IP Counsel, Patents

Anthropic is a public benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco, focused on creating reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. We are seeking an experienced and strategic IP Counsel to join our growing legal team, providing comprehensive IP guidance across the organization with particular depth in patent strategy, and partnering with the Head of IP to design and implement an IP program that protects Anthropic's innovations.

• Support and contribute to the organic patent development process, including invention harvesting, drafting oversight, prosecution management, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Partner in developing and implementing comprehensive patent strategies in the U.S. and internationally aligned with Anthropic's business objectives and technology roadmap.
• Provide broad IP guidance across the organization, identifying and addressing potential IP issues across patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and open source.
• Support analysis and response to third-party patent demands, and evaluate strategic patent acquisition and licensing opportunities.
• Conduct IP due diligence for M&A transactions and strategic partnerships.
• Advise on IP aspects of commercial agreements, including licenses, joint development agreements, and technology transfers.

• JD and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Substantial patent experience, including invention harvesting, prosecution, and portfolio development, with working knowledge of the broader IP spectrum including trademarks, trade secrets, and open source.
• Experience working directly with engineers, researchers, or product teams to identify and protect inventions, and explaining IP concepts clearly to non-lawyers.
• Experience contributing to and implementing IP strategies in rapidly evolving technical environments.

• 10+ years of legal experience with demonstrated expertise across the IP spectrum, particularly in patents.
• Active membership in the California bar.
• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Deep expertise in one or more IP areas beyond patents.
• Experience with AI, machine learning, or related cutting-edge technologies.
• Experience analyzing and responding to third-party patent assertions, or evaluating patent acquisitions and licensing transactions.
• Experience practicing in-house at a technology company.

Annual salary: $335,000—$385,000 USD.

Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience. Location-based hybrid policy: all staff are expected to be in one of Anthropic's offices at least 25% of the time. Visa sponsorship is available.