IP & Product Counsel

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.

Job Description

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

1. 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.