Merck is a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt, with approximately 63,000 employees and a presence in 65 countries. Some 12,000 Merck employees are based in Germany. Across its three business sectors – Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics – Merck develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality medicines, innovative products for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and for academic research, as well as specialty chemicals for high-tech applications. The majority of the company is family-owned, currently in the 13th generation, but Merck shares are also publicly traded.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In view of a growing demand for IP support, Merck now seeks to recruit an experienced European or US patent attorney to strengthen the Healthcare patents team at its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The incoming Senior Corporate Patent Counsel will join an established team of patent attorneys with global responsibility, reporting to the Head of Patents Healthcare Germany. As a member of cross-functional teams, the individual will shape the global IP strategy for pharmaceutical development projects and commercial products. The key responsibilities will therefore include, but are not limited to the following:
- Manage all aspects of a global patent portfolio and provide business-oriented IP counselling to the R&D and business units;
- Work with R&D scientists to identify patentable inventions and secure patent protection;
- Draft, file and prosecute patent applications;
- Handle freedom to operate analyses and provide IP opinions;
- Provide patent validity and infringement advice;
- Handle opposition/invalidation and prepare legal opinions;
- Perform IP due diligence on external business opportunities and, as a member of small
deal teams, contribute to and negotiate license and other agreements; - Support R&D, Commercial, Business Development, Regulatory and Legal functions.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate is expected to be a strong communicator and team player, with the ability to manage competing priorities without losing sight of either essential details or the big picture, fulfilling the following criteria:
- Hold an advanced degree in the biological, chemical or pharmaceutical sciences;
- Qualification as European or US patent attorney; German patent attorney qualification would be considered a plus;
- Ideally 2 to 6 years of post-qualification experience in a patent law firm or patent department in the pharmaceutical industry;
- Experience in patent drafting, prosecution and post-grant proceedings, as well as FTO analysis;
- Experience in due diligence and contract negotiation would be an advantage, as would infringement litigation experience;
- A sound understanding of the regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals would be an advantage;
- Fluency in English, German language skills would be considered a plus.
