Formation Bio · 1 day ago
Senior Director, IP Counsel
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$275K/yr - $350K/yr
10+ years expFormation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company focused on efficient drug development. They are seeking a Senior Director, IP Counsel to lead the IP strategy, manage patent portfolios, and collaborate with various teams to enhance the value of innovations throughout their lifecycle.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)BiotechnologyClinical TrialsHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Develop and execute IP strategies that maximize asset value from in-licensing through exit
Lead IP due diligence for pharmaceutical and biologic acquisitions, identifying both risks and hidden value in complex pharma/biotech transactions
Build IP portfolios during clinical development that strengthen our competitive position and considering potential asset exit opportunities
Drive IP strategy and negotiation in complex pharma/biotech transactions, including working closely with our dealmakers on items like strength and longevity of IP protection
Manage relationships with outside IP law firms
Navigate formulation findings, method of use patents, lifecycle management strategies, process-related discoveries and labeling-related IP issues
Oversee trademark, trade secret, and data exclusivity strategies
Advise on IP issues to multidisciplinary scientific and engineering teams, including ML/data scientists and with respect to our AI product features
Comfortable working cross functionally, including partnering with clinical and CMC teams to identify patentable innovations during development, collaborating with BD to position IP assets for maximum strategic value, and collaborating with our AI/tech teams as we build out our in-house technology platforms
Qualification
Required
JD required, active bar membership preferred
10-15+ years in pharmaceutical IP, ideally with experience at both law firms and in-house at pharma companies
Deep expertise in pharma/biologics IP lifecycle management, from early development through commercialization
Proven track record managing IP for Phase 1 and Phase 2+ clinical programs
Experience with both in-licensing and out-licensing transactions
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple law firms / global patent portfolios
Experience drafting claims and prosecuting patents
Strong understanding of regulatory exclusivities and competitive intelligence
Ability to operate independently from day one while building strong internal relationships
Preferred
Experience with Chinese or JPAC pharmaceutical partnerships and transactions
Experience with preclinical assets, such as IND enabling studies
Track record of preparing assets for successful exits or partnerships
Comfort with AI and modern legal technology tools
Scientific background and familiarity beyond pure legal experience
Experience working with Chinese pharmaceutical or biotech companies, or a background involving partnerships with Asian markets
Prior experience in both law firm settings and in-house roles, evidencing a balanced perspective on deadline-driven and autonomous work environments
Benefits
Equity
Comprehensive benefits
Generous perks
Hybrid flexibility
Company
Formation Bio
Formation Bio is a drug development company that strives to provide treatments to patients faster by reimagining clinical trials.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$528MKey Investors
Andreessen Horowitz
2024-06-26Series D· $372M
2021-09-30Series C· $156M
2018-10-15Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Benjamine Liu
CEO and Co-founder at Formation Bio
Linhao Zhang
Co-Founder
Recent News
BioWorld Financial Watch
2025-12-19
2025-12-16
2025-12-11
Company data provided by crunchbase