Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly! Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Do you love taking on big challenges without precedent? Do you possess a deep knowledge of the legal field and a passion for innovation? As a part of our Legal group, you’ll help uphold Apple’s high ethical and corporate standards, as well as defend our intellectual property. You’ll help provide legal support for all our products and businesses across the globe. Working for a company that invents entire categories and industries means you’ll be challenged to creatively apply your deep legal expertise to rare and often unexplored aspects of the law. Together with your team, you’ll provide the critical support needed worldwide for all Apple products and businesses.

Description

We are seeking a Director of Complementary Intellectual Property Litigation to lead Apple’s trade secret, copyright, and trademark cases, including both offensive and defensive efforts. Responsibilities will also include oversight and management of Apple’s administrative patent challenges in the United States. In this role you will work closely with senior engineering and business leaders to ensure Apple’s interests are protected. Your role will require you to think strategically about intellectual property risks, and to advise on the scope of trade secret, copyright, and trademark protection worldwide.In this role you will be expected to define and implement strategies, manage risk through proactive efforts, partner with business partners, mentoring and develop the litigation team that supports complementary IP litigation, and manage outside counsel.Key Responsibilities:- Lead a high-performing team overseeing Apple's complementary intellectual property litigation docket, and provide strategic oversight to align with Apple’s long-term business goals.- Develop and execute litigation strategies that protect Apple’s innovations across hardware, software, services, and emerging technologies.- Provide strategic direction for complementary intellectual property litigation in alignment with evolving business and legal risks.- Mentor and support the development of internal attorneys.- Direct cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, and legal teams to address standards, open source, enforcement, litigation, licensing, regulatory, and acquisition due diligence.- Work with external stakeholders and industry groups to advocate for balanced intellectual property law and policy.- Serve as the senior leader for engagement with outside counsel and manage complementary intellectual property litigation efforts.- Advance inclusion and diversity initiatives across Apple and the legal profession.

Minimum Qualifications

  • JD degree
  • 15+ years of relevant experience at a top law firm and/or in-house legal department, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
  • Attorney with 15+ years of experience managing complex complementary intellectual property litigation, strategy, and related risk management
  • Significant experience managing post grant review proceedings in front of the PTAB
  • Significant experience counseling companies on trade secret mitigation, both on outbound and inbound risks

Key Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

  • Proven ability to communicate at a senior executive level, synthesizing complex legal and technical information for cross-functional leadership
  • Experience managing cross-border legal issues and global teams
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to balance risk management and value creation in high-stakes, fast-paced environments

Education & Experience

Additional Requirements

Pay & Benefits

  • At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $298,500 and $476,900, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

    Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

    Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

  • Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.