Legal Counsel - IP

Imagine your career taking you to the depths of innovation and the heights of impact.  Our people enable continuous progress. Their commitment, collective expertise, and unique capabilities are the engine room behind SBM Offshore’s True. Blue. Transition. - shaping the future of energy, and beyond.

About Us:
SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Our work is already resulting in cleaner, more efficient energy production. True. Blue. Transition. is our promise to enable that into the future while at the same time using our expertise to support new and existing markets in the blue economy. It starts with Advancing our Core: continuing to advance the decarbonization of traditional energy production. While Pioneering More: helping to enable the energy transition and using our unique capabilities in ocean infrastructure to support more industries to grow sustainably.  Sharing our experience for a better blue tomorrow.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN TASKS

• Developing a deep knowledge and understanding of SBM’s existing and planned business activities, monitoring industry trends, case law and best practices thereby ensuring compliance with all applicable IP related legislation.
• Helping and assisting in development and maintenance of an IP strategy with a focus on technology and digitalization and with a view to fostering strategic growth and management of SBM’s IP portfolio in several jurisdictions where SBM operates or planes to expand into.
• Helping and assisting in development and maintenance of standard IP contract template library as toolkit for further roll-out of IP strategy.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating all sorts of IP contracts with a particular focus on IT contracts such as software licence, software development or SaaS agreements, as well as joint development or research collaboration agreements covering – as the case may be – transfer/acquisition/licensing of data, patents, know-how.
• Supporting other SBM legal counsels in relation to all IP-related matters in various contract negotiations.
• Providing pro-active, accurate, relevant and timely advice to different stakeholders within SBM on a variety of issues regarding copyrights, confidential information, know-how, trade marks and patents.
• Assisting in setting the strategy for IP litigations thereby communicating with and managing certain third parties including external counsels.
• Designing and delivering training enhancing IP awareness and knowledge of relevant stakeholders in the business.
• Reporting and updating Legal Department Leadership Team on key legal issues and risks, including lessons learnt and improvement areas for the business.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Law degree in common law, or civil law with sound common law working experience.
• Excellent command of English (including legal English) with a minimum proficiency level of C1. French language skill is a big plus.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3 to 5 years’ post qualification experience as in-house legal counsel for IP/IT law matters and/or in private practice is a must.
• Have substantial experience in negotiating, drafting, and reviewing IT contracts, particularly software licence and SaaS agreements.
• Demonstrate good knowledge of copyright law in the IT field as well as trade mark law.
• Experience of working in a commercial environment.
• Experience of working in technology company or other intellectual property focused environment in various jurisdictions.
• Experience in energy/energy transition/renewables preferably gained in an environment focused on licensing/technology transfer desirable.

PERSONAL SKILLS:

• Capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Attentive to detail and meticulous in their work.
• “Go-out-there” mentality, with a view to building a strong network with the various SBM offices in Monaco, the Netherlands, Brazil, Porto and Malaysia.
• Team player and taking an active role to grow and learn, while reciprocating at the same time by training and educating others.
• Good organizational skills, solution focused, pragmatic approach to enable the business.
• Proactive and curious.
• Financial acumen.
• Ability to work accurately and quickly.
• Good interpersonal relations skills.
• Excellent negotiating and diplomacy skills.
• Willingness to travel.

GENERAL INFORMATION

SBM Offshore N.V. is a listed holding company that is headquartered in Amsterdam. It holds direct and indirect interests in other companies that collectively with SBM Offshore N.V. form the SBM Offshore Group (“the Company”). For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V., directly and indirectly, owns investments are separate entities.

SBM Offshore is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. SBM Offshore does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.