Director, Head of Patent Litigation

Join the leader in entertainment innovation and help us design the future. At Dolby, science meets art, and high tech means more than computer code. As a member of the Dolby team, you’ll see and hear the results of your work everywhere, from movie theaters to smartphones. We continue to revolutionize how people create, deliver, and enjoy entertainment worldwide. To do that, we need the absolute best talent. We’re big enough to give you all the resources you need, and small enough so you can make a real difference and earn recognition for your work. We offer a collegial culture, challenging projects, and excellent compensation and benefits. 

For this high functioning team, the nature of the work benefits from frequent in-office presence, and employees may be expected to work from a company office up to four days per week. While we remain committed to flexibility, this team’s rhythm includes regular in-person connection to support collaboration, learning, and impact.

The Legal Department provides core legal support to all Dolby functions, runs several IP-centric businesses, and leads government relations.

Reporting to the Vice President of Litigation

As a senior legal strategist, the Director, Head of Patent Litigation plays a pivotal role in aligning Dolby’s litigation approach with its broader business goals, focusing on defending innovations in close partnership with business teams. This position offers a unique opportunity to directly lead critical litigation while shaping long-term strategy in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end litigation efforts, from early-stage program development through factual and legal analysis (e.g., infringement reads, market analysis) to final judgment and enforcement.
• Oversee strategic planning and manage outside counsel to ensure alignment and execution across various patent programs.
• Assess, communicate, and mitigate risk while identifying new opportunities and approaches, leveraging knowledge of industry trends and the competitive landscape.
• Supervise discovery processes and review legal filings with a focus on overall program and business strategy, attention to detail, and risk management.
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Success in This Role Requires:

• Deep expertise in patent litigation and associated risks.
• Strong judgment and comfort with ambiguity and risk.
• Exceptional communication skills that simplify complex issues and promote clarity.
• Ability to collaborate with internal teams on advanced and novel legal issues.
• Proactive approach to creating value through strategic influence and addressing complex challenges across practice areas.
• Commitment to evolving and innovating litigation practices to meet changing legal and business needs, with a focus on solutions that support business goals.

Leadership Expectations:

• Demonstrates authenticity, integrity, and self-awareness in leadership style, with a commitment to continuous growth.
• Takes ownership of outcomes and fosters accountability across teams. Shows persistence and dedication to achieving strategic objectives.
• Adapts effectively to change, remains open to new ideas, and approaches challenges with flexibility and resilience.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of litigation experience, including both in-house and top-tier law firm roles, with a strong focus on patent and intellectual property litigation.
• Proven success in:
  • Managing and developing innovative strategies for patent litigation
  • Implementing global strategies and initiatives, both substantive and operational
  • Leading litigation efforts and teams in a matrixed environment
  • Negotiating and securing favorable settlement agreements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical/software engineering, physics, or a related technical field.
• Experience with audio/video encoding and internet technologies, including standard essential patents, is strongly preferred.

The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $225,000 - 318,000, which can vary if outside this location, plus bonus, benefits, and some roles may also include equity. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

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Dolby will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:
Dolby is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.