Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property

Job Description Overview

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Toronto-based senior legal counsel to support and advise AtkinsRéalis’ global nuclear business and its Candu Energy business unit on the protection and commercialization of its intellectual property portfolio. Candu Energy is the OEM of Canada’s indigenous CANDU® pressurized heavy water nuclear reactor technology and specializes in the design and supply of nuclear reactors, as well as nuclear reactor products and services, both domestically and abroad. The transition to net zero and increasing demand for secure sources of energy have sparked a nuclear renaissance. AtkinsRéalis is uniquely placed to leverage its capabilities in responding to this call, be it in the spheres of nuclear new build (in respect of both conventional and small modular reactors), reactor operations and life extensions, as well as waste management and reactor decommissioning. We are pleased to welcome a pragmatic, business-minded lawyer into a permanent position within the legal team to help our growing business support innovation and to protect and maximize value of our growing portfolio of intellectual property rights. We are looking for someone who has experience working for a leading private practice law firm and/or who has relevant in-house legal experience in a similar role.

Your role

• Acting as a business partner to AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear business, including its commercial and management teams with respect to intellectual property matters.
• Advising upon the registration, protection and commercialization of patents, copyright and trademarks as well as trade secrets and confidential information.
• Developing, implementing and supporting the operation of the company’s intellectual property management system.
• Reviewing, negotiating and drafting intellectual property license agreements.
• Collaborating with external counsel to administer the company’s existing patent portfolio.
• Evaluating disputes and advising on dispute resolution strategy and managing the resolution of claims with the businesses, litigation team and external insurers.
• Attending commercial meetings, gated risk reviews (bid go/no go) and other business reviews.
• Assisting in the maintenance, development and drafting standard terms and conditions and policies, procedures and guidance notes.
• Liaising with other corporate functions (Tax, Treasury, Insurance, Company Secretary, Integrity) to ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements.
• Training colleagues within the business on intellectual property matters and recent developments.

Location: hybrid working from the Candu Energy Sheridan Park campus in Mississauga and at home.

About you

• You must be licensed to practice law in a Canadian jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years of post-qualification experience gained at a leading private practice law firm or in-house practice in the field of intellectual property.
• Ability to deal with in-house clients at all levels including the senior management of the organization.
• Ability to work as part of a team in a multidisciplinary work environment on a wide range of topics.
• Ability to address the business’ needs by providing commercial and legal solutions in a timely manner.
• Ability to thrive in a close-knit team.
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Confident and pragmatic, solutions-focused negotiator.
• Willingness to manage multiple files and adapt to changing priorities arising on domestic and international projects.
• An interest in the nuclear power sector and the net zero transition.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada. Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs. Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life. Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

Additional information

AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy. AtkinsRéalis and other subsidiary or affiliated companies of AtkinsRéalis (referred to throughout as “AtkinsRéalis”) are committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect, use, and transfer your Personal Data. By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis, you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice. Appropriate accommodation will be provided upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process as required by Company policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Successful applicants will be notified about AtkinsRéalis’ accommodation policies at the time the employment offer is extended, and the information will be shared with new personnel during the onboarding process.

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.

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