Assistant General Counsel - IP & Publishing

Society Overview

The American Chemical Society vision is to improve all people's lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Nearly 150 years after its founding, the Society remains a champion for science, scientific advancement, and scientists in a global community of members and customers. ACS Publications produces over 80 peer-reviewed journals, which are ranked the "most-trusted, most-cited and most-read" journals in chemistry. The ACS Chemical Abstract Service is a leader in scientific information solutions for innovators around the world to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. ACS Society Programs brings broad networks of scientists together to create connections, foster a passion for science and create opportunity among its more than 220,000 members worldwide in a way no other professional organization can match.

Office of General Counsel

The ACS Office of General Counsel takes great pride in building strategic partnerships with the business to advance the ACS mission. We focus on opportunities to engage meaningfully with global operations and programs leaders and on being integral contributors to the business. We value teammates who are curious about new challenges and opportunities, creative in their problem solving, committed to excellence, and kind.

Overall Function

The Assistant General Counsel - IP & Publishing will provide expertise to the organization on a wide range of day-to-day legal IP strategy, licensing, protection and related commercial matters for ACS and its operations around the world. Providing both strategic and practical legal advice, solutions, and judgement, this role will have a particular focus on ACS broad IP portfolio and the publications division.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Assistant GC will contribute to and oversee ACS's Intellectual Property strategy and portfolio, in particular, supporting its Publications Division, as well as responsibility for customer facing licensing and other commercial transactions. This role requires strategic thinking, business acumen, the ability to work collaboratively across various departments, excellent negotiation skills, and proven team management skills.

To succeed in this role, you must be capable of handling multiple complex matters at the same time, developing organized and well-thought-out plans, and providing clear advice and guidance on often nuances issues to an entrepreneurial and rapidly expanding organization across geographies, cultures, and functions. The ideal candidate will be drawn to the opportunity to create and mature a strategic function that is a sought-after, highly-engaged resource trusted to advance ACS's reputation and success, and places personal value on curiosity, creativity, commitment to quality and kindness.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the Office of General Counsel team, we all share a responsibility for:




• Upholding and advancing ACS core values and realizing its commitments to diversity, inclusion, equity and respect across its mission and operations;
• Operating from a position of trust in one another's professional skills, always assuming common purpose and good intentions, and acting out of kindness; and
• Succeeding together.

• As an individual contributor and team leader, this role will:
• Provide subject-matter IP expertise providing strategic legal counsel on IP matters and related commercial strategy to ACS publications and other business units.
• Anticipate and actively advise on global developments in scientific publishing, among them copyright protection and infringement, artificial intelligence, publishing ethics, journal policies, peer review, etc.
• As a strategic partner to the publishing division working with its senior leaders, assess and support strategy and product development within the changing market, legal and technological influences.
• Advise on complex development and commercial licensing concerns, including license terms, technology transfer, AI and TDM addenda, joint venture publishing, etc.
• Collaborate with sales, procurement and legal colleagues to advance efficiencies in licensing and contracting processes.
• Oversee management of the ACS IP portfolio, including copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets.
• Assess and develop monitoring and enforcement processes to protect unlicensed use of ACS content and copyrighted material.
• Develop effective brand use and enforcement strategies for ACS and ACS chapters.
• Conduct IP audits and due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.
• Collaborate with product development and marketing to identify and protect new IP assets.
• Train and educate employees on IP and commercial legal matters.
• Support Society committees focused on IP in chemistry.
• Manage and develop a small, highly engaged team.
• Operate with a global mindset to provide sound, timely, compliant, and practical legal advice, support and strategy in IP and Commercial matters;
• Effectively work with outside legal counsel, as necessary, to achieve budget objectives, operating efficiency and cultural goals while complying with applicable law;
• Oversee and assist with IP related disputes, including mediation and litigation;
• Support internal and third party risk management initiatives; and
• Support General Counsel on other matters for ACS and its global affiliates.

Qualifications

• JD from accredited law school. Admitted to practice, active and in good standing with at least one state bar.
• Minimum 12-15 years of experience with a multinational organization or law firm, including publication sector experience (print and digital).
• Substantial understanding and experience required in the following:
  
  
  
  • IP and IP-centric commercial transactions, including outbound licensing models across a global customer base;
  • Copyright portfolio management and other licensing programs; Trademark strategy and brand protection; Patent portfolio management;
  • Knowledgeable about Open Access, TDM, fair use and similarly impactful copyright and publishing developments; and
  • IP litigation management.
  
  
  
  
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI) and related legal and technological advancements, including AI regulatory frameworks, emerging AI-related intellectual property law, data privacy, DEI and other AI ethics guidance.
• Strong issue spotting, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to distill complex issues, communicate complex concepts in a straightforward manner, and advise internal business clients with practical solutions;
• Ability make sound risk and business judgment calls.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a team and work cross functionally and effectively in a fast paced, professional environment.
• Exhibits self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse disciplines, cultures and backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to distill complex issues and strategically advise internal business clients with practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and sometimes competing priorities.
• Optimism, patience, and a sense of humor are welcomed.

This role is based in our Washington, D.C. office. A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $220,000-$270,000 per year.

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.