Case Study
Vice President, Head of IP and Legal
THE ASSIGNMENT.
Partnered with a newly launched, stealth biotech seeking to add a Vice President, Head of Intellectual Property and Legal to build out and lead the legal function for the organization. This person would be the organization’s first full-time legal hire, and as such, required a seasoned attorney with previous small biotech experience, a strong IP/patent prosecution background, and the ability to drive other legal areas such as strategic transactions, litigation, operational matters, and R&D. Additionally, this candidate also had to possess an advanced scientific background, and the ability to effectively collaborate with scientists.
THE CHALLENGE.
The ideal person for this position needed to possess a unique blend of IP prosecution and general legal experience, industry knowledge, leadership skills, and the right technical and scientific background to thrive in a dynamic, rapidly evolving environment typical of a biotech startup in stealth mode. Moreover, with our client operating in stealth mode, there was limited public information available about the organization’s science and team, which restricted our ability to leverage traditional sourcing methods and required a highly discreet approach. This lack of information also made some candidates hesitant, as they wanted to know more about the company and its prospects before engaging in the recruitment process. This posed an exciting challenge, as it allowed us to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with highly skilled IP attorneys, and ultimately identify the candidates who were motivated and excited about the opportunity and the company’s potential.
THE OUTCOME.
Within the first week of kicking off the search, we presented six highly-qualified IP attorneys to our client for review, and ironically, the first person listed on that initial list of submitted candidates was the individual who ultimately landed the position. This outcome not only exemplifies the efficiency of our sourcing and selection process, but also underscores the caliber of candidates we engage with from the outset and that are in our network. The selected candidate boasts over 15 years of IP legal experience, holds a Ph.D. with expertise in the scientific/technical area pertinent to our client’s operations, and previously served as the Head of IP and Legal at another small biotech counseling on IP strategies, transactions, and other general legal matters. We are proud to have played a role in facilitating this successful match and look forward to watching this candidate and the company grow!