Intellectual Property Counsel/Patent Attorney

The successful candidate will play a key role in executing Xero’s intellectual property and AI strategies. You’ll be responsible for partnering with the business to grow our patent portfolio and more broadly to provide advice on intellectual property aspects of AI, data, cyber and related legal, regulatory, and compliance matters across all regions in which Xero operates. This role will report to Xero’s GM - Intellectual Property and work closely with the Intellectual Property team, wider Legal team, key business partners and external advisors.

What you'll do...

• Support legal and business teams in identifying and resolving intellectual property aspects of legal matters, including both business-led and IP team-led initiatives, and including both global and region-specific matters.
• Work closely with the Senior Patent Attorney to manage Xero’s global patent and design portfolio, including drafting and prosecuting application (in conjunction with our external advisors).
• Partner with our Product and Technology teams to provide early IP advice and grow our pipeline of new invention disclosures.
• Provide engaging and empowering training to our Xeros on IP topics.
• Provide support in matters involving third party patent rights including assisting with copyright licensing and litigation matters.
• Assist the legal team and extended business with day-to-day IP queries.
• Working with the GM - Intellectual Property, drive and support the further development and maturation of internal intellectual property, data, and AI governance programmes.
• Help evaluate the impact of evolving legislative and regulatory environments for intellectual property, AI, and cyber on Xero’s various business units, ensuring the business is informed.
• Collaborate and build relationships with key internal stakeholders to champion intellectual property, AI, and cyber across the business while continuing to enable commercial opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
• Contribute to internal intellectual property, data protection, and AI policy and process development (including training).
• Drive and support operational legal team projects, for example to manage workflow, improve operational efficiencies, knowledge management.

Experience...

• Registered or near registered Patent Attorney with 2-4 years experience.
• Experience drafting and prosecuting software and AI focused patent applications.
• Experience, or a degree, in computer science/programming, physics, or related fields.
• A law degree is desirable, but not critical.
• Experience or strong demonstrated interest in global approaches to data governance frameworks, including AI governance (desirable).
• Experience providing legal advice to companies in the technology sector (desirable)