Associate General Counsel - IP Strategy

South San Francisco, CA, us on site Until 10/6/2026 7+ years exp H-1B sponsor history First posted August 7, 2026 Last posted August 7, 2026
Job description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, FacebookInstagramX and YouTube.

AbbVie is searching for an in-house Associate General Counsel for our IP Strategy group, part of AbbVie’s Intellectual Property, Transactions, and Innovation legal team. This position will support AbbVie’s pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North Chicago, IL, South San Francisco, CA or Waltham, MA with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week).

Acting individually and in cross-functional teams, the in-house Associate General Counsel will develop and implement intellectual property strategies for AbbVie’s products and product candidates. 

Responsibilities:

  • Generate and implement intellectual property strategies across a variety of therapeutic areas and technologies, including both large and small molecules
  • Partner with IP Prosecution to draft, file, and prosecute strategically useful patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel
  • Work directly with scientists to generate novel intellectual property maximizing AbbVie’s competitive position
  • Provide legal advice and counsel to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters
  • Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post-grant proceedings
  • JD degree from an accredited law school, state bar admission enabling in-house practice (specific state not required), and registration to practice before the USPTO
  • 7+ years of experience practicing patent law as an attorney or patent agent at a law firm and/or life sciences company, including substantial U.S. and foreign patent prosecution
    • Patent litigation experience is a significant plus
  • Technical background relevant for pharmaceutical patent prosecution, such as:
    • Experience with small molecule and/or biological pharmaceutical discovery & development, and/or
    • Technical degree in relevant field, such as molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering
  • Strong legal, analytical, communication, collaboration, and people skills
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to meet deadlines

 

 

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

Compensation (from employer):
182000 – 346000 USD (YEARLY)

About this role

Summary

Develop and implement IP strategies, prosecute patents, advise R&D teams, and manage patent disputes.

Job title

Associate General Counsel - IP Strategy

Experience level

7+ years

Minimum experience

7+ years exp

Industry

pharmaceuticals

Location requirements

South San Francisco, CA, hybrid work allowed

Salary

$182k–$346k

Visa sponsorship

H-1B sponsor history

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

law degreeUSPTO registrationpatent prosecutionpatent litigationlife sciences experience

Preferred skills

pharmaceutical discoverybiological pharmaceuticaltechnical degree in biology or chemistry

Specializations

intellectual propertypatent lawpharmaceuticalsbiotechnologybiochemistry
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

South San Francisco, CA, USA

Hybrid City