Senior IP Counsel – Materials Group

Location: Mentor, OH (Hybrid preferred; remote work will be considered for qualified non-local candidates.) Reporting to: Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Global M&A and Intellectual Property Avery Dennison is seeking a Senior IP Counsel for its Materials Group business.  The candidate should be well-versed in corporate IP strategy, domestic and international IP procurement, enforcement/litigation, due diligence/clearance, business counseling, and transactional support. This position will work closely with the company's technology and innovation leadership teams, as well as regional directors of R&D, Marketing, and Procurement. The candidate will need a background that permits him/her to provide direct, hands-on legal leadership for core material science platforms, pressure-sensitive adhesives, functional coatings, and digital identification technologies.  A successful Senior IP Counsel will be expected to: Global IP Strategy & Commercial Alignment • Drive and execute a global IP strategy aligned with core business growth, high-margin product platforms, and expansion in key international markets. • Counsel business leaders on portfolio optimization, patents vs trade secrets, trademarks, and open-source models to maximize ROI and market protection. • Manage, allocate, and optimize global IP budgets and external legal spend. Portfolio Development & IP Lifecycle Management • Oversee end-to-end global patent procurement (drafting, PCT/foreign filings, prosecution) to build strong, defensible IP fences around key platforms. • Guide, challenge, and triage R&D inventions to ensure high-value filing decisions and strong alignment with technology roadmaps. • Execute offensive and defensive IP strategies, including competitive surveillance, EPO oppositions, and third-party observations. Freedom to Operate (FTO), Risk Mitigation and Disputes • Conduct rigorous patentability, validity, and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses to clear new product launches and minimize infringement risks. • Advise executive leadership and stakeholders on legal risks regarding patenting, commercial readiness, and contractual exposure. • Manage IP litigation, adversarial proceedings, and dispute resolution in close coordination with outside counsel and internal business partners. Complex Commercial Transactions & M&A • Structure, draft, and negotiate complex IP and technology transactions, including Joint Development Agreements, inbound/outbound licensing, strategic vendor contracts, and research collaborations. • Lead IP due diligence and risk assessment for M&A, joint ventures, and venture investments. Cross Functional Leadership & Enablement • Act as an embedded legal partner to R&D, Commercial, Procurement, and Business Development teams, integrating IP guidance early into product development.  • Design and deliver IP training programs for cross-functional staff on IP best practices, invention disclosures, and trade secret protection. • Mentor, integrate, and leverage global internal IP resources, external agents, and foreign counsel. General Qualifications: • Superior understanding of, and ability to take and manage risk. • Strong business acumen, and ability to connect the law and legal strategies to business goals in a way that guides clients to successful outcomes. • Excellent grasp of finance and budgeting concepts. • Demonstrated ability to lead. Education and Credentials: • A technical degree (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.) in Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, • Polymer Science, Physical Chemistry, or Mechanical Engineering is required. Deep technical familiarity with • pressure-sensitive adhesives, self-adhesive label stock, films (functional and/or graphic wrapping), polymers • or surface/coating tec