Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property and Contracts

Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property and Contracts

New Hampshire based position

The Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property and Contracts will serve as a key member of SIG SAUER’s Legal Department and will primarily assist with managing the Company’s domestic and international Intellectual Property requirements and U.S. commercial, government and military contracts. Must have a proven track record as a valued business partner who prides themselves on developing solutions to the business’ challenges. Additional responsibilities will include assisting with general contract drafting, review, negotiation, and management; providing legal advice on an as needed basis to business units within the Company; and assisting with management of the Company’s regulatory compliance.

This is an important role in a fast-paced, professional, and collaborative organization. The ideal candidate will be comfortable interacting with senior management, handling complex contractual matters and working closely across the Company’s departments to minimize risk while achieving strategic initiatives. A commitment to excellence, attention to detail and enthusiasm for taking on new challenges are critical to success in the role.

Intellectual Property Management:

• Maintain an inventory of all intellectual property assets, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records.
• Develop and implement strategies for protecting the company’s intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• Review and draft contracts related to intellectual property, including licensing agreements, technology transfer agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
• Advise internal teams on legal issues related to intellectual property, including clearance, registration, and enforcement.
• Work closely with external counsel in IP litigation matters, providing necessary documentation, evidence, and strategic guidance.
• Assist in the development and execution of legal strategies to protect the company’s IP in disputes.
• Conduct intellectual property due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions to assess risks and opportunities.
• Provide recommendations based on due diligence findings to support business decisions.
• Monitor and enforce the company’s intellectual property rights, taking appropriate legal action against infringers.
• Defend the company against claims of intellectual property infringement, when necessary. Assess and mitigate risks associated with the company’s intellectual property, providing proactive legal advice to prevent potential issues.
• Stay informed about changes in IP law and regulations and ensure the company’s government compliance with such laws.

Contract Management:

• Assist with managing the Company’s contracts, including U.S. government contracts and foreign government contracts.
• Handle other contractual matters, such as vendor/supplier agreements licensing agreements, construction contracts, SaaS, sponsorship/advertising agreements, MOU/LOI, non-disclosure agreements, consulting agreements, supply agreements, joint ventures, and international rep agreements.
• Prepare periodic reporting for the General Counsel that summarizes and distills the status of the Company’s contracts profile.

Regulatory Management:

• Assist in designing and overseeing the company’s regulatory compliance program.

Operational Excellence:

• Identify, design, develop and implement processes and tools, on behalf of the Legal Department.
• Operations Manager, for the oversight of contract and regulatory compliance that utilizes data to drive results and advance business objectives.

Other:

• Act as a valued member of the legal team in developing IP and contract strategy when managing resolutions or other special situations.
• Assist with the Company’s compliance program.
• Assist with due diligence and other pertinent workstreams.
• Provide general legal advice across all business units of the Company, including sales, marketing, engineering, production management, and finance, among others.

Education, Experience, and Required Skills:

*J.D. degree from ABA-accredited law school
*Admission to, and good standing in, any state bar or the District of Columbia bar
*10+ years of experience in litigation practice at a law firm and/or in-house environment, with experience in product liability claims preferred
*Experience with Intellectual Property cases, Domestic and International
*Ability to organize, integrate and analyze complex information from a number of sources
*Collaborative; able to establish and maintain strong partnerships with all stakeholders, ensuring their involvement and gaining their support to drive desired outcomes
*Sound and ethical judgment based on legal expertise, a deep understanding of the business objectives and an appropriate balancing of legal risks and business needs
*Process oriented and able to lead and effect process change and improvements
*Proficiency in Office 365 applications; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required
*Excellent drafting, organization, and communication skills

SIG SAUER, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.