Senior Patent Attorney

**Description**

**Our Company**

Since its founding in 1910, Hitachi has supported the development of society and the improvement of people's lives. Throughout the world, Hitachi Group employees exemplify outstanding teamwork that transcends the boundaries of geographical regions and business fields. Together, we share the Hitachi group identity and put it into practice worldwide.

**What you’ll be doing**

In further development of its Global IP Function, the Hitachi Group has created a key role for a senior-level Patent Attorney to be based in Europe in either the EU (preferably Brussels, Belgium) or London, UK areas to support Hitachi operations in Europe.

Reporting directly to the CIPO, the primary focus of the role is to work with EMEA regional businesses to provide IP guidance to operations in a business focused approach. The position will work closely with the CIPO, the Global IP Team and the regional businesses (Hitachi EU, Europe R&D, Rail, Energy).

Responsibilities of the role are directed to developing the Patent Attorney function through business engagement including defining regional IP Strategy and a meaningful value driven patent portfolio. Occasional support for M&A and litigation/pre-litigation matters is also anticipated. The role will be part of the Global IP Group function and work as part of the Global IP Team to further global function development including definition of Group IP Policy and Standards.

This role reports to Hitachi’s Chief IP Officer

**The role will also be responsible for**:
We’re looking for a team player, who is independent minded motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision.

While patent prosecution (i.e., drafting and prosecuting) is not a routine responsibility of this role, intimate familiarity with patent activity (drafting, prosecuting, process and procedure) is pre-requisite.

This role will be active in, inter alia:

- Collaborating in a cross-functional setting to achieve IP objectives in providing counseling to the Hitachi Europe businesses and technical management on technology and patent matters, including working with the technical community with regard to:

- training and assisting technologists in recognizing patentable inventions and submitting invention disclosures;
- preparing freedom-to-operate/clearance studies regarding third party patent rights;participating in design review meetings, brainstorming sessions and innovation workshops;
- leading invention identification sessions within selected projects.
- Developing and driving coordinated relevant IP strategy in support of Global and Business Strategic IP Objectives;
- Management of outside attorneys in patent procurement efforts;
- Providing other assistance and support to R&D and Legal department as required including litigation and M&A;
- Leading patent procurement and portfolio development, including:

- coordinating international extension filings;
- managing patent portfolios - including reviewing office actions and drafting response based on feedback from the Business;
- managing and communicating with outside attorneys; and
- overseeing and involvement in the invention disclosure submission and evaluation processes.

The primary responsibility of this role will be to support European based R&D with some travel to R&D centers in Europe will be required.

**Qualifications/Requirements**:

- Experience: European Patent Office and/or National qualified patent attorney (e.g., U.K., France, etc.)
- Preferably have degree in physics, computer science or electrical engineering, with software expertise.
- Minimum 7 years’ experience in the field of intellectual property developing patent portfolios, in particular in the area of computer science and software.
- Experience in multinational corporate environment.
- Knowledge (relative to experience) of laws, rules, regulations and practice under EPO or UK regions, with knowledge of other systems (e.g., US) a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement standards ensuring procurement of patents of high quality and business relevance.
- Demonstrated ability to direct and manage outside counsel
- Proven ability to quickly identify, prioritize and analyze issues, to create solutions, to communicate in a counseling role, and to work effectively and team with all levels of management and members of the legal department.
- Strong ability to be provide IP leadership to the group businesses through clear communication skills
- written and oral.
- Experience working in a global IP environment.
- Regional travel will be required.
- Fluency in English required, with strong command of another European language a plus.

**Our Values**

We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability sta