Ip & Product Counsel

Company Description Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of solutions that promise to simplify their lives To create a better experience for their customers and employees To help them grow Software is a choice that can make or break a business Create better or worse experiences Propel or throttle growth Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done There s another option Freshworks With a fresh vision for how the world works At Freshworks we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful yet easy to use and quick to deliver results Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction making employees more effective and organizations more productive Over 72 000 companies including Bridgestone New Balance Nucor S P Global and Sony Music trust Freshworks customer experience CX and employee experience EX software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency And over 4 500 Freshworks employees make this possible all around the world Fresh vision Real impact Come build it with us Overview Freshworks is seeking a hands-on sharp and experienced IP Product Counsel to join our legal team to provide practical and strategic legal advice on intellectual property product development commercialization open-source compliance data privacy and regulatory matters You will work closely with Product Engineering Marketing and Commercial teams to protect and advance Freshworks innovation agenda while enabling business growth We seek a thoughtful creative and collaborative individual who thrives in a fast-paced dynamic and intellectually challenging work environment Key Responsibilities Intellectual Property Management Patent Strategy Portfolio Management Work closely with Product and Engineering teams to identify capture and strategize patentable innovations Conduct brainstorming sessions to identify IP arising from product roadmaps and new features Patent Prosecution Serve as the primary liaison between external patent counsel and internal technical experts Draft review and coordinate patent applications and claims with the United States Patent and Trademark Office prior USPTO experience required Maintain invention disclosure policies and procedures Patent Review Board Act as a key member of Freshworks Patent Review Committee evaluating invention disclosures and making strategic decisions on patent filings Trademark Management Prepare file and manage trademark applications globally Conduct trademark clearance searches monitor registrations and manage enforcement actions including cease-and-desist letters takedown notices and cybersquatting matters Must have experience with United States trademark process and Madrid protocol for international trademark registration Brand Counsel Advise Marketing and Product teams on branding strategies trademark implications of new product names and brand protection initiatives IP Litigation Support Assist internal and external counsel with patent and trademark litigation claims review oppositions and dispute resolution matters Open Source Software Compliance Open Source Compliance Advise Engineering teams on open-source software OSS license compliance including GPL MIT Apache and other licenses Support operationalization of OSS compliance processes and tooling Copyright DMCA Handle inbound DMCA notices copyright infringement claims and takedown processes Product Counselling Commercialization Product Development Advice Provide legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle from ideation to launch on IP ownership licensing regulatory compliance and risk mitigation Product Launch Support Partner with the Senior Product Counsel in conducting legal due diligence for new product launches and features Develop and maintain product release checklists playbooks and scalable legal processes Commercial Agreements Support the commercial legal team in drafting and updating IP related provisions in contract templates customer agreements and playbooks e g licensing terms IP ownership indemnities warranties Third-Party Integrations Partnerships Support the commercial legal team in drafting reviewing and negotiating agreements related to product development integrations developer tools APIs third-party software and technology Privacy Data Security Regulatory Compliance Privacy Data Protection Advise on privacy and data security matters including compliance with GDPR CCPA DORA and other global data protection regulations Collaborate with Privacy and Security teams on product features involving data collection processing and storage Legal Updates on IP AI Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting IP product development open source SaaS AI and technology sectors Provide timely updates and actionable guidance to stakeholders Provide guidance on responsible AI development and deployment Regulatory Review Review marketing materials web properties product communications and documentation for IP regulatory and compliance considerations Cross-Functional Collaboration Trusted Business Partner Build strong trusted relationships with Product Engineering Marketing Sales and other business stakeholders Serve as a strategic advisor to the teams you support Process Improvement Drive continuous improvement of legal processes templates and playbooks to enable scalability and operational efficiency Training Education Educate internal teams on IP best practices compliance requirements and risk management strategies Qualifications Education Graduate degree in Computer Science Engineering and law both with excellent academic performance Experience 8-12 years of legal experience in intellectual property product counselling and technology law ideally in a combination of law firm and in-house roles in a multi-national company within the SaaS software technology industry Experience of working with USPTO and international trademark prosecution is required Experience with non-US global IP filings and cross-border regulatory compliance is preferred IP Expertise Proven experience in patent prosecution trademark management IP portfolio strategy and IP enforcement Product Counselling Strong background in advising on product development commercialization and regulatory compliance for SaaS or software products Contract Drafting Negotiation Demonstrated ability to draft review and negotiate complex technology agreements including licensing development and partnership agreements Privacy Data Security Familiarity with global data privacy regulations GDPR CCPA etc and their application to technology products Open Source Knowledge Experience advising on open-source software licensing and compliance Skills Competencies Strategic Thinking Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and provide practical business-oriented legal advice Communication Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders Collaboration Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust and credibility across cross-functional teams Agility Flexibility and eagerness to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment with competing priorities and tight deadlines Problem-Solving Creative solutions-oriented mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating legal risks Attention to Detail Meticulous attention to detail in drafting reviewing and managing legal documents and processes Ownership Accountability Self-starter with a high degree of ownership accountability and ability to work independently Additional Information At Freshworks we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential purpose and passion welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds genders sexual orientations religions and ethnicities We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees communities and business Fresh vision Real impact Come build it with us