Intellectual Property & Product Counsel

Company Description

About Freshworks

Freshworks makes it fast and easy for businesses to delight their customers and employees. We do this by taking a fresh approach to building and delivering software that is affordable, quick to implement, and designed for the end user. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Freshworks has a global team operating from 13 global locations to serve more than 65,000 companies -- from startups to public companies – that rely on Freshworks software-as-a-service to enable a better customer experience (CRM, CX) and employee experience (ITSM).
Freshworks’ cloud-based software suite includes Freshdesk (omni-channel customer support), Freshsales (sales automation), Freshmarketer (marketing automation), Freshservice (IT service desk), Freshchat (AI-powered bots), supported by Neo, our underlying platform of shared services.
Freshworks is featured in global national press including CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg and has been a BuiltIn Best Place to work in San Francisco and Denver for the last 3 years. Our customer ratings have earned Freshworks products TrustRadius Top Rated Software ratings and G2 Best of Awards for Best Feature Set, Best Value for the Price and Best Relationship.

Job Description

Freshworks is seeking a hands-on, sharp, and experienced IP & Product Counsel to join our legal team to provide practical and straightforward legal advice on a broad range of IP, open source, privacy, data security, product development, commercialization, and compliance, amongst other legal and regulatory topics. You will be a legal team member working closely with our internal clients, especially our Product & Engineering stakeholders. We seek a thoughtful, creative, and collaborative individual who will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and intellectually challenging work environment.

Role & Responsibilities

• Work closely with the product and engineering teams to understand innovative product features. Conduct brainstorming sessions with the engineering team to capture future roadmap intellectual property to consider for patenting.
• In this role, you will serve as a primary member of the Company’s patent review board and have responsibility for maintaining our invention policies and procedures. 
• Draft/assist in drafting/work with external consultants to draft Patent Claims. Responsible for being the primary liaison between external Patent Claim consultants and company technical experts.
• Assist outside counsel with patent and trademark litigation matters.
• Work closely with marketing and product teams on branding changes and provide counsel on potential trademark implications. Collaborate with marketing team to develop and operationalize trademark strategy, as needed.
• Prepare and file trademark applications across the globe and manage the existing trademark portfolio, including responsibility for take-down notices, cease and desist letters, cybersquatting matters, and trademark infringement issues. Conduct trademark clearance searches in consultation with the branding and product teams.
• Advise on open source software license compliance matters and support the engineering team’s operationalization of compliance guidance.
• Provide support for inbound DMCA/copyright infringement notices and trademark infringement notices and related take-down processes.
• Support internal commercial legal team in drafting and updating intellectual property-related provisions in contract templates and playbooks.
• Support the AGC, Product in the conduct of legal due diligence in connection with the launch of new products and features.
• Assist in the improvement and maintenance of product release checklists, playbooks, and legal processes to help us scale globally.
• Remain current on applicable laws and regulations surrounding IP, Open Source, privacy, artificial intelligence, and data security.
• Review marketing materials for intellectual property, regulatory, and compliance purposes.
• Provide counsel on trademark, copyright, and regulatory matters attendant to the company's portfolio of web properties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in technology and law (both) with excellent academic performance.
• 8-12 years of experience as an IP attorney in a reputable law firm, in-house, or preferably a combination thereof in a multi-national company.
• Sound knowledge of IP laws. Preference to those with a good understanding / experience of working with USPTO. 
• Experience in product counseling and innovation harvesting for IP protection, preferably in the SaaS/Software space.
• Familiarity with launching new products and features and advising on the legal and regulatory aspects of product development and commercialization in the SaaS/software space. Patent prosecution experience a plus.
• Patent defensive litigation experience and claims analysis experience directly with engineering teams would be helpful.
• Experience with Data Privacy and Security issues in the technology space (CCPA, GDPR, etc.).
• Flexibility and eagerness to work hard in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines.
• Capacity and desire to build trusting business partnerships with the internal clients you support.
• Strong knowledge of basic principles of contract drafting, review, and negotiation with an ability to provide practical and well-reasoned solutions.

Additional Information

At Freshworks, we are creating a global workplace that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and ethnicity. We are committed to providing equal opportunity for all and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer work environment that advances the goals of our employees, communities and the business.