Senior IP Counsel – Materials Group
Job Description
Location: Mentor, OH (Hybrid preferred; remote work will be considered for qualified non-local candidates.)
Reporting to: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Global M&A; and Intellectual Property
Avery Dennison is seeking a Senior IP Counsel for its Materials Group business. The candidate should be well-versed in corporate IP strategy, domestic and international IP procurement, enforcement/litigation, due diligence/clearance, business counseling, and transactional support. This position will work closely with the company's technology and innovation leadership teams, as well as regional directors of R&D;, Marketing, and Procurement. The candidate will need a background that permits him/her to provide direct, hands-on legal leadership for core material science platforms, pressure-sensitive adhesives, functional coatings, and digital identification technologies.
A successful Senior IP Counsel will be expected to:
Global IP Strategy & Commercial Alignment
• Drive and execute a global IP strategy aligned with core business growth, high-margin product platforms, and expansion in key international markets.
• Counsel business leaders on portfolio optimization, patents vs trade secrets, trademarks, and open-source models to maximize ROI and market protection.
• Manage, allocate, and optimize global IP budgets and external legal spend.
Portfolio Development & IP Lifecycle Management
• Oversee end-to-end global patent procurement (drafting, PCT/foreign filings, prosecution) to build strong, defensible IP fences around key platforms.
• Guide, challenge, and triage R&D; inventions to ensure high-value filing decisions and strong alignment with technology roadmaps.
• Execute offensive and defensive IP strategies, including competitive surveillance, EPO oppositions, and third-party observations.
Freedom to Operate (FTO), Risk Mitigation and Disputes
• Conduct rigorous patentability, validity, and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses to clear new product launches and minimize infringement risks.
• Advise executive leadership and stakeholders on legal risks regarding patenting, commercial readiness, and contractual exposure.
• Manage IP litigation, adversarial proceedings, and dispute resolution in close coordination with outside counsel and internal business partners.
Complex Commercial Transactions & M&A;
• Structure, draft, and negotiate complex IP and technology transactions, including Joint Development Agreements, inbound/outbound licensing, strategic vendor contracts, and research collaborations.
• Lead IP due diligence and risk assessment for M&A;, joint ventures, and venture investments.
Cross Functional Leadership & Enablement
• Act as an embedded legal partner to R&D;, Commercial, Procurement, and Business Development teams, integrating IP guidance early into product development.
• Design and deliver IP training programs for cross-functional staff on IP best practices, invention disclosures, and trade secret protection.
• Mentor, integrate, and leverage global internal IP resources, external agents, and foreign counsel.
Requirements
Department: Legal
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level