Senior IP Counsel – Materials Group

Location: Mentor, OH (Hybrid preferred; remote work will be considered for qualified non-local candidates.)

Reporting to: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Global M&A and Intellectual Property

Avery Dennison is seeking a Senior IP Counsel for its Materials Group business.  The candidate should be well-versed in corporate IP strategy, domestic and international IP procurement, enforcement/litigation, due diligence/clearance, business counseling, and transactional support. This position will work closely with the company's technology and innovation leadership teams, as well as regional directors of R&D, Marketing, and Procurement. The candidate will need a background that permits him/her to provide direct, hands-on legal leadership for core material science platforms, pressure-sensitive adhesives, functional coatings, and digital identification technologies. 

A successful Senior IP Counsel will be expected to:

Global IP Strategy & Commercial Alignment

• Drive and execute a global IP strategy aligned with core business growth, high-margin product platforms, and expansion in key international markets.

• Counsel business leaders on portfolio optimization, patents vs trade secrets, trademarks, and open-source models to maximize ROI and market protection.

• Manage, allocate, and optimize global IP budgets and external legal spend.

Portfolio Development & IP Lifecycle Management

• Oversee end-to-end global patent procurement (drafting, PCT/foreign filings, prosecution) to build strong, defensible IP fences around key platforms.

• Guide, challenge, and triage R&D inventions to ensure high-value filing decisions and strong alignment with technology roadmaps.

• Execute offensive and defensive IP strategies, including competitive surveillance, EPO oppositions, and third-party observations.

Freedom to Operate (FTO), Risk Mitigation and Disputes

• Conduct rigorous patentability, validity, and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses to clear new product launches and minimize infringement risks.

• Advise executive leadership and stakeholders on legal risks regarding patenting, commercial readiness, and contractual exposure.

• Manage IP litigation, adversarial proceedings, and dispute resolution in close coordination with outside counsel and internal business partners.

Complex Commercial Transactions & M&A

• Structure, draft, and negotiate complex IP and technology transactions, including Joint Development Agreements, inbound/outbound licensing, strategic vendor contracts, and research collaborations.

• Lead IP due diligence and risk assessment for M&A, joint ventures, and venture investments.

Cross Functional Leadership & Enablement

• Act as an embedded legal partner to R&D, Commercial, Procurement, and Business Development teams, integrating IP guidance early into product development. 

• Design and deliver IP training programs for cross-functional staff on IP best practices, invention disclosures, and trade secret protection.

• Mentor, integrate, and leverage global internal IP resources, external agents, and foreign counsel.