Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property Litigation

Senior Counsel – Intellectual Property Litigation

Career Category Law/Legal Job Description Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do. Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas –Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease– we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives. Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will have direct involvement and shared responsibility in all aspects of U.S. and international patent disputes, in both judicial and administrative tribunals, from initial issue identification through resolution. Working in partnership with outside counsel and other in-house attorneys and staff, the Senior Counsel will develop and drive case strategies as an active team member, including all infringement, validity, and enforceability positions. In addition, the Senior Counsel will have hands-on involvement in such things as witness interviews, discovery (production, support and/or conduct of depositions, drafting of discovery responses), motion and brief drafting, trial preparation (including witness selection and preparation, selection of trial exhibits, drafting of jury instructions, etc.), and participation at trial and on appeal. In addition to litigating patent issues, the Senior Counsel will also be responsible for developing and counseling others on intellectual property strategies associated with Amgen’s business and research endeavors. 15% – 20% domestic and global travel anticipated. It is preferred that this role be based in Thousand Oaks, California. However, the role may also be located remotely in the US. The role requires the ability to work client group hours as needed.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The strategic professional we seek is an IP litigator with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

• J.D. degree or LL.M. degree from an accredited law school, admission to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction and four (4) years of experience practicing Intellectual Property law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in the sciences and a working understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, cellular biology, protein chemistry or the like
• Seven (7) years of experience litigating U.S. patent disputes in federal and/or administrative courts, 4+ years of which involved biotechnology-related matters
• Trial experience (bench or jury)
• U.S. biosimilar litigation experience
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills (including law firm or corporate experience having managed others) combined with a strong client service focus
• Excellent analytic, legal drafting, and oral and written communication skills
• Some exposure to foreign adversarial proceedings (patent or SPC enforcement proceedings, nullity actions, PMNOC proceedings, oppositions, biosimilar litigation, etc.)
• Ability to work independently and in teams, work efficiently, prioritize workflow, meet demanding deadlines, and manage multi-dimensional projects
• Working with experts on scientific and remedies related issues
• Negotiating and drafting confidential disclosure agreements, protective orders and settlement agreements and participating in mediations
• USPTO registration

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way. The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
• A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
• Stock-based long-term incentives
• Award-winning time-off plans
• Flexible work models where possible.

Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Application deadline Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed. As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease. Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Salary Range 250,321.60USD -338,670.40 USD

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. For more information, visit and follow us on