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IP Counsel, Patents

AnthropicSan Francisco, CALegal
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Salary
Not listed
Job type
Full-time
Posted
14 Aug 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Anthropic is seeking an experienced IP Counsel, Patents to join its legal team in San Francisco, California. This role suits a legal professional with extensive patent expertise who wants to support the creation of reliable and safe AI systems.

Role Overview

The IP Counsel, Patents will provide comprehensive intellectual property guidance across Anthropic, focusing heavily on patent strategy. Working closely with the Head of IP and other legal colleagues, this person will help design and implement an intellectual property program that protects company innovations while aligning with the organization's mission of building beneficial AI systems.

Key Responsibilities

Support organic patent development, including invention harvesting, drafting oversight, prosecution management, and coordination with outside counsel.
Develop and implement comprehensive patent strategies in the U.S. and internationally that align with business objectives and technology roadmaps.
Provide broad IP guidance across the organization, addressing potential issues in patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and open source.
Analyze and respond to third-party patent demands and evaluate strategic patent acquisition and licensing opportunities.
Conduct intellectual property due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
Advise on intellectual property aspects of commercial agreements, including licenses, joint development agreements, and technology transfers.
Educate technical teams on best practices for protecting company innovations.

Requirements

Hold a law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) and meet local licensing requirements to work as in-house counsel based in San Francisco.
Be registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Have substantial patent experience, including invention harvesting, prosecution, and portfolio development.
Possess working knowledge of trademarks, trade secrets, and open source.
Have direct experience working with engineers, researchers, or product teams to identify and protect inventions while explaining IP concepts clearly to non-lawyers.
Have contributed to and helped implement IP strategies in rapidly evolving technical environments.

Nice to Have

10+ years of legal experience with demonstrated expertise across the IP spectrum, particularly in patents.
Active membership in the California bar.
Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field.
Deep expertise in one or more IP areas beyond patents.
Experience with AI, machine learning, or related cutting-edge technologies.
Experience analyzing and responding to third-party patent assertions or evaluating patent acquisitions and licensing transactions.
Experience practicing in-house at a technology company or supporting technology clients through periods of rapid growth.

Skills and Tools

Patent prosecution and portfolio development
Invention harvesting
U.S. and international patent strategy
Trademarks and trade secrets management
Open source compliance and guidance
M&A due diligence and commercial agreements

Salary and Benefits

Annual base salary ranging from $335,000 to $385,000 USD
Competitive compensation and benefits package
Optional equity donation matching
Generous vacation and parental leave
Flexible working hours
Location-based hybrid policy requiring staff to be in the office at least 25% of the time
Visa sponsorship available for eligible candidates

About the Company

Anthropic is a public benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco with a mission to create reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems that are safe and beneficial for society. The organization operates as a quickly growing group of committed researchers, engineers, policy experts, and business leaders working collaboratively on large-scale AI safety research.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Anthropic careers page to submit an application.

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the IP Counsel, Patents role?

The annual base salary ranges from $335,000 to $385,000 USD.

Where is this position located?

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, with a location-based hybrid policy requiring staff to be in the office at least 25% of the time.

Does Anthropic offer visa sponsorship for this position?

Yes, Anthropic does sponsor visas for eligible candidates and retains an immigration lawyer to assist with the process.

What are the primary qualifications for this legal role?

Candidates must hold a law degree, be registered to practice before the USPTO, meet local licensing requirements, and possess substantial patent experience including prosecution, portfolio development, and working directly with technical teams.

How can I apply for the IP Counsel, Patents position?

You can apply directly through the official Anthropic careers page.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Anthropic careers page.

Apply on company site