Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Requirements

• A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state
• U.S. Patent bar admission
• 5-7 years of Intellectual Property experience at a large law firm or in-house legal department
• Experience drafting patent claims and managing patent prosecution
• Experience negotiating IP licensing and technology transfer agreements
• A technical background in nuclear, electrical, or chemical engineering (whether through a technical degree or substantial work experience with relevant technologies)
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple matters simultaneously
• Bonus Qualifications :
• Experience working in-house at a high-growth or startup company
• Experience managing IP or licensing discussions with the U.S. government, National Laboratories (e.g., INL, ANL, LANL), or other federal research institutions
• Experience building or managing a patent portfolio at a comparable company
• Experience with joint ventures and/or project finance
• Interest in experimenting with AI and other tools to support a lean IP function
• Nuclear and/or nuclear-adjacent technologies or renewables experience
• Competencies
• We are looking for a Senior Counsel that is:
• Deeply knowledgeable in patent prosecution and IP licensing, with a background in relevant technologies
• A strategic thinker that will help us step back and make sure we are focused on protecting the right inventions
• Effective at triaging and prioritizing across a wide range of tasks and project managing cross-functional tasks to completion
• An excellent communicator (including to engineers and other non-lawyers) focused on solutions and willing to explain the "why" behind legal advice
• Substantively agile: someone who enjoys leaning into new areas, and is comfortable learning new things (and learning quickly!)
• Detail-oriented while moving lightning fast
• Passionate about clean energy and making advanced fission a reality
• An optimist at heart
• Resourceful, inquisitive, and willing and able to learn quickly
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, hi

Benefits

Additional Information

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property (IP) to join our Legal team. Position Description The Senior Counsel, IP will play a critical role helping to build out Oklo's intellectual property function. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge nuclear technology and IP strategy. This person's primary responsibilities will be to lead our patenting efforts, both in terms of helping to develop our patenting strategy, leading patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute applications. They will also be responsible for working closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on patentability, and to have regular touchpoints to discuss potential inventions. Beyond patents, they will be responsible for IP-related negotiations, including licensing discussions (for example in discussions with National Laboratories) and supporting commercial discussions around IP development and ownership, along with other legal needs across the company as they arise. Finally, they will lead on IP-related diligence for potential investments and M&A, and patent portfolio acquisitions. This role, which reports directly to our General Counsel, is perfect for a mid-level IP attorney who is looking to roll up their sleeves and help build a world class IP function in a high growth and dynamic environment. We are not looking for someone who is looking to operate in a silo: we are a lean team and hire lawyers who are great at what they do, but are excited to do work beyond their areas of expertise. Oklo is growing fast and every day presents new opportunities and challenging legal questions-we care more about you and your ability to learn and grow than your specific substantive experience or which boxes you check. If you are someone who thrives in exciting and fast-moving environments, and are eager to grow and push yourself, this role may be for you. Specific responsibilities may include: Help build out our patent program, including helping to further develop our patenting strategy, conducting patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft and refine claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute patent applications Managing our existing patent portfolio, including making decisions on renewals, international filings, annuities, and potentially patent sales Work closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on IP related topics and best practices Lead IP-related licensing and contracting discussions, including negotiations with National Laboratories, federal agencies, contractors, and commercial counterparties Support freedom-to-operate analyses, IP due diligence, and other IP-related matters that arise across the business, and help build scalable IP processes and policies as the company grows

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