About Our Vision

It’s Time to Unsmoke.

We’ve built the world’s most successful cigarette company, with the world’s most popular and iconic brands. Now we’ve made a dramatic decision. We will be far more than a leading cigarette company. We’re building PMI’s future on smoke-free products that are a much better choice than cigarette smoking. Indeed, our vision – for all of us at PMI – is that these products will one day replace cigarettes.

Why are we doing this? Because we should … We understand the millions of men and women who smoke cigarettes. They are looking for less harmful, yet satisfying, alternatives to smoking. We will give them that choice. We have a commitment to our employees and our shareholders. We will fulfill that commitment by pursuing this long-term vision for success. Society expects us to act responsibly. And we are doing just that, by delivering a smoke-free future. … And because we now can. Success in the cigarette business gives us the resources to pursue our ambitious vision. Thanks to the imagination and perseverance of thousands of people at PMI, we have developed breakthrough products that are smoke-free and enjoyable.

Role Summary

Senior attorney with substantial leadership experience who will exercise seasoned judgment and provide guidance to business and functional leaders across the organization.

The attorney would have responsibility for independently performing a variety of complex legal matters and leading a team of patent attorneys.

This would including day-to-day advice to other PMI Law and business colleagues on a range of Intellectual Property issues. Examples include patent drafting and prosecution, agreements (e.g., licensing agreements, technology transfer agreements, joint development agreements), M&A due diligence processes and practices, freedom-to-operate (FTO), litigation/contentious matters, as well as other PMI workstreams that may involve patent and technology law.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversight and management of team of counsels/senior counsels responsible for a large portion of the company’s patents legal functions.
• Simultaneously leads multiple strategic projects, for example FTO, litigation, critical oppositions, or due diligence projects.
• Creates and implements IP protection strategies for some of PMI’s most critical product platforms. Primary responsibility would be device-related technologies (e.g., heating technologies).
• Helps business partners accurately understand the risks and consequences of the given situation or course of action.
• Effectively communicates the risks and the consequences and develops alternatives to manage identified risks.
• Leads large FTO projects, identify and communicate about potential risks, and provides guidance to our business colleagues on likelihood of business disruption and recommended risk mitigation steps.
• Provides litigation risk assessments and creates and implements relevant risk mitigation plans. Leads high profile contentious matters such as critical oppositions and litigations.
• Represents the company’s position before responsible courts and government agencies.
• Stays current with legal developments, best practices and benchmarks in the noted areas of law and assists internal clients in implementing policies and procedures in response thereto.
• Works cross-functionally to provide IP guidance and support to other members of functional and regional legal teams.
• Maintains a culture with a high degree of emphasis on dignity, respect, and inclusion.
  

Key Skills:

• Inclusive and collaborative leadership style that fosters a positive environment and maximizes results.
• Proven ability to think strategically and exercise sound judgment while managing multiple projects of high complexity.
• Ability to create and implement global strategic approaches toward building patent portfolios and contributing to increased business value.
• Ability to evaluate and monitor patent portfolios of third parties and create and implement appropriate countermeasures.
• Review and analyze license agreements and other contracts to ensure the protection of PMI’s strategic interests.
• Provide IP and technical analysis in support of patent litigation.
• Maintains effective working relationships with key internal constituencies and outside counsels and other legal resources.
• Ability to maintain an appropriate perspective regardless of the delicacy or pressure of a situation.
• Robust interpersonal, networking, public speaking, and writing skills, with the confidence and credibility to act quickly, communicate effectively with diplomacy and civility, and command respect of both internal and external audiences.
• High energy, drive and unquestioned integrity.
• Attention to detail.
  

Knowledge and Experience Desired to Undertake this Role

• Licensed patent attorney in at least one jurisdiction where PMI operates.
• Degree in relevant scientific / engineering area associated with assigned role; preferred degrees include electrical engineering/electronics, physics, and mechanical engineering.
• At least 12 years of concentrated experience which demonstrates an in-depth knowledge and applied understanding of IP law; both in house and major law firm experience preferred.
• Proven managerial and leadership skills; previous experience preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple, conflicting priorities while managing a substantial workload and client expectations.
  

Work Environment/Physical Requirements

• Normal office environment for a mission driven high impact team. Work hours regularly exceed 40 plus hours per week.
• PMI operates a flexible work policy known as Smart Work which allows employees to work from home but requires at least two days per week in the office averaged over a month (excluding business trips, vacation leave and other authorized absences).
• Business trips, both within and outside Switzerland, may be required from time to time.

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