and able to manage multiple transactions and projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; must work well in fast-paced, highly collaborative, team environment.
• Excellent business judgment and acumen, ability to think strategically and give practical advice.
• Strong work ethic and excellent organizational skills
• Confident and respectful of others with an executive presence
• Personable and a team player
  
  
  

Educational/Professional Requirements

• Legal degree (J.D. or LL.M. or equivalent foreign degree)
• Current license to practice law in relevant jurisdiction(s), as appropriate
• 12 years related experience at a law firm and/or in a corporate legal department
• Experience advising multinational corporations.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  
  
  

Location: Will consider InterDigital office locations in US and Europe.

InterDigital is an equal employment opportunity employer. InterDigital will not engage in or tolerate unlawful discrimination with regard to any employment decision, policy or practice based on a person’s sex, gender, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, assignments, evaluations, coaching, promotion, discipline, discharge and layoff.

A reasonable estimate of the current salary range specific to New York/CA is $250,000 - $350,000 /annually discretionary incentive bonus, benefits and may include other forms of compensation components such as long-term incentives. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.