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Managing Counsel, Intellectual Property
1 year ago
Discord is looking for an exceptional Managing Counsel, Intellectual Property, to join our growing legal team. This is a high-impact role at one of the most interesting companies on the planet!
As Managing Counsel, Intellectual Property, you will map out the strategic vision of the IP team in alignment with Legal leads and cross-functional senior management. You will lead a small team that defines and implements our trademark, copyright, and patent prosecution and enforcement strategy in alignment with company and department priorities and risks, and help our company expand across the world. You'll get to work with some super inspiring people, including our Marketing, Engineering, Litigation, Product, Policy, and Corp Dev teams.
Reporting to our Senior Director of Corporate & Commercial Law, you'll have a significant impact on how the Legal team and the company grow.
If this sounds like a fun challenge, please read on...
What You’ll Do
- Lead a small team in building and protecting Discord’s IP rights around the world
- Provide practical advice and creative solutions to help the business make informed decisions about risk in matters involving trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets
- Design and implement a strategic global trademark enforcement and brand protection program in collaboration with Marketing clients
- Launch and iterate our open source policy in collaboration with Engineering management
- Design and implement a holistic Discord patent program that balances grassroots applications, strategic filings or acquisitions, and third-party licensing
- Conduct IP due diligence for potential M&A transactions
- Evaluate strategic engagement with cross-industry coalitions and organizations dedicated to IP, such as OIN, LOT, and Creative Commons
- Develop effective and engaging educational materials and programs for clients
What You Should Have
- A cover letter (this is mandatory!)
- JD from an accredited law school
- Admission to the California Bar or eligible to register as in-house counsel with the California Bar
- 8+ years combined experience at a well-respected law firm and in-house legal department
- Deep foundation in trademark law and experience designing and implementing a global brand enforcement strategy
- Experience advising on software, open source licenses, and copyright protection
- Experience managing and mentoring legal professionals
- Ability to approach IP creation and protection with a strategic mindset by anticipating future business, competitive, and legal risks and opportunities
- Clear communication skills and experience presenting complex legal issues and delivering concise, practical legal advice to cross-functional senior management
- Curiosity and ability to jump into less familiar areas and learn while doing
- Ability to work collaboratively, independently, strategically, and with sound judgment
- Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging
Bonus Points
- In-house legal department experience with a consumer-oriented tech company
- Experience with patent prosecution and enforcement
- Experience reviewing and advising on IP license terms in commercial agreements or corporate transactions
- Appreciation for absurd and improbable hypotheticals
The US base salary range for this full-time position is $171,200 to $262,200 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.
Benefits and Perks
- Comprehensive medical insurance including Health, Dental and Vision (plus up to $20,000 for gender affirmation procedures)
- Mental health resources and quarterly wellness stipends
- 16+ paid holidays, 4 weeks of PTO + use-what-you-need sick days
- Paid parental leave (plus fertility, adoption and other family planning benefits)
- Flexible long-term work options (remote and hybrid)
- Volunteer time off
- A diverse slate of Employee Resource Groups
- Plus commuter contributions and other perks for office-based employees
About Us
Discord is a voice, video and text app that helps friends and communities come together to hang out and explore their interests — from artists and activists, to study groups, sneakerheads, plant parents, and more. With 150 million monthly users across 19 million active communities, called servers, Discord has grown to become one of the most popular communications services in the world. Discord was built without selling ads or user data and instead, offers a premium subscription called Nitro that gives users special perks like higher quality streams and fun customizations.
We’re working toward an inclusive world where no one feels like an outsider, where genuine human connection is a click, text chat, or voice call away. A place where everyone can find belonging. Challenging? Heck yes. Rewarding? Double heck yes. It’s a mission that gives us the chance to positively impact millions of people all over the world. So if this strikes a chord with you, come build belonging with us!