Senior Counsel, Patent Litigation, Global Legal Pharma

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

We are excited to be hiring a Senior Counsel, Patent Litigation, Global Legal Pharma. The position is based at Roche’s Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. This role reports directly to the Senior Director of Global Patent Litigation. It is a high-impact role with significant visibility across the business, leading and supporting patent litigation matters globally, with an emphasis on ex-US matters. 

The Opportunity

• Manage and coordinate an active and varied caseload of court proceedings relating to patent infringement, validity and revocation proceedings globally, with an emphasis on ex-US jurisdictions.  

• Partner as a team together with highly experienced patent attorneys in the management of such proceedings, leveraging their subject matter and other local expertise.  

• Serve as a thought leader for the litigation practice group and patent group on issues including global patent litigation strategy.

• Partner closely with senior business clients and legal/patent department colleagues to advise on a range of strategic issues while using a practical and business-minded approach.

• Develop strategies to mitigate or resolve regional, national and international patent disputes, including negotiating license agreements and settlements.

• Advise on patent strategy across multiple jurisdictions, contributing to an aligned global patent litigation strategy. 

• Partner with Group Patents to work closely with R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Finance and other business units.

• Manage outside counsel across Europe and in other jurisdictions outside the United States. 

• This is a global role, and legal colleagues, business stakeholders and partners are based in both Basel and South San Francisco; working across cultures and time zones is essential to success 

• Travel worldwide as needed in conjunction with managing and resolving disputes. 

Who you are

• Qualified attorney-at-law (e.g. Rechstanwalt, avocat) in at least one European jurisdiction (or equivalent); additional qualifications (e.g., European Patent Attorney, German Patentanwalt, UK Solicitor/Barrister) are a strong plus.

• Minimum 7-10+ years of experience in patent litigation, with significant experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences matters.

• Deep familiarity with European patent litigation practice, including proceedings in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and/or other major jurisdictions.

• Experience in Unified Patent Court (UPC) strategy and rules of procedure.

• Familiar with SPC law, data/market exclusivity, and regulatory linkage in Europe.

• Expert in coordinating complex, multi-jurisdictional patent litigation.

• Strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills in English; proficiency in additional European languages (e.g., German, French, Dutch) is desirable.

• Creative problem-solver with a business mindset. 

• Knowledgeable and committed to deploying emerging AI-enabled technologies to increase productivity, speed and efficiency in litigation management.

• A degree (undergraduate or graduate) in a biological science or chemistry preferred but not required.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.