A chief patent counsel, also known as a chief intellectual property (IP) counsel, is a lawyer responsible for protecting the intellectual property of a business or organization. In this role, your job duties include helping clients prepare and file for legal patents and licensing for an invention or an idea for an invention, researching and adhering to legal policies regarding copyrights and intellectual property, and offering legal advice to senior staff regarding their rights and processes in establishing a patent. A chief patent counsel usually works with one business or organization to lead its patenting efforts for a variety of ideas and inventions.