Counsel, Intellectual Property

Job Summary

The IP Counsel is a key leadership role that combines responsibility for managing Eaton's intellectual property portfolio and Analytics. This position advises business leaders on IP and compliance matters and ensures all activities align with Eaton's business objectives and high ethical standards

The manager will drive the execution of Eaton's IP strategy – protecting and leveraging patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights .

Working closely with cross-functional teams worldwide, the role encompasses project management, data analytics, training, and stakeholder engagement to ensure Eaton's IP assets are secure. This role reports to senior legal leadership and plays a critical part in aligning Eaton's innovation efforts with robust compliance practices globally

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Advising : Advise and counsel Eaton's leadership and business units on intellectual property ensuring that IP and compliance strategies are integrated with Eaton's global business objectives and values. Provide recommendations to senior management on protecting IP rights and maintaining ethical business practices across all operations.
• Policy Execution & Controls : Develop and implement robust processes, policies, and internal controls to safeguard Eaton's IP assets and to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations worldwide. This includes preventing IP infringement, managing patent enforcement or litigation as needed, and upholding anti-bribery / anti-corruption standards in third-party dealings. Proactively monitor legal and regulatory changes and adapt company processes to maintain a world-class IP and compliance program.
• Global Program Leadership : Lead cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams in both the intellectual property and compliance domains. Oversee day-to-day IP operations – including patent portfolio management, patent prosecution, IP research, and contract / license negotiations . Serve as a functional manager for staff (e.g., IP administrators, compliance analysts) in Pune and coordinate with legal counsel globally to ensure consistent program execution.
• Data Management & Metrics : Manage data analytics and reporting for IP and compliance programs, ensuring data-driven decision making. Maintain Eaton's IP database and ensure its optimal performance for tracking patents and trademarks

Simultaneously, implement tools to collect and analyze due diligence data, and produce regular dashboards and reports on program metrics (e.g., quarterly compliance dashboards, IP portfolio metrics) for senior leadership. Use these insights to identify trends, gaps, or opportunities to strengthen Eaton's IP position

Qualifications

What you'll do :

Bachelor's degree is required. An advanced degree in Law (Juris Doctor or LL.B.) with a focus on Intellectual Property is strongly preferred, combined with admission as a Registered Patent Attorney in good standing

(A technical undergraduate degree in science or engineering is beneficial to facilitate understanding of complex technologies. Master's degree in Intellectual Property Law or an MBA is a plus.)

Minimum 7–10 years of professional experience in relevant fields, ideally combining extensive intellectual property law experience and corporate compliance experience

Skills

This should include hands-on experience managing patent portfolios and IP transactions, as well as exposure to ethics and compliance programs (such as anti-corruption due diligence, audits, or process management). At least several years of experience in a multinational industrial company or law firm serving global clients is expected, demonstrating the ability to navigate international IP laws (e.g., USPTO, EPO, etc.) and diverse regulatory environments.

including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights – with a proven ability to handle patent prosecution, IP enforcement (litigation and licensing), and portfolio strategy

Familiarity with global IP systems (US, EP, India, PCT processes, etc.) is required.

Proficiency in managing specialized databases and tools for IP asset management is expected.

capable of interfacing effectively with all levels of the organization, including C-suite executives, engineers, and front-line employees

The ideal candidate is a proactive, high-energy team player with a high degree of initiative and creativity in problem-solving

Must demonstrate an impressive professional presence and strong ethical judgment, engendering trust while enforcing policies. Collaboration and influencing skills are critical, as this role requires working across functional and geographic boundaries (legal, engineering, supply chain, etc.) and directing globally dispersed teams

The candidate should be organized and analytical, able to manage multiple complex projects (IP cases, compliance investigations) and drive them to completion. Fluent English proficiency (written and spoken) is required; additional language skills are a plus. Above all, the candidate must embody Eaton's leadership attributes – passion for excellence, accountability, transparency, continuous learning – and demonstrate unwavering integrity and inclusion in all activities

Skills Required

anti-corruption, portfolio strategy, Due Diligence, patent portfolio management, Patent Prosecution, Litigation, ip transactions , Licensing