Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Location: SylmarAbbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.ABOUT ABBOTT Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.WORKING AT ABBOTT At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.Free medical coverage for employees• via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPOAn excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contributionTuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.THE OPPORTUNITY Our location in Sylmar, CA currently has an opportunity for a Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property. Abbott Medical Devices is seeking a Senior Counsel for its cardiac rhythm management (CRM) business. The position will focus primarily Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management operations in Sylmar, California, including its pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator, and implantable cardiac monitor product lines. The position may also serve other Abbott business units on occasion.We take a team-oriented approach to managing a large IP portfolio and deeply integrating in a diverse business. We are looking for a candidate who not only is responsible for their personal docket but can also make valuable contributions at a group level. WHAT YOU’LL WORK ONCORE RESPONSIBILITIES:In close collaboration with other IP team members, strategically develop our worldwide patent portfolio, including directing and managing domestic and foreign outside counsel to prepare and prosecute patent applications in a diverse and growing technological field.Participate in the effective management of our external budget, including monthly, quarterly and annual budget reviews, quarterly forecasting, and reviewing outside counsel invoices.Manage invention disclosures, including collecting and screening disclosures, conducting inventor interviews, presenting disclosures at patent committee and Invention Review Board meetings.Conduct due diligence on potential mergers and acquisitions and freedom-to-operate assessments that drive strategic acquisitions and product development.Conduct in-depth analyses of competitor products and IP portfolios.Review outside counsel work to ensure the work, methodology, strategy and costs meet Abbott’s expectations.Collaborate with cross-functional teams and counsel a variety of clients on IP and other legal issues.Interact with and provide legal and strategic guidance to senior management, engineers and other functional organizational leadership.Collaborate with commercial legal counsel, including preparing and reviewing research and development agreements, confidentiality agreements, license agreements, and consulting agreements and counseling the business regarding IP transactional matters.Assist internal and external litigation counsel on IP litigation matters.May supervise exempt or non-exempt employees, and manage employee career counseling, performance evaluation and other issues if required.Conduct employee training sessions on the protection of innovations through the patent process, best practices for maintaining confidential business information, contractor and vendor matters, and the overall development of intellectual property assets.Provide counseling and strategy options on marketing and promotional materials.Occasional domestic or foreign travel.CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS:Good Judgment:Demonstrate expertise and sound judgment, understand how assigned responsibilities support Abbott’s business objectives, and be able to provide practical, risk-balanced advice based upon a thorough understanding of the scope of an issue, taking full advantage of internal networks and external intelligence.Collaboration:Firm understanding of available legal, functional, and business resources and ability to integrate information from a number of sources to achieve business results, including breaking down boundaries to create alignment as necessary, in a complex, global, matrixed environment.Anticipation:Holistic, big picture thinker, who anticipates changes in law,…