Counsel, Intellectual Property & Innovation

Portfolio Business : Corporate

J.M. Huber Corporation is one of the largest privately held, family-owned companies in the United States. Established in 1883, we are a diversified, global supplier of specialty and commodity chemicals, hydrocolloid solutions, engineered wood products and natural resources to customers spanning a wide variety of industries. With approximately $3 billion in sales and 4,000 employees worldwide, we have a material presence in more than 20 countries.

Position Summary

The Counsel, IP & Innovation manages all intellectual property legal matters and provides support as a shared service for all business functions within the J.M. Huber Corporation global portfolio of businesses using a broad set of legal, business, technical and other skills.

This role is Hybrid, located in Atlanta, GA, and will be 3 days in office and two days work-from-home.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the VP, Legal IP & Innovation in executing Huber’s IP vision and strategy
• Manage global IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise in relation to commercial and IP agreements, including distributorship, consulting, licensing, partnership, non-disclosure, research, and joint development agreements
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise in relation to IT, software, SaaS, and tech-related agreements
• Provide counsel and support for cybersecurity legal issues, including incident response, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation
• Conduct IP risk assessments, including freedom-to-operate analyses, patentability analyses, and trademark clearance searches
• Provide counsel and support for due diligence for potential acquisitions and investments

Specialized/Technical Knowledge, Required Skills, and Education

Required:

• J.D. degree (or equivalent) from an accredited law school; admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction with the ability to practice in Georgia required  
• 8+ years of experience as a licensed attorney in the areas of intellectual property, technology, commercial and transactional work, including 5+ years in an in-house role supporting business teams
• Experience supporting commercial teams directly with autonomy, including advising on a variety of legal issues
• Experience assessing and balancing legal risks in day-to-day transactions
• Proven track record of delivering timely, high-quality legal support and maintaining reliability under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to changing business needs and legal landscapes, and to lead or support change management initiatives
• Ability to provide business-oriented, pragmatic advice to maximize business opportunities
• Excellent prioritization skills and strong sense of customer service to varied set of internal stakeholders in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Experience managing complex projects and prioritizing competing demands in a global environment across different businesses
• Demonstrates an excellent work ethic, organizational values, and professionalism
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with leaders and employees across the organization

Preferred:

• Admitted before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a registered patent attorney
• An undergraduate degree in hard sciences, such as engineering or chemistry preferred
• Law firm and in-house counsel experience supporting manufacturing companies
• USPTO attorney registration, with experience drafting and prosecuting patents
• Exposure to AI, data privacy principles, and emerging technologies as they relate to IP and commercial use

Our employees are our strongest asset, and their safety, health, and well-being is our highest priority. We respect the individual by providing opportunities for professional and personal development. Our Principles drive us to create an inclusive workplace where employees share core values, show dignity and respect toward others, and work hard to achieve their best performance.  

J.M. Huber Corporation is an EEO employer. Pre-employment drug screening is required