Patent & Trade Secret Counsel – Industrial, Automotive & Pharma Focus

About Axiom: 

Axiom is transforming the legal services landscape by delivering innovative solutions ranging from individual secondees to fully integrated project teams that combine top-tier talent with cutting-edge technology. Join our innovative talent community and help drive impactful legal solutions to complex problems in various industries. 

Job Description:

We are seeking a Patent & Trade Secret Counsel with experience in patent prosecution, portfolio management, and trade secret protection to join our growing legal network. This role is ideal for junior to mid-level legal professionals with strong experience supporting innovation-driven companies in industrial, clean energy, automotive, and life sciences/pharma spaces.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and support patent prosecution, patent portfolio strategy, and trade secret protection initiatives.

• Conduct patentability, freedom-to-operate, and landscape analyses across relevant industries.

• Draft, review, and negotiate IP assignments, confidentiality agreements, and licensing arrangements.

• Collaborate with R&D, engineering, and product teams to align IP strategy with innovation and commercialization goals.

• Support cross-border and multi-jurisdictional patent and trade secret matters.

• Assist with IP due diligence for partnerships, collaborations, and business development projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

• JD or equivalent, with active U.S. bar membership in good standing.

• 5 years of experience in patent law, trade secret protection, or IP portfolio management.

• Experience with industrial, clean energy, automotive, or life sciences/pharma companies, particularly in pharma-focused innovation.

• Strong drafting, analytical, and negotiation skills.

• Ability to work with cross-functional teams in fast-paced, product-focused environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience at companies such as Danaher, Ford, Toyota, or other innovation-driven industrial, clean energy, or pharma organizations.

• Exposure to patent prosecution, FTO analysis, or trade secret strategy in industrial or pharmaceutical contexts.

• Familiarity with IP enforcement, licensing, and commercial agreements.

• Willingness to support remote or onsite client engagements in U.S. locations.

Compensation, Benefits & Location:  

This role offers a range of competitive compensation starting at $127,000, and a highly competitive benefits package in the alternative legal services marketplace that includes health benefits, 401k, and more. Axiomites also get access to professional development tools and resources and learning and development programs. Axiomites predominately work remotely, with the exception that some clients require on-site presence.  

Axiom is the global leader in high-caliber, on-demand legal talent. Covering North America, the UK, Europe, and APAC, we enable legal departments to drive efficiency and growth and meet the demands of today’s business landscape with best in breed alterative legal services.  

Axiom is a leader in diversity, inclusion, and social engagement. Diversity is core to our values and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are proud to be named a best place to work for LGBTQ+ Equality, earning top marks in the 2021 Corporate Equality Index for the second consecutive year. Axiom’s legal department is Mansfield certified and is committed to considering at least 50% diverse candidates for leadership roles and outside counsel representation.  

Learn more about working at Axiom. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: Axiom ensures equal employment opportunity in recruitment and employment, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religious creed o