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J&R Ross Agency is seeking an associate with 3+ years of experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and software companies. This position is well-suited for someone who excels in a fast-paced environment and seeks direct client contact. You will have the opportunity to partner with client business teams and in-house counsel on a variety of matters across all stages of the product and company lifecycle. You will work on a broad range of commercial agreements, including licensing, collaboration, research, clinical trial, manufacturing, development, supply, and commercialization arrangements.

The salary range for this position is $260,000 to $310,000. This position is bonus eligible and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Primary responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts, including:
  • Research and development agreements
  • Clinical trial agreements, manufacturing and supply agreements, and service agreements
  • Patent license agreements and assignments
  • Nondisclosure and material transfer agreements
  • Distribution agreements
  • Strategic alliances
• Advising clients on contract interpretation, risk assessment, and compliance issues
• Reviewing IP assets and contractual obligations in transactions
• Reviewing high-volume routine work, such as confidentiality agreements, customer agreements, and terms and conditions
• Working with scientists, executives, and cross-disciplinary teams to align both legal and business goals
• Staying current on legal trends and regulatory developments impacting life sciences and technology transactions

Qualifications

• Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted or eligible for admission in California
• Background or degree in biology, immunology, biochemistry or a related field
• 3+ years of experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts for life sciences and technology clients at a law firm
• Knowledge of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights, supported by relevant law school coursework
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to software licensing, SaaS and technology transactions is preferred
• Familiarity with data privacy issues in technology agreements and an understanding of AI, both in client applications and as a tool for legal practice
• Experience working with clients in at least several of the following: life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, digital health and medical device industries
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and written and oral communication skills
• Professionalism in working and engaging with clients and colleagues
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and balance competing responsibilities
• Ability to stay organized and exercise extreme attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in team settings

About the Intellectual Property – Patent Prosecution Section

The patent prosecution team takes client’s strongest innovations and efficiently crafts patents to obtain protections in mission-critical jurisdictions. We have a deep bench of associates, patent agents, and technical advisors to draft applications, respond to office actions, conduct examiner interviews, and perform freedom to operate studies. We help clients identify innovations, develop prosecution strategy, and ensure quality control – providing critical guidance to help clients succeed.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a patent agent with a degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science or a related field to join our IP Prosecution team. Patent agents collaborate with team members and clients to understand their technology and develop and execute strategies to protect the technology. Patent agents draft and prosecute patent applications, conduct freedom to operate studies, and analyze patents to clear products for market. Boston and DC are the preferred office locations.

• Assess scientific literature, patents, and patent application documents, each encompassing a variety of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and related fields
• Understand, critique and provide insightful opinion on scientific data relating to inventions
• Conduct a comprehensive search for scientific articles, patents, and patent application documents relevant to the subject of an invention
• Perform in-depth analysis comparing an invention with existing discoveries or inventions
• Identify essential elements, features or components of an invention
• Compose patent applications comprising a comprehensive background of the field of an invention, a description of critical features and components of the invention and a set of claims clearly and distinctly defining the invention
• Draft responses to rejection of a patent application for an invention from the USPTO and other worldwide patent offices, providing detailed analysis of the scientific or patent references cited in the rejection, assessing the difference between the invention and the citations and presenting convincing arguments and reasoning why the patent application is to be allowed as a patent
• Conduct clearance studies to clear clients’ products with respect to competitor patents
• Present ideas, reasoning, and conclusions in a concise way to colleagues and provide insightful feedback and arguments to colleagues on their ideas
• Work with clients on innovative and cutting-edge technologies to procure patent protection and build IP portfolios

Qualifications:

• Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science or a related field
• Ability to present scientific concepts, analysis, reasoning and conclusions to scientists and non-scientists
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, stay organized and exercise attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in team settings

J&R Ross Agency, LLC, a professional legal recruiting firm is seeking an associate with 3+ years of employment law experience to join our client's team in San Diego. Responsibilities will include working on all aspects of employment litigation (e.g., discrimination, leave, wage and hour, non-compete and breach of contract matters), everyday employment and HR-related counseling, drafting of employment-related policies and agreements, and conducting investigations and trainings.

Collaboration with team members is an important component of this role. Therefore, the firm requires working from the office approximately 60% of the time in accordance with the firm’s published guidelines.

Salary: $260,000 to $390,000

Qualifications

• Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school
• Must be admitted or eligible for admission in California
• At least three years of employment law experience

• Employment litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies
• Advising employers on employment-related compliance matters
• Drafting employment policies and employment-related agreements, including employee handbooks, employment agreements, and separation agreements.
• Conducting investigations
• Delivering employment-related compliance training

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize, stay organized and exercise attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in team settings