IP Counsel, Life Sciences Patents
About the role
AI has the power to dramatically accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and the development of healthcare interventions. Alongside the models and tools we build for scientists, Anthropic’s life science research teams now run their own wet lab experiments. We’re hiring a life sciences patent counsel to work side-by-side with our researchers as they work to advance biomedical progress.
You will manage patent strategy and filings for our life sciences research, from the first conversation with a scientist through global prosecution. You will also be our in-house expert on the patent questions, many of them new, that arise when scientists use AI as a research tool. You will partner closely with our patents lead (direct manager), the Head of IP, Research Legal, our Life Sciences Counsel, and outside counsel to design and implement a patent program that supports our researchers and partners and is aligned with the company’s mission.
Responsibilities
Manage patent strategy and filings for Anthropic’s life sciences research in the U.S. and internationally, including invention harvesting, filing decisions, drafting oversight, prosecution, and management of outside counsel
Serve as the trusted patent advisor to our life science research teams, and design and implement scalable guidance and processes to support our fast-growing life science efforts
Make inventorship determinations for AI-assisted research, and advise on inventor declarations and the duty of candor
Develop claim and filing strategies across biological and chemical inventions, platform technologies, and computational methods, accounting for written description, enablement, eligibility, and obviousness
Partner with Research Legal and Communications on the timing of publications, preprints, presentations, and open-source releases
Advise on the patent aspects of agreements with life science and biopharma counterparties, including ownership of inventions and improvements, and support patent diligence and freedom-to-operate analyses for our research
Anticipate emerging legal developments affecting AI technologies in the life science and biopharma space and provide strategic guidance to leadership
Minimum qualifications
Hold a law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) and meet the local licensing requirements to work as in-house counsel where you'll be based
A degree or equivalent training in a life sciences or chemistry field (for example, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, bioengineering, or organic chemistry)
Substantial hands-on experience drafting and prosecuting U.S. life sciences patent applications, and directing foreign prosecution through local counsel
Lead responsibility for a patent portfolio, including managing budget and outside or foreign counsel
Experience making inventorship determinations and resolving ownership questions in multi-party research arrangements (for example, with universities and other partners)
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate legal risk into practical guidance for scientists, researchers, and business partners
A low-ego, high-empathy orientation and a “doer” attitude: willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in where needed
Intense curiosity about AI and science, and a commitment to responsible AI development
Preferred qualifications
10+ years of patent experience (including time as a patent agent, technical specialist, or examiner) at a law firm, a biotech or pharmaceutical company, or both, with the ability to operate independently and hit the ground running
Advanced degree in a life sciences or chemistry field
Experience with AI/ML companies, or with inventions at the boundary of biology and machine learning
Working knowledge of how patents interact with regulatory exclusivity, trade secrets, and open science
Familiarity with biosecurity, dual-use research, or export control considerations in the life sciences
Experience leveraging AI to optimize their work, with a desire to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment
The annual compensation range for this role is listed below.
For sales roles, the range provided is the role’s On Target Earnings ("OTE") range, meaning that the range includes both the sales commissions/sales bonuses target and annual base salary for the role.
Annual Salary:
$335,000—$385,000 USD