Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property

Job Description

Title : Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property

Location : Brisbane, CA

About Us :

Vera Therapeutics (Nasdaq : VERA), is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera's mission is to advance treatments that target the source of immunologic diseases in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera's lead product candidate is atacicept, a fully humanized fusion protein self-administered at home as a subcutaneous weekly injection that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including IgA nephropathy. Vera is also considering evaluating the role of atacicept in other immunologic disorders. Additionally, Vera is developing VT-109, a novel, next-generation dual BAFF / APRIL inhibitor in preclinical development, and MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK virus, a polyomavirus that can have devastating consequences in certain settings such as kidney transplant. For more information, please visit : www.veratx.com.

Our values are the cornerstone of our culture. Our values inspire us every day and guide everything we do-from how we hire great people, to advancing our mission together, to achieving our ultimate goal to improve medical treatment for patients suffering from immunological diseases.

Position Summary :

The SVP, IP Counsel will report to the Chief Legal Officer and will be responsible for supporting patent aspects of the Company's intellectual property licensing programs, projects and engagements from inception through completion, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to successfully engage prospective customers, partners, members and licensees, and other activities, including litigation support, to drive revenue for the company and its licensing clients and partners worldwide. Working cross-functionally, the SVP, IP Counsel is accountable for developing high quality and impactful IP cases to support licensing programs and engagements, including working closely with the company's internal / external SMEs in preparing, reviewing, and presenting high quality and accurate claim charts, providing strong, fact-based responses to non-infringement and invalidity arguments raised in licensing engagements, and providing negotiation support in licensing engagements.

Responsibilities :

• Lead the formulation of a comprehensive IP strategy that supports the company's business goals, including product development, commercialization, and market positioning. Ensure that the strategy aligns with corporate objectives, R&D priorities, and competitive advantages.
• Manage the global patent portfolio, ensuring strategic filings, prosecution, and maintenance of patents across jurisdictions. Prioritize inventions and technologies for protection based on business value, and manage costs associated with patent filings.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses to assess potential IP infringement risks and provide guidance on avoiding litigation. Analyze competitor IP portfolios to anticipate threats and protect the company from legal exposure. Manage risk mitigation strategies.
• Lead negotiations for licensing agreements, joint ventures, collaborations, and strategic partnerships. Ensure that the company's IP rights are properly protected and maximize the financial and strategic value of these arrangements.
• Oversee any IP litigation matters, including patent infringement cases, trade secret disputes, or trademark conflicts. Develop litigation strategies, select external counsel, manage litigation budgets, and make decisions about settlement or pursuing legal action.
• Stay informed about changes in IP laws and regulations, ensuring that the company's IP portfolio remains compliant with evolving legal requirements. Provide legal advice on IP-related regulatory matters across global markets.
• Work closely with the research and development teams to identify potential inventions and innovations. Guide the invention disclosure process, ensuring proper protection mechanisms are in place for valuable discoveries that align with business objectives.
• Evaluate the financial and strategic value of the company's IP portfolio for internal decision-making, including fundraising, licensing, and corporate strategy. Identify opportunities for monetization, such as through licensing, sales, or partnerships with third parties.
• Manage and provide leadership to the in-house IP legal team, which may include patent attorneys, paralegals, and IP specialists. Offer mentorship, training, and career development opportunities to build a strong, high-performing IP department.
• Serve as the key advisor on IP matters to the CEO, executive leadership team, and board of directors. Regularly report on the status of the company's IP assets, associated risks, and opportunities, ensuring that IP strategy is aligned with overall business goals.
• Lead or support IP due diligence efforts for mergers, acquisitions, licensing deals, or investments. Assess the strength, validity, and value of IP assets being acquired, ensuring proper transfer or protection of IP rights during transactions.
• Promote the strategic value of IP throughout the organization. Provide training on IP issues to non-legal teams (e.g., R&D, business development, marketing), fostering a culture of IP awareness and ensuring that employees understand the importance of IP protection.

Qualifications :

Vera Therapeutics Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer.

Vera Therapeutics is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the anticipated base pay range is $340,000 - $375,000. The exact base pay offered for this role will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the candidate's geography, qualifications, skills, and experience.

At Vera, base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate will be eligible for an annual performance incentive bonus, new hire equity, and ongoing performance-based equity. Vera Therapeutics also offers various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, flexible time off, and a number of paid holidays.

Notice to Recruiters / Staffing Agencies

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We require that all recruiters and staffing agencies have a fully executed, formal written agreement on file.

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Fraud Alert

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Recruiters will always contact you using the domain of veratx.com. We will never request payments, ask for financial account information or sensitive information like social security numbers. If you are unsure if a message is from Vera Therapeutics, please email human resources.