Senior Counsel, Litigation

As a senior member of the SkypeLegal team reporting to the General Counsel, your role which is vital to the company will involve managing and advising the company about significant, complex litigation matters, including patent litigation. You will supervise and direct outside counsel, manage legal budgets and provide counsel to clients at all levels of management on actual and potential litigation matters, including proposing strategic and creative approaches to resolving disputes. Your role will require a high degree of self-sufficiency, independent judgment and an ability to enjoy a quick-paced and busy environment, but you will operate as part of a supportive, fun, friendly and outgoing team of lawyers who work closely together to resolve disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic and day to day management of Patent and IP Litigation Matters.
Handling potential patent litigation, acquisition, or licensing matters, including substantial patent analysis.
Working effectively with Skype employees on litigation and potential litigation issues.
Supervising outside counsel and managing effectively your budget.
Organising invalidity and non-infringement opinions of third party patents

Pre-requisite Knowledge, Skills and Experience
8-10+ years of significant patent analysis and litigation experience in a major law firm (in-house experience a significant plus).
Strong legal, business and technical judgment and strategic abilities.
Knowledge of Internet, software and/or telecommunications technology, whether from previous legal or technical experience
Good organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to prioritize and multi-task and keep everything going smoothly without dropping any balls.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent organizational, analytical and negotiation skills.
Ability to work independently.
Geographical/Regional Experience: International experience or working for non-US company a nice to have but not essential.

Key Deliverables/ Outcomes 6 & 12 Months:
To learn Skype's business objectives and strategy.
To understand Skype's competitive and regulatory environment.
To learn and understand Skype's current litigation situation.
To properly integrate with the Skype Legal team and the Skype NA Business team.

Values & Behaviors
Collaborative team-player and a good sense of humour are essential
Work environment is fast-paced and requires flexibility and creativity in dealing with novel legal issues and complex transactions.
Passion for Skype.
Ability to "roll up sleeves"

Qualifications
JD and preferably a member of the California Bar.
Admitted to practice before the USPTO.
Preferably B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in computer science or electrical engineering, but the successful applicant may also have an undergraduate degree in a technical field and experience in the Internet, software or telecommunications fields.