At Elanco (NYCE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. We’re driven by our vision of ‘Food and Companionship Enriching Life’ and our approach to sustainability – the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ – to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Assistant General Counsel (AGC), IP & Innovation

Work Location - Hybrid: Position is in our corporate headquarters, which is currently in Greenfield, IN. Elanco Animal Health will be moving to a new headquarters in downtown Indianapolis in Q1 2025.

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR TOP APPLICANTS

Position Summary:

The Assistant General Counsel (AGC), IP & Innovation, is a key legal IP role in our department, encompassing innovation-led agreements, transactions, licensing, enforcement matters, brand issues, policy development, operations involvement and active client engagement.  Depending on the selected candidate, the role may also provide assistance with specific patent portfolio activities and development in IP matters including prosecution, portfolio management, etc.  The role will work closely with professionals across the global team and other functions.  

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for counselling internal business clients and negotiating with external entities in relation to agreements, transactions, licensing, enforcement matters, brand issues, policy development, operations involvement and risk mitigation solutions.




• Identifying IP asset opportunities and implementing actions to defend, protect and enforce various IP assets and company rights, which may also include working with software and operation systems and governmental authorities, etc.




• Reviewing intellectual property related clauses and rights issues in a variety of agreements with ability and competence to extend beyond.




• Conducting IP due diligence, in connection with any potential business matters which may include licensing, CDAs, MTAs, MOIs, acquisitions, divestitures, competitive assessments, inbound and outbound technology and licensing, manufacturing, supply, and vendor agreements, etc.




• Resolving routine and moderately complex IP matters with minimal supervision




• Developing and reporting on associated competitive data analytics with client focus 

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to perform successfully in cross-functional teams.




• Monitors and advises on competitive intelligence issues.




• Be able to handle multiple projects in fast-paced environment and exercise sound legal judgement.




• Capable of providing legal and strategic guidance to senior management and functional organizational leadership.




• In addition to top-notch legal skills, must have excellent interpersonal, strategic thinking, communication, and organizational skills.




• Applies innovative problem-solving skills and judgment to assist in managing corporate risk.




• Delivers work product within business constraints in a demanding environment while balancing competing client requests.

Basic Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, or biochemistry or equivalent.




• Juris Doctor or equivalent legal degree




• At least five to seven years in practice and experience in providing legal counsel on IP matters with a major corporation and/or law firm.




• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of US patent law & practice, Lanham Act, and related laws, regulations and statutes concerning IP matters.




• Familiarity with IP systems in major jurisdictions.




• Active admission to practice / bar registrations.




• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Elanco Animal Health does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.

Additional Skills/Preferences:

• Advanced degree(s) in chemical engineering, chemistry, or biochemistry or equivalent.




• Familiarity with the animal health or crop science industry.




• Prosecuting patent and other IP-oriented applications directly with the USPTO & worldwide though our network of agents; directing agents, junior and foreign associates.




• Performing FTOs, internal risk assessments, identifying strategic asset life-cycle management recommendations.




• Significant experience drafting large molecule therapeutic patent applications.




• Prepares and prosecutes international patent applications.




• Strong business acumen and mindset towards collaboration.




• Previous in-house experience. 




• Preferred prior litigation, IPR, opposition, M&A and business development experience.




• USPTO bar admission.




• Six Sigma certification.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status