Patent Attorney

Provide clear, strategic, and business-focused counsel to Novartis R&D; clients on invention protection, portfolio development, publication strategy, and third-party risks. Build and manage patent portfolios for Novartis R&D; projects by identifying inventions and preparing, prosecuting, maintaining, and defending patent filings across areas such as new molecular entities, processes, manufacturing, platforms, technologies, and clinical developments. Render legal opinions on patentability, validity, and freedom to operate, and develop patent strategies that strengthen IP positions, support freedom to operate, and enable effective IP defense. Apply deep knowledge of national patent law and practice, including relevant legal developments and patent trends, to shape strategy and advice. Understand and apply other forms of exclusivity protection, as appropriate. Communicate effectively with colleagues and leaders across the legal, IP, and R&D; organizations. Build and manage relationships with outside counsel and collaborators, including extensive interaction within a multicultural global patent function. Conduct due diligence and provide counsel based on those assessments, including freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, risk evaluation, and risk mitigation strategies. Provide IP support for transactional matters, including M&A;, research collaborations, and in-licensing opportunities, with advice on contract drafting and negotiation. Ensure high-quality, timely delivery of work aligned with business goals and budgets.

Ready to shape the future of innovation at Novartis? As a Patent Attorney, you will play a pivotal role in protecting groundbreaking scientific discoveries and enabling life-changing medicines to reach patients worldwide. Partnering closely with R&D; teams, you will drive strategic intellectual property decisions, build robust patent portfolios, and navigate complex legal landscapes to safeguard innovation across the product lifecycle.

• University degree in law, admission to the bar and qualification as a European Patent Attorney / Lawyer

• Advanced degree in chemistry or related field, with strong preference for a doctoral degree

• Significant experience as a patent attorney within a law firm or pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment

• Strong technical expertise in chemistry, preferably including experience with small molecules, synthesis, or pharmaceutical development.

• Expertise in U.S. and PCT patent law, filing processes, and prosecution practice, with a detailed understanding of European patent law and other major global patent systems

• Proven ability to partner with scientific and business stakeholders to deliver strategic intellectual property advice

• Strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills with high attention to detail

• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively within a fast-paced, global environment