• Director, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel

    Palo Alto Networks (Santa Clara, CA)


    Our Mission

    At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

    Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.

     

    Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

     

    Who We Are

     

    We take our mission of protecting the digital way of life seriously. We are relentless in protecting our customers and we believe that the unique ideas of every member of our team contributes to our collective success. Our values were crowdsourced by employees and are brought to life through each of us everyday - from disruptive innovation and collaboration, to execution. From showing up for each other with integrity to creating an environment where we all feel included.

     

    As a member of our team, you will be shaping the future of cybersecurity. We work fast, value ongoing learning, and we respect each employee as a unique individual. Knowing we all have different needs, our development and personal wellbeing programs are designed to give you choice in how you are supported. This includes our FLEXBenefits wellbeing spending account with over 1,000 eligible items selected by employees, our mental and financial health resources, and our personalized learning opportunities - just to name a few!

     

    Your Career

     

    Join our team as a Director, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel and immerse yourself in the thrilling world of cybersecurity in an AI-driven era. This opportunity promises an exciting journey as a key player in shaping the future of cybersecurity.

     

    As the Director, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel, you will lead the execution of our IP portfolio strategy, refining and adapting our patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret strategy to align with the company's vision. It requires the ability to effortlessly juggle multiple responsibilities, diving into diverse IP issues in a fast-paced environment. If you thrive on continuous learning and enjoy overcoming IP challenges, this role is tailor-made for you. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, from Engineering to Sales, Marketing, Legal and more, is a fundamental aspect of this exciting opportunity. Reporting to our Senior Director & Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property, you will play a significant role in shaping the future of both our Legal team and the entire company.

    Your Impact

    + Provide strategic counsel and guidance across all IP disciplines, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and open source matters

    + Lead and enhance patent and trademark prosecution strategies to fortify the company's innovation and intellectual property position

    + Collaborate closely with engineers to drive innovation and discover new inventions

    + Review patent applications to ensure the highest quality deliverables from both an offensive and defensive strategy perspective

    + Support and advise the Marketing team regarding trademark protection and branding strategy

    + Counsel engineering, product, and legal teams on open source licensing, usage, compliance, and risk mitigation

    + Provide support on a broad range of IP related agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, commercial agreements, joint development agreements, and licensing (inbound and outbound) agreements

    + Support ongoing IP litigation and disputes

    + Monitor and analyze developments in IP laws, regulations and policies applicable to our product and service offerings and advise internal teams as necessary

    + Offer innovative and practical IP solutions to teams across the organization, leveraging your expertise in various IP fields

    + Provide IP training across the organization on IP basics, risk management and compliance

    Your Experience

    + Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

    + Admission to the California Bar or eligibility to register as in-house counsel with the California Bar

    + Minimum of 15 years of combined experience at a distinguished law firm and in-house legal department

    + Degree in computer science or computer/electrical engineering

    + Strategic mindset balancing proactive protection with practical risk management

    + Expertise in IP strategy, prosecution, litigation, and licensing negotiations across various IP disciplines

    + Hands-on experience in trademark prosecution and global brand enforcement

    + Ability to independently raise questions, investigate decisions, develop solutions, make smart judgment calls, and navigate risks to maintain Palo Alto Networks’ culture of business integrity

    + Ability to seamlessly switch hats, be flexible, communicate articulately, embrace IP challenges, provide sound and practical business judgment, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment

    + Keen interest in learning new technologies

    + Collaborate effectively with others, build strong relationships and offer high-quality counseling across the organization

    + Ability to set priorities and execute projects in a timely manner

    Bonus Points:

    + In-house legal department experience with a consumer-oriented tech company

    + Experience working with cybersecurity, enterprise software, cloud SaaS offerings, AI and machine learning

    + Expertise in patent and trademark litigation

     

    If you excel in big-picture thinking while attending to details, possess acute business sense, thrive in collaboration, and adapt well in a fast-paced environment where versatility and client service are key, we invite you to apply and be part of our dynamic team.

     

    The Team

     

    Our Global Legal Department keeps pace with the rapid growth of the company and we are trusted business partners, providing practical advice while achieving business results. We are seeking a colleague who enjoys working collaboratively in a team environment within a dynamic company and can provide strategic advice to scale the program, team and support the growing business.

     

    Compensation Disclosure

     

    The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between $235,000 to $325,500/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here (http://benefits.paloaltonetworks.com/) .

     

    Our Commitment

     

    We’re problem solvers that take risks and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

     

    We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at [email protected] .

     

    Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

     

    All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.