IP Counsel, APAC

Work Flexibility: Hybrid

Intellectual Property Counsel, APAC

This position will offer dedicated legal support in the area of intellectual property (IP) to Stryker’s legal, R&D, commercial, and business development, teams across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region including Stryker’s Global Technology Centre in India.

The successful candidate will:

• be knowledgeable about patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright laws across the APAC region;

• communicate complicated technical and legal issues to a variety of colleagues;

• collaborate with other members of Stryker’s legal and business teams to address IP issues impacting Stryker’s APAC businesses and provide day-to-day IP advice;

• partner with stakeholders in APAC and Stryker’s U.S. product divisions to develop and implement IP strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as an IP legal advisor to Stryker’s APAC leadership and R&D sites;

• Advise on licenses, development agreements, and other contracts;

• Collaborate with Stryker’s IP team and other stakeholders to develop and implement IP strategy in APAC to manage our APAC IP assets effectively;

• Work closely with the Legal team and divisional management on IP investigations, claims, and enforcement in APAC;

• Support R&D centres across APAC;

• Liaise between the IP management teams in U.S. product divisions and APAC leadership;

• Develop and conduct IP training at APAC R&D centres and regional commercial sites;

• Provide counsel relating to APAC administrative challenges to patent and trade mark rights (oppositions and cancellations); 

• Develop strategies regarding clearances, enforcement, and protection of Stryker’s APAC IP; and

• Work with R&D centres and divisional IP managers on innovation harvesting and IP protection.

Required Experience:

• Experience with managing, protecting and enforcing patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights in APAC or internationally

• At least 10 years’ business experience as in-house legal counsel in the life sciences industry, or as a private practice lawyer advising clients in this industry.

• Experience with administrative IP proceedings, intellectual property strategy, intellectual property enforcement, and licensing is required.

• Minimum of four (4) years’ experience with patent and trade mark legal work and IP strategy.

Preferred Experience:

• International experience or experience working with clients in different jurisdictions and cultures, ideally within a medical device, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics or automotive industry environment.

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice law, in at least one of the following jurisdictions Australia, India, China,

• The candidate must have a Bachelor of Laws, Science or Engineering degree, or equivalent and have excellent academic credentials.

• Fluency in Business English is essential.

Travel Percentage: Up to 25% 

Other qualities

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate excellent judgement, professional demeanor 

• Collaborate with and lead project efforts with colleagues in a global organisation

• Work well independently and in a team

• Possess excellent analytical and communication skills

• Have experience providing timely legal advice in a highly regulated environment (preferred)

• Demonstrate and drive a commitment to integrity and accountability

• Possess excellent organizational skills and can manage numerous projects and conflicting demands in a fast-paced environment

• Have the ability to communicate at all levels, including senior executive level, of corporate organization

• Maintain highly sensitive and confidential information

Travel Percentage: None