Lead Intellectual Property Counsel

About the role 

We are hiring a Lead Intellectual Property Counsel to be a part of our growing legal team. In this role, you will have a unique opportunity to build and scale Chime’s patent program and influence core components of Chime’s intellectual property strategy. You have outstanding professional judgment and excellent communication, interpersonal and drafting skills. You have an ability to anticipate and deliver on the needs of a dynamic and creative business, are eager to work with cross-functional teams, have the flexibility to manage a wide range of projects with a wide variety of people, and are comfortable advising senior business leaders (including executive level management).

The base salary offered for this role and level of experience will begin at $168,570 and up to $238,900. Full-time employees are also eligible for a bonus, competitive equity package, and benefits. The actual base salary offered may be higher, depending on your location, skills, qualifications, and experience.

In this role, you can expect to carry out the following

• Patent Portfolio Management
  • Oversee and manage Chime's patent portfolio to ensure alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
  • Conduct regular portfolio reviews and identify strategic areas for patenting in collaboration with R&D and product teams.
• Patent Prosecution and Maintenance
  • Direct the preparation and prosecution of patent applications.
  • Manage our relationships with outside counsel to ensure that all patent filings are of high quality and cost-effective.
• IP Strategy and Advising
  • Partner with Chime’s commercial legal team to negotiate and draft intellectual property agreements, including licensing, collaboration, and joint development agreements.
  • Provide strategic advice to senior management on patent matters and IP strategy in alignment with business goals.
  • Help participate in the development of Chime’s long-term strategic initiatives.
•  Due Diligence and IP Transactions
  • Where applicable, conduct IP due diligence for any mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, or other strategic investments.
• Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analyses
  • Conduct and supervise freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, and advise on risk mitigation strategies.
  • Prepare legal opinions on patentability, validity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate issues.
• Training and Development
  • Develop and conduct training sessions for employees on relevant IP issues and best practices.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant IP laws and regulations.
  • Stay abreast of changes in patent laws and practices that may affect the company.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with other departments, including IT, Platform, Data Science, Marketing, Product, Risk and Customer Experience, to ensure that IP considerations are integrated into company processes.
  • Serve as an IP expert within cross-functional teams working on new products or business initiatives.

To thrive in this role, you have

• A J.D. and active membership in at least one state bar.
• Experience in engineering or another technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of combined law firm and in-house experience with a focus on IP and/or patent prosecution.
• Admitted to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Experience with preparation and prosecution of US patents; preparation of infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate opinions; client counseling
• Experience in operating with limited direction, under tight deadlines, and while managing multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with fintech, technology, banking, or financial services companies.

A little about us

At Chime, we believe that everyone can achieve financial progress. We’re passionate about developing solutions and services to empower people to succeed. Every day, we start with empathy for our members and stay motivated by our desire to support them in ways that make a meaningful difference. 

We created Chime—a financial technology company, not a bank*-- founded on the premise that basic banking services should be helpful, transparent, and fair. Chime helps unlock the access and ability our members need to overcome the systemic barriers that block them from moving forward. By providing members with access to liquidity, rewards, and credit building, our easy-to-use tools and intuitive platforms give members the ability to have more control over their money and to take action toward achieving their f