Senior Patent Counsel

Legal        ·       South San Francisco, CA       ·       Full time

At Alector, our mission is to develop therapies that empower the immune system to combat neurodegeneration. Our team is solely focused on developing treatments for some of the most challenging diseases facing our society. We are supported in this mission by experienced and accomplished scientists and clinicians, leading healthcare investors, and pharma company partners who share in our commitment to bettering the lives of patients.

Alector seeks an experienced patent attorney to grow our intellectual property practice. Partnering with various functions throughout the organization, the Senior Patent Counsel role requires a motivated, strategic advisor to support our expanding pipeline. This role provides a unique opportunity to join an innovative culture committed to bringing new paradigm-shifting therapies to patients with debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.

As Senior Patent Counsel, you will identify and secure protection for Alector’s valuable intellectual property and provide patentability, freedom-to-operate and other legal opinions. You will also have the opportunity to support the Legal team in areas such as compliance, transactions and corporate matters. 

Job Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and implement strategies for building robust global intellectual property portfolios that cover Alector’s research, development and clinical-stage programs
• Mine and protect inventions relating to protein and antibody therapeutics and platform technologies such as analytics, development sciences and antibody engineering
• Prepare and prosecute patent applications, both in-house and with outside counsel
• Evaluate competitive landscapes to inform patent and business strategies
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses to navigate risk and advance innovation
• Effectively manage intellectual property matters involving external business partners in accordance with existing collaboration agreements
• Provide clear and business-relevant risk assessments to scientists, senior leadership and other stakeholders to advance business objectives and decision-making
• Conduct due diligence analyses to support business development
• Support transactions and negotiations
• Support other activities, including trademark prosecution and publication clearance

You should have the ability to explain complex legal issues to internal partners. Exercising sound judgment, you are a creative, driven problem-solver that thrives in a fast-paced environment!

Additional Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience as in-house patent counsel at a pharma/biotech company and/or as a law firm associate with pharma/biotech clients, with emphasis on large molecule therapeutics
• Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
• D. and admission to a state bar
• Advanced degree in the biological sciences
• Deep experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in pharma/biotech
• Facility using search tools and databases for assessing complex competitive landscapes and conducting freedom to operate analyses
• Strong knowledge of domestic and international laws, regulations, and practices relating to patent procurement, enforcement and defense
• Excellent negotiation and communication (oral and written) skills, with the ability to influence others
• Hard-working and collaborative team member 

#LI-RS1

Alector is a phenomenal place to learn and experiment. If you excel in a dynamic environment where everyone is committed to finding a treatment, where you’ll drive growth, this is your role. There is no limit to how far you can go with us.

Among the things you’ll discover at Alector on Day 1 and throughout your tenure: Committed and driven colleagues, a bold and important company goal, brand-new brightly-lit offices in the heart of the biotech area, flexible remote work options, and competitive compensation and benefits. But these matters only if you’re excited to build and own something great, and tackle these challenges with us. Come join us!

At Alector, we believe that hard-working teams include people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences who can challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives and bring creative ideas to the table. We are committed to building an open, diverse, and inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Employees of Alector working on-site are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and are required to provide proof of vaccination. Employees may be entitled to an exception or reasonable accommodation if they cannot be vaccinated because of a disability/medical necessity, or sincerely held religious belief. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Please click here to apply.