--- title: 'Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Intellectual Property at Altos Labs' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-general-counsel-and-vice-president-intellectual-property-altos-labs-san-rfncypwagg9c' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-15' --- # Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Intellectual Property at Altos Labs - **Company:** Altos Labs - **Location:** San Francisco Bay Area, CA - **Posted:** 2026-10-06 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-15 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/altoslabs/jobs/6218412004 ## Job description ## Our Mission Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life. For more information, see our website at [altoslabs.com.](https://altoslabs.com/) Our Value Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission. Diversity at Altos Altos Labs has been named one of the Top 3 Biotech Companies and ranked for the second year on the Forbes 2026 Best Startups in America list.  At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment. ## What You Will Contribute To Altos We are seeking an energetic and strategic Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Intellectual Property to lead our global IP function.  As a critical member of the Legal team, you own the creation and implementation of a global intellectual property strategy that protects our groundbreaking innovations in cellular programming and computational biology and ultimately our novel transformative therapeutics for patients. You thrive in complex, fast-changing environments and drive thoughtful and effective strategic execution with your team. You translate broad organizational visions into clear, actionable strategies.  When faced with incomplete data or shifting priorities, you make decisive choices, communicate the 'why' behind them transparently, and keep the team focused and aligned. You build and role model a culture of courage and creativity. Your success is defined by your ability to elevate the people around you, clear roadblocks, and confidently delegate ownership. You are an ethical and mission driven leader and a team player bringing excellent technical and interpersonal capabilities and the presence and ability to convey legal matters clearly to inspire trust and confidence. ## Key Responsibilities Patent Portfolio Strategy & Management - Create and implement strategies for global patent portfolios protecting scientific innovation and new therapeutic modalities that create durable value for the company’s R&D and commercial priorities - Navigate the intersection of AI and biology to develop and implement value-creating IP strategies to protect AI related inventions and activities - Drive initiatives to capture company inventions and innovation - Counsel business stakeholders and executive leadership on freedom to operate analyses, patentability, and global regulatory exclusivities Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secret Strategy & Management - Implement strategies for clearance, prosecution and enforcement to ensure a robust global trademark portfolio - Manage trademark misuse and infringement matters - Manage copyright obligations and infringements issues including advising the business on copyright fair use and licensing requirements - Implement trade secret practices and protections Adverse Matter Oversight - Direct all IP litigations and adversarial proceedings Business Development - Create and advise on tailored, value creating IP transactional strategies - Lead IP due diligence and IP-related contract drafting and negotiations for licensing, acquisition, and other complex transactions Cross-Functional Advising and Partnership - Set standards and expectations for IP terms in licensing and other agreements.  Review and negotiate terms as needed in partnership with Procurement and other business stakeholders. - Identify, assess, and communicate IP risks to business stakeholders.  Align on and then implement solutions to address IP risks - Partner effectively across all business departments and within the Legal and Compliance team to ensure that IP is effectively understood, protected and managed - Stay at the forefront of the evolving global IP laws and advise the business proactively on opportunities and risks ## Team Leadership and Managerial Excellence - Set department goals for the IP team and establish clear measurements to ensure alignment with company goals and timely and thorough delivery - Hire, develop and retain a top intellectual property team with a culture of high performance and high integrity - Create and manage agile IP operations that maintains meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in legal research, documentation, and compliance in a fast-paced environment - Manage outside counsel performance and budget effectively Core Leadership Competencies To succeed in this highly dynamic environment, the ideal candidate must demonstrate: - High Integrity:  You act with honesty, keep commitments, and take full accountability for your actions. You are a role model for our organizational values and adhere to ethical guidelines even under pressure. - Dealing with Ambiguity: You thrive in the "grey areas." You effectively cope with change, shift gears comfortably, and make strategic IP decisions particularly when the underlying science or legal precedents are still emerging and undefined. - Bias to Action:  You drive to practical solutions and have an ownership mindset.  You execute against goals and milestones with speed and quality and enable trade-offs to ensure the company goals are met. - Managerial Courage: You lean into smart risk taking and cutting-edge approaches to creating IP value.  You embrace healthy conflict and do not shy away from difficult conversations. You provide direct, actionable feedback and are committed to the best outcome, even when it is hard. - Teamwork and Collaboration: You are a natural bridge-builder. You break down silos. You foster a culture of shared success and ensure IP is experienced as a strategic partner. - Executive Presence: You command attention and inspire confidence. You distill highly complex scientific and IP law concepts into clear, concise, and business-focused recommendations for business stakeholders at all levels of the company. ## Who You Are ## Minimum Qualifications Education & Credentials: - Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school - Ph.D. in biology, chemistry or related scientific field - Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - Admitted to California Bar or ability to qualify as Registered In-House Counsel Experience & Technical Skills: - 15+ years of progressive IP experience, ideally beginning in a law firm followed by significant in-house leadership experience in pharma or biotech sector. - Deep Expertise in Global Pharmaceutical Drug Development and Commercialization: Deep knowledge and proven track record of the global pharmaceutical industry, including R&D, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial aspects. - Proven senior level leadership experience, including managing people/teams, working effectively cross-functionally, managing outside counsel and spend, and overseeing high volume intellectual property workflow. The salary range for Redwood City, CA: - Vice President: $485,500 - $571,000 Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. ## #LI-NN1 For UK applicants, before submitting your application: - Please click here to read the Altos Labs EU and UK Applicant Privacy Notice ([bit.ly/eu_uk_privacy_notice](https://bit.ly/eu_uk_privacy_notice)) - This Privacy Notice is not a contract, express or implied and it does not set terms or conditions of employment. ## Equal Opportunity Employment We value collaboration and scientific excellence. We believe that a culture of belonging are foundational to scientific innovation and inquiry. At Altos Labs, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining an inclusive environment. Altos Labs provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Altos prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Thank you for your interest in Altos Labs where we strive for a culture of scientific excellence, learning, and belonging. Note: Altos Labs will not ask you to download a messaging app for an interview or outlay your own money to get started as an employee. If this sounds like your interaction with people claiming to be with Altos, it is not legitimate and has nothing to do with Altos. Learn more about a common job scam at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-spot-avoid-online-job-scams-biron-clark/ ## About Altos Labs ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Altos Labs is a biotechnology company pioneering cellular rejuvenation programming to reverse disease, injury, and disabilities by restoring cell health and resilience. - **Entity Type**: Private (believed to be well-funded by high-profile investors including Jeff Bezos and Yuri Milner; no public funding rounds listed) - **Headquarters**: San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA (also major sites in San Diego, CA and Cambridge, UK) - **Founded**: 2021 (publicly launched in January 2022) - **Founders**: Hal Barron (CEO), Hans Bishop (President), Rick Klausner (Chief Scientific Advisor) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Biotechnology / Longevity & Cell Rejuvenation / Drug Discovery - **Target customers**: B2B/Institutional (partners, academic collaborators); ultimate end-users are patients with age-related diseases - **Mission statement**: “To restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.” ## Products & Services Currently in the research and preclinical/early clinical stage. No marketed products yet. Major initiatives include: - **[Cell Rejuvenation Programming Platform]**: Proprietary technology based on partial cellular reprogramming (building on Yamanaka factors and Belmonte lab discoveries) to reset epigenetic age and restore cell function. - **[Institute of Computation]**: Developing multi-scale generative AI models to decode the “language of cell health” and accelerate discovery of rejuvenation-based therapies. - **[Institute of Medicine]**: Translational arm focused on converting fundamental biology into potential breakthrough medicines for age-related diseases. - **[Discovery Engine]**: Integrated platform combining experimental biology, high-quality internal data generation, and computational modeling to identify novel targets and therapies. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed; widely reported to have raised over **$3 billion** in initial financing (one of the largest biotech startup financings ever). Investors include Jeff Bezos, Yuri Milner, and others. - **Key Metric**: **$3+ billion total funding** (reported launch round) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Jeff Bezos (via Bezos Expeditions), Yuri Milner (via DST Global), and other undisclosed high-net-worth individuals; partnerships with leading academic institutions including the Salk Institute and Cambridge University. - **Growth Signals**: Rapidly scaling headcount (26 open roles listed on Greenhouse as of mid-2026); expansion of computational and AI teams; launched Institute of Computation; appointed Joan Mannick (M.D.) as Chief Medical Officer in 2025 to lead early clinical development. ## Competitive Advantages - **Massive capital base**: Over $3 billion in funding provides long runway for high-risk, long-horizon science. - **World-class scientific leadership**: CEO Hal Barron (ex-GSK, ex-Roche), President Hans Bishop (ex-Juno Therapeutics), Chief Scientific Advisor Rick Klausner, and founding scientist Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte (pioneer of partial reprogramming). - **“Academic freedom meets industry focus” model**: Combines the freedom of academic inquiry with the discipline and resources of a biotech company. - **AI-first approach**: Dedicated Institute of Computation with a focus on generative AI and foundational models for biology, differentiating from traditional drug discovery. - **Multi-site global footprint**: Operations spanning US (Bay Area, San Diego) and UK (Cambridge) attract top talent from both sides of the Atlantic. ## Strategic Focus - **Near-term**: Advancing first therapeutic programs into clinical trials; building out the Institute of Computation and AI models; scaling drug discovery and development capabilities. - **Long-term**: Transform medicine by developing therapies that address the root cause of disease—cellular aging—rather than just symptoms. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven culture**: Focus on a single, ambitious goal—reversing disease through cell rejuvenation—unites the organization. - **Unique work model**: Blends academic freedom (pursue deep questions, publish, collaborate openly) with industry urgency (focus on medicines, milestones, patient impact). - **Computational focus**: Heavy investment in AI/ML (machine learning scientists, AI engineers, computational biology) makes it appealing for those interested in the intersection of tech and biology. - **Work environment**: Collaborative, interdisciplinary, and global; values diverse perspectives. Described as “a unique and inspiring place to work” with “many ways to contribute to our mission.” - **Currently hiring across multiple disciplines**: Discovery Science, Drug Development, Computation, Technology, and Operations—with roles in San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Cambridge, UK. - **Perks/culture highlights**: Not explicitly detailed on careers page, but the emphasis on “freedom to collaborate broadly” and “big questions” suggests a high-autonomy, high-trust environment. ### Company Website & Careers 1. [altoslabs.com](https://www.altoslabs.com/) – Official company site (overview, science, about, careers) 2. [altoslabs.com/careers](https://www.altoslabs.com/careers) – Careers page (mission, culture, job listings) 3. [altoslabs.com/about](https://www.altoslabs.com/about) – About page (leadership, institutes, model) 4. [altoslabs.com/science](https://www.altoslabs.com/science) – Science page (founding science, partial reprogramming) ### Job Board 5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/altoslabs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/altoslabs) – Greenhouse job board (26 open positions as of mid-2026) ## Other roles at Altos Labs - [Manager / Senior Manager Genomics Hub](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-senior-manager-genomics-hub-altos-labs-cambridge-2c83teqhdrg9) — Cambridge, MA - [Senior Knowledge Engineer, Ontology and Data Standards (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-knowledge-engineer-ontology-and-data-standards-contract-altos-labs-san-0gj7kggw8sq9) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA - [Senior Patent Counsel / Director, Intellectual Property](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-patent-counsel-director-intellectual-property-altos-labs-san-diego-rqa72w59efpg) — San Diego, CA - [Director / Senior Director, Lab-in-the-Loop](https://feeny.ai/job/director-senior-director-lab-in-the-loop-altos-labs-san-francisco-bay-area-x0r6dn63de1j) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA / San Diego, CA - [Senior Manager/Manager, CRO and KOL Alliances (Contract to Hire)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-manager-cro-and-kol-alliances-contract-to-hire-altos-labs-san-vw71whqxekvc) — San Diego, CA - [Scientist / Sr. Scientist In Vivo Translational Sciences](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-sr-scientist-in-vivo-translational-sciences-altos-labs-san-francisco-89z998pb5r1a) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA - [Scientist / Senior Scientist, Membrane Biochemistry](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-senior-scientist-membrane-biochemistry-altos-labs-san-francisco-bay-2as6grjx00j9) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA - [Scientist, Neurodegeneration](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-neurodegeneration-altos-labs-san-francisco-bay-area-ptan9vfe9dfh) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA - [Senior Research Associate, Drug Discovery](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-research-associate-drug-discovery-altos-labs-san-francisco-bay-area-es0k39mddn6n) — San Francisco Bay Area, CA - [Director / Senior Director, Machine Learning for Biology](https://feeny.ai/job/director-senior-director-machine-learning-for-biology-altos-labs-san-diego-tav9vfz1h2qf) — San Diego, CA / San Francisco Bay Area, CA