Senior Counsel

Join the leader in collaborative licensing and help us advance inclusive and efficient new patent licensing approaches to drive innovation globally.

Via Licensing Alliance is dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced IP licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe.

Via administers dozens of patent licensing programs in audio, video, broadcast, power, and more for a variety of technologies, consisting of 25,000 patents in over 130 countries, with nearly 100 current patent holders and over 3,000 current licensees.

Via Licensing Alliance, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership.

We are the world’s largest patent pool administrator. We aggregate patents around key innovations and offer licensing solutions that give companies streamlined access to standardized technologies.

For decades, we have served as a trusted bridge between our licensors and licensees, driving a strong and efficient IP licensing environment that yields better products and technologies for people around the world.

What you’ll do

The Senior Counsel role reports to Via’s General Counsel and is based in San Francisco, California. This senior-level position will devote a significant portion of its focus to overseeing patent enforcement across multiple jurisdictions worldwide and developing strategic solutions to complex patent licensing matters.

The role is inherently cross-functional and IP-focused, requiring a highly capable, solutions-oriented legal professional with strong judgement and a results-driven mindset. The successful candidate will provide legal support across all Via business functions and day-to-day company needs, while managing a broad range of projects and dispute resolutions in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

In addition, the role will engage directly with Via’s business partners, including key licensors and licensees within its patent licensing programs to drive successful program outcomes. The Senior Counsel will also regularly partner with Via’s senior leadership team to deliver practical, high-quality legal advice in support of sophisticated transactions and complex business initiatives.

The position requires a deep understanding of intellectual property law and a strong litigation background.

This hybrid role is required to work in the San Francisco office three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday).

Responsibilities

• Manage litigation and oversee patent enforcement in various jurisdictions around the world

• Support Via in licensee audits and contract compliance, resolve audit disputes, including pre-litigation dispute resolution efforts, and other breach-of-contract matters

• Draft, review and negotiate patent licensing agreements, settlement agreements, vendor contracts and other general business contracts

• Work with Via’s global licensing team to develop program operational guidelines and agreement templates and develop and define program criteria and processes

• Assist in the handling of other legal and corporate matters as they arise. Emphasis on providing practical solutions to enable Via’s business and operational needs

• Manage commercial and IP enforcement disputes, including both domestic and foreign pre-litigation, litigation, patent proceedings and arbitration. Work closely with outside counsel in formulating strategy, drafting pleadings, briefs, and managing discovery

• Advise management in connection with complex transactional matters associated with IP licensing and collaboration agreements, licensing strategies and protection of IP rights

• Support Via’s general legal needs across all functions

What you need to succeed

• Experience working with teams and business partners distributed worldwide and staying on top of global legal issues

• Ability to coordinate as necessary with company’s finance, corporate, tax, privacy, and other subject matter experts

• Excellent negotiation skills and problem-solving instincts

• Self-initiative and ability to work with minimum of direction under time pressure

• Strong litigation background and experience

• Preferred experience in standard bodies, standard-essential patents, licensing programs and/or patent pools

• Preferred management of worldwide patent or licensing strategies

Desired background

• Juris Doctor degree from top-tier law school

• A minimum of 4 years’ legal experience at a top-tier law firm and/or in-house environment with hands-on experience in litigation, IP litigation, dispute resolution, and/or IP transactions. Experience asserting and licensing patents strongly desirable.

What you’ll love

• Flexible work options (9/80 schedule) – employees in the U.S. get every other Friday off. That’s 26+ three-day weekends a year

• Competitive compensation (base + bonus)

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contribution

• 401(k) with 50% company match on the first 6% of eligible pay you contribute on a pre-tax or Roth basis

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

• Generous holiday, vacation and sick leave

• Supportive maternity, child bonding, and family care leave programs as well as short and long-term disability benefits

• Programs and resources to support your physical, financial and social well being

• Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates and retreat

• Catered weekly lunch + snacks and drinks when working in the office

• Temporary remote work option for qualified positions – employees can temporarily work remote from a location that is different from their designated office and home locations for up to 30 calendar days / 20 workdays in any 12-month period with manager and company approval

• Tuition Reimbursement Program

The San Francisco / Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $239,000 – $292,000 and can vary if outside of this location.

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.

Via 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

Via 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.