IP Counsel, Patents (AI)

Location: San Francisco, CA; hybrid policy requiring staff to work from one of the offices at least 25% of the time

Annual salary: $335,000–$385,000 USD

Company

Anthropic is a public benefit corporation building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.

What you will do

• Support invention harvesting, patent drafting oversight, prosecution management, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Develop and implement U.S. and international patent strategies aligned with business objectives and the technology roadmap.
• Provide guidance on patents, trademarks, trade secrets, open source, and other intellectual property matters.
• Analyze third-party patent demands and evaluate patent acquisition and licensing opportunities.
• Conduct IP due diligence for M&A transactions and strategic partnerships.
• Advise on IP provisions in licenses, joint development agreements, technology transfers, and other commercial agreements.

Requirements

• JD degree and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Substantial experience in invention harvesting, patent prosecution, and patent portfolio development.
• Working knowledge of trademarks, trade secrets, and open source.
• Experience working directly with engineers, researchers, or product teams and explaining IP concepts clearly.
• Experience implementing IP strategies in rapidly evolving technical environments and balancing legal protection with business practicality.

Nice to have

• 10+ years of legal experience with expertise across the IP spectrum, particularly patents.
• Active membership in the California bar.
• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience with AI, machine learning, or related technologies.
• Experience with third-party patent assertions, patent acquisitions, licensing transactions, or in-house technology legal work.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative work on large-scale AI research efforts focused on safe and beneficial AI.
• Frequent research discussions and emphasis on communication and impact.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Optional equity donation matching, generous vacation, and parental leave.
• Flexible working hours and an office designed for collaboration.
• Visa sponsorship is available, although sponsorship cannot be guaranteed for every role or candidate.