ANSYS, Inc. (www.ansys.com), a publicly-traded global leader in engineering simulation, has retained Carpenter Legal Search, Inc. (“CLS”) to identify an Associate General Counsel, IP and Technology Licensing.

Location: This AGC role can be remote from any location within the continental United States or located at Ansys’ headquarters in Canonsburg, PA (Greater Pittsburgh Region). Ansys is proud to have a reputation for corporate social responsibility in the Pittsburgh area in which it operates, a region which habitually receives accolades for affordability, quality of living and sustainability.

Overview: As the head of IP and Technology Licensing in the Legal, IP and Risk department (“LIR”) at Ansys, the candidate will be a seasoned attorney managing five direct reports, collaborating across the company, including with the product organization, the office of the CTO, sales organization, and corporate development, to support all aspects of IP management and transactions, including management of Ansys’ patent portfolio and other IP assets, setting of approaches to IP licensing across go-to-market channels, strategic technology licensing negotiations, open-source programs, technology licensing and IP aspects of M&A transactions, indirect sourcing strategies and negotiations, license compliance strategies and transactions, and IP litigation. The AGC will work closely with the product development and product marketing teams to lead the technology and IP licensing aspects of strategic partnership negotiations including software OEM agreements, strategic collaboration agreements, and cloud service agreements. The AGC will also support non-standard IP clause negotiations for enterprise customer accounts, professional services, and M&A purchase agreements. He/she will also act as the initial control/reviewer for license compliance enforcement and litigation. The role functions as the focal point of contact within LIR for all matters relating to IP, including support for open source consumption and contribution programs, and will report to the VP and Deputy General Counsel - Strategy.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise the company on all matters relating to IP, and set corporate strategies related to the same
• Manage the IP & Technology Licensing team to support the company’s patent, trademark, and copyright strategies and portfolios
• Negotiate technology licensing aspects of strategic partnership agreements, collaboration agreements, software OEM agreements, and cloud service agreements
• Support commercial contract negotiation teams to negotiate non-standard IP terms in master license agreements and master service agreements
• Review and negotiate M&A purchase agreement IP terms, manage IP due diligence, and lead post-merger IP integration
• Lead M&A IP due diligence including reviewing and analyzing OSS component scan results
• Act as the primary point of contact within LIR for all open-source software usage and contribution process and compliance topics, and participate in open source management across the enterprise
• Support the global license compliance team in managing disputes and litigation against software copyright infringers in all global locations
• Lead IP litigation investigation, litigation, and settlement
• Support invention harvesting, high quality patent program, trademark strategy, and copyright registration process

Minimum Education/Certification Requirements and Experience:

• J.D. degree from a U.S. accredited law school
• Member in good standing of at least one state bar association
• Prior people management experience
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience as a technology licensing attorney, with hands on experience managing patenting and other hard-IP matters. 
• Expert in negotiating complex software agreements, drafting strategic partnership agreements, and advising on non-standard IP clauses
• Experienced in open-source software compliance issues
• Experienced in M&A IP due diligences
• Familiar with managing IP programs including patent, trademark, and copyright protections
• Familiar with license compliance related disputes and litigation processes and risks
• Familiar with IP litigation investigation and settlements
• Familiar with data license and content license agreements 

 

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience with software products for any of engineering, physics-based, CAD, or simulation applications
• Relevant in-house experience
• Experience with cultivating a seamless relationship with the CTO community and developers community  
• Exposure to IP transactions such as patent licensing or patent sales
• Is flexible and adaptable - demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced working environment
• An inclusive individual who thrives in a team-oriented and collaborative environment

Compensation/Relocation: A competitive compensation and benefits package is being offered. If there is interest in relocating to HQ, Ansys will provide assistance.

Ansys is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.