Job Description
Armstrong Flooring, a division of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a job opportunity for a Senior Counsel Intellectual Property to be located at our Corporate Headquarters in Lancaster, PA. Reporting to the Sr. VP , General Counsel, AFI, this position is responsible for providing Legal advice and counsel regarding a wide range of intellectual property matters, including preparation, prosecution and analysis of US and foreign patent properties, trademarks and copyrights;, analyzing third party patents, infringement and licensing strategies and negotiations; Global intellectual property litigation; trademark and branding initiatives and programs, anti-counterfeit initiatives, and innovation identification and protection programs. Reviewing, drafting, negotiating and administering non-disclosure agreements, joint-development agreements, licensing agreements and providing support on other commercial contracts. Registration as a patent attorney with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO license).
The position will perform legal analysis and provide legal timely, effective and practical guidance in a fast-paced in-house setting under the direction of legal VP or GC.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Identify, analyze and assess legal risks.
Provide professional advice, counseling and oversight to internal clients regarding a subject matter area on a reactive and proactive basis.
Work collaboratively with in-house staff attorneys and external counsel, when approved
Engage in routine interaction and privileged communications with functional managers
Occasional travel is required
Assist in setting legal or risk mitigation policies and procedures for a subject matter area
Provide legal training to internal clients on a subject matter area
Provide oversight of outside counsel
Supervisory Responsibilities
May manage attorneys and/or paralegals on a local or sub-functional basis.
Required Qualifications
Juris Doctor and PA (other state) Bar
Patent Prosecution Work Required
Minimum of 5 yrs. demonstrated experience in Subject Matter area in a medium to large sized law firm or in-house legal department
Experience managing others
Professional maturity and high level of discretion and integrity
Ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic team
Ability to work in a matrix organization
Excellent analytical skills and ability to think strategically
Ability to oversee outside counsel
Desired Qualifications
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Background
Willingness to develop SME in new areas
Demonstrates strong working knowledge of functional focus area