Job Description

PATSNAP VISION

PatSnap is a global, hyper-growth, venture-backed start-up with offices in Toronto, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Singapore and LA. Our cloud-based software enables innovators to be more effective in their research and investment decisions and bring new inventions to market faster.

Our hyper-growth trajectory is powered by our people, and we are extremely proud of our company-wide vision, work ethic, and entrepreneurial spirit. Ideas are always welcome, regardless of seniority, because we believe that open innovation amplifies success throughout every department: product development, marketing, sales or operations.

PatSnappers like to learn, grow and make a difference. Join us and be part of our story.

THE ROLE

We're looking for a talented and highly motivated lawyer to support our rapidly growing and evolving business. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with broad, generalist responsibilities, but also with specialist legal subject skills in commercial law and regulatory matters

This position is responsible for managing all legal matters operating within a broad delegation of authority from the CEO pertaining to Patsnap's operations. This role must demonstrate a complete understanding of an IT business and related P&L/balance sheets and associated complex issues. The Company legal resource in following areas: software licensing, litigation, intellectual property, employment law, employment benefits, corporate law, consumer law, real estate law, competition law or mergers and acquisitions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement procedures to monitor and minimize legal expenditures
• Review and counsel on corporate policies and procedures relating to dispute avoidance issues
• Manage and monitor legal budget within assigned practice area
• Demonstrate strong business acumen and understanding of business initiatives and strategies cross functionally and company wide
• Viewed as trusted expert and leader within legal and across Patsnap.
• Possesses broad working knowledge of International nuances of functional area
• Determine Patsnaps strategy such as choice of outside counsel
• Negotiate fee arrangements with outside counsel and vendors
• Determine appropriate staffing for various legal matters
• Provide strategic direction and act as a thought leader with primary responsibility for developing and executing innovative strategies to achieve business objectives and meet company goals
• Act as key advisor to SLT on all issues arising within his/her responsibilities and advise on appropriate legal action to be taken
• Manage complex issues and communicate/collaborate with SLT and Board of Directors
• Represent Patsnap in relations with major customers, suppliers, bankers, government agencies, etc.
• Serve as a member of SLT, assuming other special projects/assignments as directed by the CEO
• Generally, works without consulting their manager
• Independent decisions are made daily
• Typically has total staff of 2-3 direct reports
• Typically has a North America and Europe geographic focus

SOFTWARE LICENSING

• Work directly with SLT to provide legal advice on issues related to software licensing
• Work with the sales organisation and IT in the negotiation of terms and conditions of software licenses and related agreements with Patsnaps customers
• Serve as a subject matter expert within Patsnap in the area of software licensing and related activities and as a resource to help resolve complex issues that affect Patsnap internal and external relations
• Review and revise software licenses and related agreements
• Serve as a mentor contract managers and paralegal on licensing issues

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Counsel various Patsnap personnel on intellectual property issues.
• Serve as an expert within Patsnap in the area of intellectual property and as a resource to help resolve complex issues
• Manage the Patsnaps worldwide trademark and copyright programs
• Represent Patsnap in intellectual property disputes
• Retain and manage outside counsel responsible for handling intellectual property issues and disputes
• Enforce Patsnap's intellectual property rights.

CORPORATE LAW/M&A/IPO

• Manage Patsnap's general corporate legal activities, including mergers and acquisitions, and provide advice to SLT regarding such activities
• Serve as a subject matter expert within Patsnap in the area of corporate law and related activities and as a resource to help resolve complex issues that affect Patsnaps internal and external relations and business activities
• Actively participate in all facets of mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of subsidiaries and other tangible and intangible assets, including intellectual property assets (due diligence and drafting and negotiation of merger and other acquisition or disposition documents, including license agreements) and manage outside counsel in connection with such activities
• Work with outside counsel to prepare and review SEC and other regulatory filings including regular Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filings as well as SEC filings required as a result of merger and acquisition activity
• Work with the Finance Department, outside counsel, banks and underwriters on public and private offerings of equity, debt and convertible debt including due diligence as well as preparation of disclosure documents, SEC filings and closing documents in connection with such offerings
• Prepare legal opinions in connection with the transfer of leg ended securities
• Review of various bank agreements for the Finance Department
• Prepare, review and negotiate agreements with foreign joint ventures in which Patsnap owns less than 100% of the equity
• Actively participate in the preparation of the IPO process and the shareholder class actions which can result if the process is not followed correctly or Patsnap breaches its legal obligations to shareholders after the initial public offering has been made and the shares are trading actively on the Nasdaq.
• Secure that Patsnap is in compliance with all relevant state and federal laws, that contracts will not be negatively affected by the IPO, that existing investor agreements will not discourage new investors, and that no other existing obligations or legal difficulties result in unpleasant surprises.

COMPLIANCE & ETHICS

• Establish standards, guidelines, and policies in order to ensure that the company complies with government regulations, international standards, and internal policies
• Establish corporate standards and guidelines for compliance
• Develop, review and implement compliance policies, procedures, and programs
• Evaluate and recommend the initiation of investigation procedures
• Develop and oversee systems for uniform handling of misconduct and violations
• Conduct long-range assessments to evaluate and investigate compliance risks
• Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk
• Prepare reports to the Board and responds to specific issues and concerns of Board members
• Serve as primary liaison between Patsnap and high-level industry regulators
• Oversee response to all regulatory inquiries, audits, complaints and investigations
• Coordinate examinations with regulatory agencies
• Ensure proper reporting of violations or potential violations to appropriate enforcement agencies
• Plan, develop, and implement employee training on compliance guidelines and standards
• Ensure the development of training programs meet employee needs by assessing feedback from relevant department managers
• Disseminate relevant documentation to employees
• Represent Patsnap in relations with major customers, suppliers, banks, government agencies, etc.
• Develop and/or improve tools, systems, processes, and procedures to increase the legal departments efficiency and effectiveness

LITIGATIONS

• Manage a subset of Patsnaps litigation matters, including lawsuits and administrative actions
• Serve as a subject matter expert within Patsnap in the area of litigation and as a resource to help resolve complex litigation issues
• Work with outside counsel to advise and represent Patsnap in disputes relating to license agreements and commercial, intellectual property, employment and collections issues
• Actively participate in all facets of litigation (discovery, witness preparation, briefing, expert discovery and trial); participate in mediations; and oversee responses to third party subpoenas
• Advise SLT on risks involved in disputes and litigations

TYPICAL ROLE DEFINITION

• Strategic Leadership. Serves as primary contact and consultant to SLT members on major functional issues and is accountable for growing a critical area of the business.
• Accountable to CEO for delivering strategic and financial results.
• Generally, contributes to Patsnap through strategy definition, communication, and implementation, and to the legal department through their vision.
• Generally, has discretion to approve all items of expenditure within an established budget.
• Works within broad Corporate objectives to define functional goals.
• Conducts strategic workforce planning, creating and communicating consistent standards of performance, and supports in creating a high-performance culture.
• Helps to grow future leaders by giving them accountability and opportunities for growth.

AUTHORITY & SCOPE

• Generally, works without consulting their manager
• Independent decisions are made daily
• Typically has total staff of 2-3 direct reports
• Typically has a North America and Europe geographic focus

REQUIREMENTS

• High level of experience both within Private Practice and Corporate environments
• Possess a high EQ and a credible history of successful cross-functional collaboration with others
• Able to work independently with a high degree of accountability
• Communicate clearly and concisely with a flexible style for different needs globally
• Experience of negotiating SaaS contracts (sell side)
• Express complex ideas in a simple manner
• Be agile in approach when creating/influencing/implementing policies and procedures
• Possess excellent business judgment and outstanding critical thinking and analytical capabilities
• Data Protection knowledge (GDPR, CCPA and PECR)
• Broad commercial agreement exposure - drafting complex technology sales agreements