Intellectual Property Counsel III, Mounds View, MN or Lafayette, CO

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 15 Jun 2026 At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.A Day in the LifeThe Senior Principal IP Legal Counsel will provide intellectual property legal support to the Medtronic Cardiac Ablations Solutions business. This highly visible role is responsible for the creation and execution of a global IP strategy, developing and maintaining a strategic patent portfolio, providing counseling and education to product development teams, performing due diligence for merger and acquisition opportunities, drafting and negotiating complex agreements, and advising business clients on various intellectual property matters. The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor who delivers clear, concise, and actionable legal guidance and communicates complex intellectual property concepts with confidence to technical and non-technical audiences.We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result – and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive.                  Protect Medtronic’s Pipeline and Ability to Compete  Execute all aspects of the creation, protection, and management of intellectual property assets.Manage a global patent portfolio in support of a global business through management of patent preparation and prosecution by outside counsel, global filing strategy, and patent maintenance decisions.Operate within budget constraints for outside counsel and third-party vendor spend.Interface with the business to develop and communicate strategies that define priorities and objectives for a global intellectual property strategy.Manage internal invention disclosure processes to maximize intellectual property protection for Medtronic’s key technologies.Leverage existing patent applications to develop intellectual property assets in a quickly evolving competitive landscape.Support management of intellectual property risk for Medtronic’s pipeline, including performing global freedom-to-operate evaluations and overseeing the preparation of opinions of counsel.Support patent litigation, pre-suit assessments, and patent office proceedings, including USPTO post grant proceedings and EPO patent oppositions.Support IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions with a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset.Draft and negotiate contracts with a focus on intellectual property considerations.Direct, develop, and analyze thoughtful patent searching strategies for patentability, invalidity, and competitive landscape.Ensure ongoing awareness of competitors’ products, activities, and intellectual property portfolios.Be a Strategic and Inclusive IP PartnerPartner closely with business leaders in marketing, business development, and research and development to provide clear advice and counsel.Assess competitive intelligence by working with cross-functional partners to identify opportunities and risks.Collaborate with other functions to ensure compliance in heavily regulated and global environments.Direct brainstorms to prioritize protection of key technologies and therapies, working closely with research and development teams.Provide training and counseling to internal stakeholders on intellectual property activities, competition, and outcomes relating to intellectual property strategy.Prioritize resources and manage outside counsel to efficiently deliver key objectives on time and within budget.Partner across the intellectual property team to share and leverage insights and best practices.Partner with commercial legal to provide strategic advice and develop a cohesive legal strategy for the business.Model the Medtronic Mindset – act boldly; compete to win; move with speed and decisiveness; foster belonging; and deliver results the right way.Must Have: Minimum Requirements- To be considered for this role, please ensure the minimum requirements are evident in your applicant profile:Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a nationally accredited law school with strong academic credentials8+ years of experience as an Attorney in intellectual property law discipline Licensed to practice in at least one US state or the District of ColumbiaRegistered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Nice to Have:Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or similar scientific disciplinesMedical device experienceBoth in-house and law firm experienceExcellent judgment supported by strong strategic and analytical thinking.Ability to prioritize across multiple tasks and demands while remaining organized.Able to thrive in ambiguity and make decisions amidst multiple, competing demands and activities.Proficiency in engineering and scientific principlesUnderstanding of basic business concepts, strategies, and risksBroad intellectual property experience, including patent prosecution, litigation, trademark, contracts, freedom-to-operate, opinion preparation, licensing, and intellectual property negotiations.Software, algorithms, data science and AI experienceAbility to develop compelling presentations, engage senior leaders with confidence, and distill complex information into business languageStrong commitment to company valuesAbout MedtronicTogether, we can change healthcare worldwide. At Medtronic, we push the limits of what technology, therapies and services can do to help alleviate pain, restore health and extend life.  We challenge ourselves and each other to make tomorrow better than yesterday. It is what makes this an exciting and rewarding place to be.We want to accelerate and advance our ability to create meaningful innovations - but we will only succeed with the right people on our team. Let’s work together to address universal healthcare needs and improve pat