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Director, Licensing Counsel

AT Dolby
Dolby

Director, Licensing Counsel

San Francisco, CA

Join the leader in entertainment innovation and help us design the future. At Dolby, science meets art, and high tech means more than computer code. As a member of the Dolby team, you'll see and hear the results of your work everywhere, from movie theaters to smartphones. We continue to revolutionize how people create, deliver, and enjoy entertainment worldwide. To do that, we need the absolute best talent. We're big enough to give you all the resources you need, and small enough so you can make a real difference and earn recognition for your work. We offer a collegial culture, challenging projects, and excellent compensation and benefits.

For this high functioning team, the nature of the work benefits from frequent in-office presence, and employees may be expected to work from a company office up to four days per week. While we remain committed to flexibility, this team's rhythm includes regular in-person connection to support collaboration, learning, and impact.

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The Legal Department provides core legal support to all Dolby functions, runs several IP-centric businesses, and leads government relations.

We are seeking an experienced transactional attorney to support Dolby's technology licensing, product development, and strategic initiatives. This role involves close collaboration with senior leaders across business units and functional teams. The ideal candidate brings sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to work effectively as a proactive team member with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead and support complex intellectual property, data, and commercial transactions with key partners, collaborating closely with colleagues in technical, business development, marketing, finance, security, and compliance.
  • Advise business units on licensing, product development, open source, data privacy, artificial intelligence, regulatory compliance, and other legal considerations associated with new products and business models.
  • Provide legal guidance on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of third-party technologies and related IP.
  • Advise senior stakeholders on licensing agreements, collaboration partnerships, intellectual property strategy, and IP rights protection.
  • Draft and negotiate complex agreements, including technology transfers, IP licenses, and business development and services contracts.
  • Partner with sales and marketing teams to create templates and guidelines for agreements, and to define and manage program criteria and processes.
  • Support legal workflows and processes within commercial and sales organizations.
  • Provide legal training and resources to internal teams as needed.
  • Represent Legal in cross-functional task forces or working groups.
  • Offer additional licensing and product counseling support, as needed.
Leadership Expectations
  • Provide strategic direction and help the team adapt to evolving business conditions. Demonstrates openness to new ideas and solutions, and approaches challenges with resilience.
  • Drive accountability and foster a results-oriented mindset. Prioritizes company-wide success while supporting team and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Connect legal strategy to broader business goals. Communicates complex issues clearly and motivates others through inclusive, engaging, and persuasive communication.
Required Qualifications
  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (California preferred).
    Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with a strong background in transactional and licensing work.
  • Demonstrated success in negotiating complex licensing deals and navigating intellectual property and technology transactions.
  • Expertise in IP licensing, patent and antitrust law, standards organizations and obligations, and open-source software.
  • Experience mentoring and supporting the development of other legal professionals.
  • Strong client-service orientation, interpersonal skills, and a collaborative mindset.
  • Comfortable contributing to a positive and inclusive team culture.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Familiarity with SaaS, cloud services, data privacy, artificial intelligence, marketing, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property litigation.
  • Experience working with global or distributed legal teams across multiple time zones.
The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $225,000 - 318,000, which can vary if outside this location,plus bonus, benefits, and some roles may also include equity. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

#LI-JB1

Dolby will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:
Dolby is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.

Client-provided location(s): San Francisco, CA, USA
Job ID: dolby-41081
Employment Type: Full Time

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Fitness Subsidies
    • On-Site Gym
    • Mental Health Benefits
    • Virtual Fitness Classes
    • Health Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA
    • HSA With Employer Contribution
    • HSA
  • Parental Benefits

    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
    • Adoption Leave
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
    • Four-Day Work Week
    • Work-From-Home Stipend
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Commuter Benefits Program
    • Casual Dress
    • Snacks
    • Happy Hours
    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Leave of Absence
    • Volunteer Time Off
    • Summer Fridays
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Company Equity
    • Stock Purchase Program
    • Performance Bonus
    • Relocation Assistance
    • Profit Sharing
    • 401(K)
  • Professional Development

    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Work Visa Sponsorship
    • Leadership Training Program
    • Associate or Rotational Training Program
    • Learning and Development Stipend
    • Internship Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
    • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)

Company Videos

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