Job Overview

The Office of General Counsel supports the dynamic educational environment of the University of Cincinnati by providing legal advice to support all areas of operation, instruction, research and administration at the University.

Attorneys in the Office of General Counsel provide, manage and coordinate legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University. As an assistant attorney general, these services are often performed in collaboration with the Ohio Attorney General?s Office.

Attorneys within the Office of General Counsel are expected to provide high-level legal advice, counsel and advocacy to the University in a wide variety of areas. This particular position is for an Associate General Counsel-Intellectual Property. It is part of a team within the Office of General Counsel responsible for providing accurate, timely, and detailed legal services to the University?s Office of Innovation, Office of Research, and Office of Trademarks, Licensing & Brand Engagement.

This position is primarily focused on developing and implementing patent strategy and protecting and commercializing innovations.  This is an outstanding professional opportunity to work with highly talented and committed colleagues and contribute to the continued growth of a world-class organization.

Essential Functions

• Reporting to the Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel (or designee), this position will collaborate closely with leadership for the Office of Innovation to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications, either directly or in coordination with external counsel; provide strategic IP counsel to leadership and staff, including guidance on patentability, claim scope, prosecution strategy, filing decisions, and portfolio development; collaborate with faculty, inventors, and staff to identify, evaluate, protect, and position intellectual property for commercialization; oversee patent prosecution workflows, including docket management, review of prosecution materials, foreign filing decisions, and continuation strategy; and support copyright and trademark matters, including protection strategy, registration questions, ownership issues, and practical risk assessment.
• Provide and coordinate high-quality legal services including legal counsel, representation, and advocacy to the University on multiple unrelated matters rapidly, accurately, and effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment consistent with the expectations of the General Counsel or designee, University stakeholders, and the Ohio Attorney General.
• Negotiate, draft, administer, and achieve legal compliance on a broad variety of commercial contracts, licensing agreements, leases, and other legal instruments memorializing the diverse activities of a large, dynamic, public organization.
• Provide legal advice and counsel in contracting, compliance, intellectual property, and other higher education legal practice areas including, but not limited to, trademarks and licensing, labor and employment, student-related matters, contract review and negotiation, public procurement, compliance, privacy, public records, constitutional law, real estate, transactional matters, gifts and development, administrative law, and research-related matters such as ethics, intellectual property, compliance and contracting.
• Work closely and collaboratively with other members of the Office of General Counsel, administrators, faculty, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively, work cooperatively, and interact comfortably with a varied community and multiple constituencies including administrators, staff, faculty, students, trustees, external professionals, research sponsors, and vendors.
• Position requires excellent oral and written communication skills; strong research and analytical skills; exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and collaborate on a team while advising stakeholders in a fast-paced/high-volume, but positive and good-humored, environment.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure. Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations and meet deadlines.
• Work with outside counsel, interact with other governmental offices as directed, and collaborate with affiliated organizations in a manner that prioritizes the University?s interests. Ability to work with limited supervision and to take initiative when appropriate.
• Maintain a physical presence when required on main campus, regional campuses, at governmental or quasi-governmental agencies and in court to serve as a representative of the Office of General Counsel and the University with the highest degree of integrity and ethics.

Essential Functions Continued

• Exercise excellent judgment and attention to detail, act with the highest degree of honesty and integrity, and demonstrate the utmost discretion. Comply with all legal and ethical rules applicable to an attorney licensed and practicing in the State of Ohio.
• Maintain responsibility for assignments and partner with attorneys and staff to manage significant legal matters and areas of responsibility.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel or designee and perform other related duties based on departmental need.
• Proven ability to operate industry-standard computer technology.

Required Education

• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an ABA accredited law school.

Required Trainings/Certifications

• Meet the qualifications for appointment as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio.
• Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the State of Ohio.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Required Experience

• Ten (10) years or more of experience as a practicing attorney with a law firm, corporation, government agency, or university, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications, drafting patent opinions, and managing patent portfolios.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to multi-task, prioritize, and collaborate on a team while advising various stakeholders in a high-volume and high-pressure environment.
• Sound judgment, high ethical standards, discretion and integrity.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Higher education experience is preferred.
• Bachelor?s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or other scientific or technical field is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment