Corporate Counsel
Dubai Office
Legal – Legal /
Full-time, Hybrid /
Hybrid
We are looking for an experienced intellectual property (IP) lawyer to join our global legal team. This role will focus on safeguarding and leveraging the company’s IP portfolio while supporting broader corporate legal needs, including M&A, reorganizations, and governance.
Key Responsibilities
- You will be responsible for structuring IP protections across our technology stack, coordinating IP elements in strategic transactions, and overseeing day-to-day corporate legal documentation. This is a strategic and hands-on role that requires both technical IP knowledge and experience in transactional and governance work. You will work closely with cross-functional teams in engineering, IT, finance, and marketing across multiple jurisdictions to ensure our innovations are protected and our group structure evolves efficiently and compliantly. The key responsibilities and day-to-day duties of the role include the following:
Intellectual Property Strategy
- Manage and grow the company’s global IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets
- Advise on open-source licensing, software IP, and brand protection strategies
- Coordinate with external counsel for global filings, enforcement, and oppositions
- Create internal IP registration, review, and risk procedures
- Train teams on IP risk, rights, and protection
M&A and Group Reorganization
- Advise on IP structuring in group reorganizations and corporate transactions
- Support due diligence, integration, and post-closing matters in M&A deals
- Draft and negotiate IP assignment, licensing, and transition agreements
- Analyze and mitigate IP-related risks in strategic transactions
- Coordinate cross-border legal input with internal stakeholders and advisors
Corporate Legal
- Draft and review general commercial contracts (NDAs, service agreements, licensing deals)
- Support entity management, director/shareholder resolutions, and governance filings
- Assist with documentation related to intercompany arrangements and funding
- Maintain legal entity databases and document repositories
- Review vendor and procurement contracts from a legal risk perspective
Governance and Compliance Support
- Help implement and maintain policies and controls related to IP and legal risk
- Support board and shareholder processes across jurisdictions
- Monitor legal developments impacting corporate and IP structuring
- Ensure group-wide alignment with applicable corporate laws and regulations
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Work closely with engineering and finance teams on IP initiatives
- Educate business stakeholders on IP, licensing, and contract management best practices
- Help scale legal operations and knowledge-sharing processes globally
- Interface with external counsel and advisors as needed
- Provide clear, concise advice to non-legal teams under time pressure
What You’ll Need
- The core skills, knowledge, experience and mindset required to be successful in this role include the following:
Experience
- 7+ years of legal experience, with a focus on IP, ideally a mix of law firm and in-house at technology companies
- Managed patent strategy and portfolio development, including working with engineers to identify patentable innovations, draft technical disclosures, and guide applications through national and international filing procedures
- Proven track record supporting M&A and group reorganizations from an IP perspective
- Familiarity with global entity structuring, general corporate contracts and governance
- Bonus: developed internal frameworks for IP identification and inventor contribution workflows in scaling tech organizations
- Bonus: led end-to-end patent prosecution lifecycle including prior art searches, claim drafting, office action responses, and coordination with local agents across key jurisdictions (e.g., USPTO, EPO)
Skills
- Strong command of IP law across jurisdictions (especially patent in the US)
- Able to see high level strategies and goals and dive into details to deliver creative, pragmatic solutions based on weighted risk analysis, and translate legal obligations into operational processes and controls
- Skilled at navigating legal ambiguity in fast-changing technical environments while managing multiple important initiatives under time pressure
- Excellent critical thinking, synthesis and communications skills and able to persuade and influence internal and external stakeholders
- Familiarity with crypto, DeFi or open-source ecosystems (bonus)
Mindset
- Highly collaborative, practical, and solutions-oriented.
- Able to balance legal risk with commercial realities.
- Proactive self-starter, able to work autonomously across time zones and times.
Why you'll love working with us
- Join a dynamic, creative team in a fast-paced and supportive environment
- Innovation and Collaboration in web3 tech are core to our success
- We’re open to new ideas — if you’ve got a vision, pitch it and make it happen
- Enjoy competitive pay that matches your skills and experience
- Be part of a company that’s shaping the future of DeFi
- Take time when you need it — we offer unlimited vacation days
- Get fully compensated for your work gear — we’ll set you up for success
- Travel with us! We host an annual team retreat at a top international location
- Click here to explore what life is like working at 1inch Labs!
