---
title: 'Senior Patent Counsel San Francisco, CA (Hybrid) (970-SLS) at Solutus Legal Search'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-patent-counsel-san-francisco-ca-hybrid-970-sls-solutus-legal-search-san-v2gw1hkf87j9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-16'
---

# Senior Patent Counsel San Francisco, CA (Hybrid) (970-SLS) at Solutus Legal Search

- **Company:** Solutus Legal Search
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-06-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/solutuslegal/ef9df4bd-52bc-4ec4-ac71-3e850c88db68

## Job description

Our client, a publicly traded digital health company leveraging technology and AI to transform care delivery, has exclusively retained Solutus Legal Search to assist the executives in their search for a Senior Patent Counsel. This role reports to the Associate General Counsel, Product, and will work closely with other members of the Legal & Compliance team, as well as cross-functional stakeholders across the organization — including access to senior leadership. Our client is seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Patent Counsel who will build and manage the company’s intellectual property portfolio and who is comfortable (indeed eager) to adopt AI tools to help them move faster and more efficiently. As the first dedicated in-house patent attorney, you will take ownership of the company’s growing intellectual property portfolio, moving beyond management to active creation. This role will own patent strategy end-to-end: you will use AI to draft patent applications in-house, drive invention harvesting across the organization, and work closely with outside counsel to secure granted patents. This is a high-impact role for someone who wants to build the internal IP infrastructure for a market-leading digital health company, working directly with advanced AI tools, engineers, product managers, and clinical experts to align the IP strategy with the product roadmap  which includes AI-driven care, computer vision, wearable technology and broader aspects of care automation.

Responsibilities include:

- Manage the IP Portfolio: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of the company’s global patent and trademark portfolio. Develop and execute the company’s IP strategy in alignment with business objectives and product roadmap.
- Adopt AI-first mindset and workflows: Leverage AI-powered tools to perform prior art search and prepare initial patent application drafts, to enable faster identification of relevant references and more strategic claim drafting from the outset, significantly reducing turnaround time from invention disclosure to filing.
- Drive Invention Harvesting: Partner deeply with R&D, Product, and Clinical teams to identify patentable innovation early. Lead "idea jam" sessions and manage the internal Idea Disclosure Form process to ensure a steady pipeline of high-quality filings.
- Facilitate the Invention Review Process: Organize and lead monthly invention review meetings to review IDFs, determine filing strategies, and recognize inventor contributions through the Patent Award Program.
- Draft & Prosecute Patent Applications: Serve as the primary drafter for new patent applications, particularly in key technology areas. Respond to office actions and manage prosecution to maximize claim scope and grant rate.
- Facilitate Adoption and Improvement of AI tools: Drive efficiency improvements across the patent lifecycle — from drafting through prosecution and portfolio management — by identifying opportunities to deploy AI; continuously refine and optimize AI prompts and workflows to improve the quality and consistency of generated patent documents, while applying legal expertise to review, edit, and finalize all AI-assisted outputs.
- Manage Outside Counsel: Act as the primary liaison with outside IP counsel. Direct their work on foreign filings and complex prosecution matters, ensuring strategic alignment, high-quality work product and strict adherence to budget and timelines.
- Strategic Counseling: Provide patent landscape reviews, patentability analyses, and competitor monitoring to inform product development and business strategy.
- Support IP due diligence for potential M&A activities. Support product and business development teams with IP due diligence for partnerships, licensing, and strategic transactions.
- Stakeholder Support: Develop and deliver internal training on IP awareness, invention disclosure processes, and trade secret protection. Advise internal stakeholders on IP ownership, inventorship, and related contractual matters (e.g., IP assignment provisions in employment and vendor agreements).

Experience includes:

- J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
- Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- 5-7 years of experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, with a strong preference for a mix of law firm and in-house experience.
- Strong technical fluency in computer science, electrical engineering, data science, or a related field, with the ability to understand complex software, AI/ML, and hardware technologies
- Experience managing outside counsel relationships and patent prosecution budgets
- Familiarity with international patent prosecution (PCT, EP, and key foreign jurisdictions)
- Experience using AI tools to enhance and accelerate deliverables
- Experience building or scaling an IP portfolio at a technology, healthcare, or med device/SaMD company, including inventor incentive programs and portfolio management
- Experience with IP due diligence in M&A or strategic partnership contexts
- Excellent communication skills; ability to explain complex legal and IP concepts to non-legal stakeholders (engineers, product managers, executives) in a clear and practical way
- Strategic mindset and ability to translate business goals into a comprehensive IP strategy that balances offensive and defensive needs

The role offers a competitive compensation package, including a base salary range of $216,000 – $324,000, together with eligibility for equity participation. The company also offers comprehensive benefits, including retirement plans with company match, modern life stipends, and support for family and wellness needs. Total compensation is designed to align with the scope and impact of the position. Solutus Legal Search is proud to have been exclusively retained to assist our client with this special engagement.  Resumes submitted directly to our client will be forwarded to Solutus Legal for evaluation. Ref. #970-SLS

## About Solutus Legal Search

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Solutus Legal Search is a concierge legal search boutique that specializes in the permanent placement of lawyers in corporations and law firms, offering tailored search strategies for each client’s unique hiring needs.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Bootstrapped)
- **Headquarters**: Redwood City, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2000
- **Founders**: Julie Q. Brush (Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Legal Services (Legal Recruitment / Staffing)
- Target customers: B2B – corporations (in-house legal departments from emerging growth to public companies) and law firms (large firms and boutiques).
- Mission or purpose: Deliver premium legal search and consulting services with precision and a holistic, career‑focused approach for both clients and candidates.

## Products & Services
- **[In‑House Search]**: Retained search for corporate legal departments at all seniority levels (Corporate Counsel to General Counsel). Clients range from Series A startups to large public companies across all industries globally. Service type: Retained search / consulting.
- **[Law Firm Search]**: Lateral partner and associate placements, including individual and group partner moves, for large law firms and boutiques. Service type: Retained search.
- **[Candidate Services]**: Strategic career advisory for attorneys seeking job changes or ongoing career guidance, including job opportunities and personalized roadmaps. Service type: Career consulting.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of $17.9M (estimated, as of latest available data) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/solutus-legal-search)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: No external investors; privately held. Partners include a broad network of corporate legal departments and law firms.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - 68% diversity placement rate
  - Average placement time of 38 days from start to offer
  - Offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle
  - Over 1,000 placements made since founding
  - 90 years of combined experience on the team
  - Year‑over‑year job postings increased 50% (though headcount declined 8.3% to 5 employees) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/solutus-legal-search)

## Competitive Advantages
- All recruiters are former lawyers who practiced at top law firms, giving them deep legal market knowledge, candidate assessment expertise, and extensive networks.
- Holistic, career‑focused approach with candidates – they act as strategic advisors, not just placement agents.
- Boutique, concierge‑style service with a proven track record (68% diversity placements, 38‑day average placement cycle).
- Longevity and reputation: over two decades in the legal search industry.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue to provide premium, retained legal search and consulting services for both corporate and law firm clients.
- Maintain a strong emphasis on diversity hiring and holistic candidate career strategy.
- Expand reach across geographies (already covering multiple U.S. markets) and adapt to remote/hybrid work trends.

## Why Work Here
- Work with a small, experienced team of former lawyers who are deeply invested in candidate and client success.
- Culture emphasizes diversity (68% of placements are diverse) and long‑term career guidance.
- Remote and hybrid roles available; job postings include fully remote, hybrid, and on‑site positions (e.g., Senior Product Counsel – Hybrid San Francisco, Senior Commercial Counsel – Remote USA) [jobs.lever.co/solutuslegal](https://jobs.lever.co/solutuslegal).
- Opportunity to work with high‑profile legal departments and law firms across industries.
- The firm uses AI tools to support resume screening but retains human judgment in final hiring decisions.

## Sources
1. [solutuslegal.com](https://solutuslegal.com/)
2. [solutuslegal.com/about-us](https://solutuslegal.com/about-us/)
3. [linkedin.com/company/solutus-legal-search](https://linkedin.com/company/solutus-legal-search)
4. [jobs.lever.co/solutuslegal](https://jobs.lever.co/solutuslegal)
5. [solutuslegal.com/jobs](https://solutuslegal.com/jobs/)

## Other roles at Solutus Legal Search

- [Senior Commercial Counsel – Remote (991-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-commercial-counsel-remote-991-sls-solutus-legal-search-remote-456zkq83b6nx)
- [Global Securities Counsel (Radnor, Pennsylvania) (990-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/global-securities-counsel-radnor-pennsylvania-990-sls-solutus-legal-search-p950acq2prqk) — Radnor, PA
- [Vice President, Legal (Remote) (988-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-legal-remote-988-sls-solutus-legal-search-remote-h441zqewba50)
- [General Counsel – San Francisco Bay Area (987-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/general-counsel-san-francisco-bay-area-987-sls-solutus-legal-search-san-b1j3sasct445) — San Francisco, CA
- [Vice President, Legal – San Francisco or New York (Hybrid) (986-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-legal-san-francisco-or-new-york-hybrid-986-sls-solutus-legal-nfyfmta8wqwe) — San Francisco, CA
- [Head Counsel, Regulatory  –  Remote  (985-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/head-counsel-regulatory-remote-985-sls-solutus-legal-search-remote-p2dc2b4pns83)
- [Lead Commercial Counsel or Senior Commercial Counsel – New York City, NY (984-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-commercial-counsel-or-senior-commercial-counsel-new-york-city-ny-984-sls-5sp3s4j1et6h) — New York, NY
- [Senior Counsel, Corporate & Intellectual Property  –  San Francisco Bay Area  (980-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-counsel-corporate-intellectual-property-san-francisco-bay-area-980-sls-sm6mc4mn0r56) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Counsel, Product – Remote Opportunity (983-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-counsel-product-remote-opportunity-983-sls-solutus-legal-search-remote-p6z3p7xe35v6)
- [Vice President, Global Compliance – New York, NY or Washington, DC (982-SLS)](https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-global-compliance-new-york-ny-or-washington-dc-982-sls-solutus-ex4g6eqqfwb4) — New York, NY