Intellectual Property Attorney

Sony Corporation of America, located in New York, NY, is the U.S. headquarters of Sony Group Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. With some 900 million Sony devices in hands and homes worldwide today, a vast array of Sony movies, television shows and music, and the PlayStation Network, Sony creates and delivers more entertainment experiences to more people than anyone else on earth. To learn more: www.sony.com/en.

POSITION SUMMARY

Sony Corporation of America (SCA) is seeking an Intellectual Property Attorney to join our team. This position is responsible for leading and coordinating the overall Sony strategy and providing primary legal support for a range of complex intellectual property legal issues. The ideal candidate will have diverse experience advising clients across litigation, licensing and transactional matters. Acts as lead IP member supporting complex transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and investments on behalf of the Sony Innovation Fund (SIF) and Sony business units. Develops and implements overall case strategy for patent litigation, often across several SONY product lines and involving multiple business units and co-defendants. Evaluates patent validity and infringement issues. Leads licensing, alliances, and standards activities. Provides general IP support to business units and to the IP group in Tokyo with a growing emphasis on Sony's entertainment business and AI.

This position will follow a hybrid schedule, requiring 1-2 days per week in our Paramus, NJ (preferably) or New York, NY office. For candidates residing outside of these locations, SCA will consider remote work arrangements on an individual basis.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advises, drafts, and negotiates agreements for complex transactional matters with a focus on IP issues, including those relating to M&A, SIF investments, patent acquisitions, component sales agreements, and commercial agreements for various business units (e.g., joint development, resale of hardware or software, platform use, commercial licenses, development services, software escrow, etc.) Coordinates and conducts due diligence in connection with M&A, investments and other transactional matters, and provides resulting advice and transaction document drafting support.
• Develops and implements overall case strategy for patent litigations. Formulates budgets and ensures outside counsel's compliance. Participates in trials, hearings and depositions. Reviews pleadings, motions and expert reports. Coordinates discovery internally and externally. Negotiates settlements and prepares and reviews necessary agreements. Manages outside counsel and Sony internal team in connection with the foregoing.
• In connection with both transactional and litigation matters, understands and monitors developing legal trends relevant to Sony's business, with emphasis on AI, and provides corresponding advice regarding risk quantization and mitigation strategy.
• Leads Sony team in licensing negotiations and drafts and reviews license and other complex IP agreements. Works with Sony team to prepare and present technical arguments.
• Acts as lead IP member of Sony team in connection with formation and advancement of strategic alliances, patent pools and in FRAND and other standards related activities.
• Independently provides frequent IP counseling to business units to support their current and future business plans.
• Responds to third-party subpoenas.
• Analyzes patent validity and infringement issues in response to claims of infringement brought against Company, recommends responsive action, and executes on strategy to resolve same.
• Works closely with Tokyo counterparts in developing case strategies and in performing technical analysis.
• Due to collaboration with international teams, meetings may be scheduled outside of standard working hours. The IP Attorney is expected to be available to collaborate with global teams during these times.
• 15% to 25% International and domestic travel required
• Honesty, trustworthiness and ethical conduct are material requirements for the responsibilities outlined above

QUALIFICATIONS FOR POSITION - IP Counsel

• B.S. in Engineering, Electrical or Computer Science preferred. Mechanical Engineering and other technical degrees may be considered.
• Juris Doctorate and admission to State Bar in good standing.
• Registration to practice before USPTO is preferred but not required.
• 5+ years law firm or in-house experience, preferably with significant involvement in IP transactions of the type mentioned above.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTACTS

Reports to:

• Senior Director, IP

Coordinates With:

• Internal: IP and legal counsel and licensing staff, as well as business and engineering management from various Sony teams globally.
• External:Outside Counsel, Peers at other companies, Third-party claimants, Third-party IP service providers, patent pools, etc.

Benefits:

SCA offers benefits-eligible employees (generally regular employees scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week) a comprehensive benefits program that offers coverage and support for employees and their family's physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

What we offer you:

• Comprehensive medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage with coverage for spouses/domestic partners and child dependents, including access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee assistance plan and comprehensive behavioral health benefits
• Fertility benefits, including, surrogacy, and adoption assistance programs
• Basic and supplemental life insurance for employees as well as supplemental life insurance coverage for their spouses/domestic partners and children
• Voluntary benefits such as group legal, identity theft protection, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Short-term & long-term disability plans
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental and caregiver leave
• 401(k) Plan with pre-tax, Roth, and after-tax options and company match with immediate vesting
• Education assistance and student loan programs

Other Programs:

• Flexible Work Arrangements, including remote and hybrid work schedules
• Time off to include vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, Summer Fridays (early release), and a winter break between Christmas and New Year's Day (based on business needs)
• Referral bonuses (subject to eligibility)
• Matching gift program
• A wide variety of employee business resource groups (EBRGs)
• Special discounts on Sony products, offered exclusively to Sony employees
• Employee stock purchase plan (Sony covers commissions and fees for your Sony stock purchases made through after-tax payroll deductions)

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $190,000 to $210,000. In addition to the annual base salary, this role has an annual bonus target of 17%. This range does not include any other compensation components or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

Disability Accommodation for Applicants to Sony Corporation of America

Sony Corporation of America provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact us by email at careers@sonyusa.com or by mail to: Sony Corporation of America, Human Resources Department, 25 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Please indicate the position you are applying for.