Senior Legal Counsel – IT/IP– Leading University – Sydney

An outstanding opportunity for an experienced Senior IT/IP Lawyer to engage in cutting-edge and strategic level work at a world-leading Sydney university.

THE ROLE

The role’s primary responsibility is to provide strategic and commercial legal advice on complex IT and IP legal matters, including high-value commercial IT and IP transactions with domestic and international partners.

You need not have an equal amount of IT and IP experience. You could be an IT lawyer with an understanding of IP law and vice versa.

IT

• Advise on artificial intelligence applications, cyber security generally and data protection.
• Advise on University strategic partnership agreements and international partner provider agreements.
• Attend and advise the Information Governance and Cyber Security committee.
• Advise on ICT agreements, data access agreements, and equipment purchase agreements.
• Provide legal guidance on complex and high-value technology deals from core infrastructure and cloud contracts servicing the University to business-specific deals involving technology integration and business applications.

IP

• Advise the University in relation to the protection and commercialisation of its intellectual property portfolio, including advice on research agreements and funding agreements for research.
• Provide general domestic and international advice on trademarks, business names and domain names registration, tech transfer agreements, IP licencing and Infringements.
• Advise on University strategic partnership agreements and international partner provider agreements.

Other

• Liaise with and supervise external legal service providers to ensure beneficial and cost-effective legal outcomes for the University.
• Monitor performance and costs of external legal service providers and provide feedback on performance as necessary.

ABOUT YOU

• An unrestricted practising Australian Legal Practicing Certificate and in-house experience in either IT or IP.
• 7+ years’ post-qualification experience, including experience advising, negotiating, and drafting a range of IT and IP agreements.
• You do not need an equal amount of IT and IP experience. You could be an IT lawyer with an understanding of IP law and vice versa.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with diverse audiences in public and private settings, including effectively translating complex legal ideas or concepts for lay audiences.
• Exceptional attention to detail. High level of problem-solving skills with a commercial approach.
• Demonstrated ability to critically review and analyse contracts, legislation and other regulatory instruments, apply commercial acumen and negotiate and draft legal documents for a broad range of complex legal matters reflecting commercial, statutory and institutional requirements within tight timeframes.
• Strong negotiation skills, including a capacity to exercise sound judgement.
• An ability to work within a small team and adopt a flexible approach to a demanding and time-pressured client base.
• An innovative mindset and being open to change, as the legal function, constantly seeks ways to improve their service through automation and other technologies.

ON OFFER

• Grow your career working in a world-leading university.
• Cutting-edge, engaging, and varied legal issues.
• Work within a collaborative, supportive and established legal team.
• Increase your professional and technical capability by working and learning from colleagues at the top of their game.
• Hybrid and flexible working available
• An organisation with an excellent, engaging, and innovative culture
• Excellent, experienced, and supportive GC

NEXT STEPS

This role is looking to fill quickly, so if this sounds like an opportunity you would like to explore further, please apply, and we will be in touch shortly.

Alternatively, if you would like to have a confidential conversation first, please feel free to contact Andrew Murdoch at Dovetail Legal Solutions at andrew.murdoch@dovetaillaw.com.au – to arrange an initial chat.

ABOUT DOVETAIL

Founded in 2015, Dovetail is Australia’s only dedicated in-house legal recruiter. We’ve assisted hundreds of companies and helped grow the careers of thousands of lawyers. Talk with us to see how we can help you with your career.