Counsel/Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Counsel/Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

About Carvana

If you like disrupting the norm and are looking to join a company revolutionizing an industry then you will LOVE what Carvana has done for the car buying experience. We are looking for people who are excited to thrive in an environment of impactful change. Team spirit is evident at Carvana and everyday we let our passions and creativity foster innovation. We take big swings, set ambitious goals, and challenge each other to make data- and process-driven decisions in everything we do. Here are a few of our stories! We've been changing the game since 2013, and we're not taking our foot off the gas now. 

About the team and position

Join Carvana's Legal Department in the role of either a Counsel or Senior Counsel of Intellectual Property (Level determined throughout interview process based on applicable experience). Carvana is looking for an experienced and motivated IP attorney to serve on Carvana's Intellectual Property Team, a key part of Carvana's Legal Department. Specifically, a successful candidate will have the desire to help build upon and improve Carvana's IP portfolios, strategies, and processes. This role will focus on Carvana's IP litigation, IP transactions, patent portfolio, trademarks, trade secret, and copyrights. Broad IP experience is helpful, although not required, but a desire to be involved in all areas of Carvana's IP practice is necessary. You will report to the Associate General Counsel,  Intellectual Property and Marketing. 

What you'll be doing

• Patent portfolio: Assist with managing current patents and identifying patent or trade secret protection opportunities. Proactively work with inventors, content creators, and other departments to identify new portfolio opportunities. Conduct initial research, create strategic recommendations, and hold discussion as required with internal legal counsel and external counsel.  
• Trademark portfolio: Assist with maintenance, tactical, and strategic trademark work including but not limited to:  collect evidence of use, perform/analyze trademark clearance searches, review trademark watch notices and make determinations about pursuit of infringement actions and/or new TM filings, analyze competitor and Carvana patents to make infringement and validity assessments, obtain signatures for declarations/assignments/applications/etc. and communicate with external counsel regarding prosecution needs and deadlines.  
• IP Disputes: Responsible for identifying and working on enforcement matters and all other disputes (experience with UDRP/URS proceedings is a plus). Assist with IP litigation matters, including assisting with discovery, maintaining the file, and coordinating with outside counsel.
• IP Transactional work: Review and/or draft IP agreements, licensing agreements and other related Intellectual Property agreements. Perform Intellectual Property due diligence and develop risk analysis in M&A transactions.
• Be a successful business partner: Develop an understanding of Carvana business processes and systems and build associated technical understanding related to the automotive and financial services industries. 
• Establish and maintain excellent communication and positive relationships with business partners to ensure successful outcomes concerning Intellectual Property matters and strategic business objectives.
• Provide guidance in a digestible format to all levels of business partners/stakeholders related to applicable Intellectual Property requirements and in response to new product concepts and specific inquiries posed by business partners.
• Create/revise documentation and deliver and maintain IP training, policies, templates and other projects.  
• Other duties as assigned.

What you should know/have

The successful Counsel/Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property is team oriented and highly attentive to detail, focused on customer service, a problem solver and comfortable with ambiguity while managing multiple high-priority projects at once. This position requires an understanding of Carvana's organizational goals and an appreciation of how the Intellectual Property Team's efforts can support those goals. This position requires frequent interaction with Carvana's business teams and requires clear communication that presents complex information in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.  A successful candidate will be an agile learner, able to work independently with minimal supervision and excited to create processes and foundational program elements from scratch.    

We also look for:

• A JD and membership in good standing with a United States Bar.
• 5-7  years of experience providing legal support to sophisticated businesses at a national firm with either IP litigation or patent prosecution experience; trademark prosecution is plus but not required.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Superior research skills and ability to condense complex IP issues into concise and easily understandable summaries. 
• Be comfortable with gray legal areas and identifying reasonable options or approaches. 
• Consistent good judgment and ability to apply legal knowledge to help create practical business solutions.
• Ability to research, prioritize, and respond promptly to a wide range of requests, summarizing and communicating legal concepts in a manner useful to legal and non-legal counterparts. 
• Inquisitive nature and comfort challenging current practices and operating in uncertainty.

We'd be thrilled if you also have:

• Experience with marketing and advertising laws, including the TCPA, CAN SPAM, and Lanham Act claims, etc.
• Project management or process creation and execution experience.
• Experience collaborating with and advising others.
• Project management experience.

What we'll offer in return

• Full-Time Salary Position with a competitive salary.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits.
• 401K with company match.
• A multitude of perks including student loan payments, discounts on vehicles, benefits for your pets, and much more.
• A great wellness program to keep you healthy and happy both physically and mentally.
• Access to opportunities to expand your skill set and share your knowledge with others across the organization.
• A company culture of promotions from within, with a start-up atmosphere allowing for varied career development.

Other requirements

To be able to do your job at Carvana, there are some basic requirements we want to share with you.

• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English.

Of course, we'll make any reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs. 

Legal stuff

Hiring is contingent on passing a complete background check.  This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Carvana is an equal employment opportunity employer.  All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.  Carvana also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.