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Okta, a leading cloud-first SaaS identity and security company, seeks an experienced Corporate Counsel specializing in Intellectual Property. This role sits within Okta's high-impact Legal team and focuses on protecting the company's innovations and shaping its global IP strategy.
Key responsibilities include:
**Portfolio Management & Strategy**: Oversee the lifecycle of Okta's IP assets in alignment with corporate development and business goals. Develop and execute offensive and defensive IP strategies to maintain competitive advantage in the identity market. Serve as an advisor on IP-related business risks and emerging legal trends, translating complex IP concepts into business-oriented guidance for non-legal stakeholders. Refine company-wide IP policies, including invention disclosure programs and patent incentive schemes.
**Patent Work**: Partner with engineering and product teams to identify patentable inventions and build patent literacy. Collaborate with outside counsel on drafting and prosecution of high-quality patent applications. Develop deep knowledge of the industry's patent landscape to guide strategy and patent drafting approaches. Refine Okta's patent strategy to ensure broad protection of core technologies and establish systems to identify and protect next-generation innovations.
**Broader IP Issues**: Advise on strategic trade secret issues and policy implementation. Provide guidance on software copyright protection, open-source software usage within products, and copyright claim management. Support protection of Okta and Auth0 brands through trademark registration and enforcement. Advise on legal issues related to API integrations, digital content, professional services, and developer agreements. Draft, review, and negotiate IP-specific provisions in MSAs, JDAs, vendor contracts, and licensing agreements. Conduct IP due diligence for acquisitions and draft IP-related closing documents.
**Compliance & Training**: Assist with IP-related compliance and industry standards relevant to SaaS and cybersecurity. Deliver training to employees on IP best practices and confidentiality.
**Litigation Support**: Support all phases of IP litigation.
The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of IP experience with a strong software patent prosecution background, a technical degree (CS, EE, or ECE), and familiarity with SaaS and cloud-based software environments. This is a senior individual contributor role requiring deep technical and legal expertise.
