Access Advance LLC · 5 days ago
Senior Lead Contracts Attorney – SEP Licensing
Boston, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$150K/yr - $300K/yr
10+ years expAccess Advance LLC is seeking an experienced Senior Lead Contracts Attorney to support their patent pool licensing programs for standard essential patents (SEPs) in video coding technologies. The role involves drafting and reviewing SEP license agreements, providing legal analysis, and ensuring compliance with FRAND obligations while collaborating with licensing executives and technical experts.
Intellectual PropertyLegalProfessional Services
No H1B
Responsibilities
Draft, review, and revise SEP license agreements in accordance with FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) commitments
Support licensing executives throughout the negotiation process by providing legal analysis, drafting contract language, and identifying key risk areas
Ensure all licensing terms comply with FRAND obligations and maintain consistency with the patent pool's established licensing framework
Prepare side letters agreements that address specific licensee circumstances while preserving program integrity
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all existing license agreements within the patent pool program
Monitor and ensure consistency across the licensing program to maintain FRAND compliance and prevent discriminatory treatment
Develop and maintain systems for tracking agreement terms, obligations, and key provisions across the entire licensee portfolio
Identify and flag potential conflicts or inconsistencies during negotiations that could impact the integrity of the FRAND licensing framework
Provide expert guidance on FRAND licensing principles, case law, and regulatory developments affecting SEP licensing
Analyze complex licensing issues including royalty calculations, patent essentiality determinations, and territorial scope
Assess legal risks related to potential FRAND violations, competition law compliance, and license agreement disputes
Research and advise on international SEP licensing frameworks and jurisdiction-specific requirements
Work closely with technical experts to understand the standards covered by the patent pool, particularly video coding standards such as HEVC, VVC, AV1, and VP9
Support patent pool governance activities and maintain alignment with standard-setting organization requirements
Monitor developments in video coding standards and their licensing implications
Create and maintain templates, form agreements, and drafting guidelines for SEP licenses
Develop internal playbooks and resources documenting licensing positions, standard terms, and negotiation parameters
Prepare memoranda analyzing licensing issues, competitive agreements, and industry practices
Train and advise internal stakeholders on FRAND licensing principles and patent pool operations
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
Active bar membership in good standing
10+ years of experience in patent licensing with substantial focus on SEPs
Understanding of FRAND licensing obligations, including relevant case law and regulatory frameworks
Excellent written communication and contract drafting skills
Strong analytical skills with ability to identify inconsistencies and maintain program integrity across numerous agreements
Proven experience in working in a teams-based environment
Must be eligible to work in the United States and out of an office in Boston, MA in a hybrid environment
Preferred
Direct experience working with patent pool administrators or patent owners in the licensing of SEPs
Experience with European competition law and international SEP licensing frameworks
Knowledge of key SEP/FRAND jurisdictions and legal developments (U.S., EU, China, etc.)
Familiarity with patent pool structures in the telecommunications or media technology sectors
Experience analyzing royalty methodologies and rate-setting for SEP portfolios
Familiarity with video coding technologies, particularly HEVC (H.265), VVC (H.266), AV1, and VP9
Company
Access Advance LLC
Access Advance LLC is an independent licensing administration company, established in 2015, currently offering three industry-leading patent pools for licensing essential patents of the most important standards-based video codec technologies.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageRecent News
2026-01-09
Morningstar.com
2025-12-22
Company data provided by crunchbase