IP & Product Counsel

Company Description

Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of “solutions” that promise to simplify their lives. To create a better experience for their customers and employees. To help them grow. Software is a choice that can make or break a business. Create better or worse experiences. Propel or throttle growth. Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done. There’s another option. Freshworks. With a fresh vision for how the world works.
At Freshworks, we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Over 72,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. And, over 4,500 Freshworks employees make this possible, all around the world. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.

Job Description

Freshworks is seeking a hands-on, sharp, and experienced IP & Product Counsel to join our legal team to provide practical and strategic legal advice on intellectual property, product development, commercialization, open-source compliance, data privacy, and regulatory matters. You will work closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Commercial teams to protect and advance Freshworks innovation agenda while enabling business growth. We seek a thoughtful, creative, and collaborative individual who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, and intellectually challenging work environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Intellectual Property Management

· Patent Strategy & Portfolio Management: Work closely with Product and
Engineering teams to identify, capture, and strategize patentable innovations. Conduct brainstorming sessions to identify IP arising from product roadmaps and new features. · Patent Prosecution: Serve as the primary liaison between external patent
counsel and internal technical experts. Draft, review, and coordinate patent applications and claims with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (prior USPTO experience required). Maintain invention disclosure policies and procedures. · Patent Review Board: Act as a key member of Freshworks' Patent Review
Committee, evaluating invention disclosures and making strategic decisions on patent filings. · Trademark Management: Prepare, file, and manage trademark applications
globally. Conduct trademark clearance searches, monitor registrations, and manage enforcement actions including cease-and-desist letters, takedown notices, and cybersquatting matters. Must have experience with United States trademark process and Madrid protocol for international trademark registration. · Brand Counsel: Advise Marketing and Product teams on branding strategies,
trademark implications of new product names, and brand protection initiatives. · IP Litigation Support: Assist internal and external counsel with patent and
trademark litigation, claims review, oppositions, and dispute resolution matters.

Open Source & Software Compliance
· Open Source Compliance: Advise Engineering teams on open-source
software (OSS) license compliance, including GPL, MIT, Apache, and other licenses. Support operationalization of OSS compliance processes and tooling. · Copyright & DMCA: Handle inbound DMCA notices, copyright infringement
claims, and takedown processes.

Product Counselling & Commercialization
· Product Development Advice: Provide legal guidance throughout the
product lifecycle from ideation to launch on IP ownership, licensing, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. · Product Launch Support: Partner with the Senior Product Counsel in
conducting legal due diligence for new product launches and features. Develop and maintain product release checklists, playbooks, and scalable legal processes. · Commercial Agreements: Support the commercial legal team in drafting and
updating IP related provisions in contract templates, customer agreements, and playbooks (e.g., licensing terms, IP ownership, indemnities, warranties). · Third-Party Integrations & Partnerships: Support the commercial legal
team in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements related to product development, integrations, developer tools, APIs, third-party software, and technology.

Privacy, Data Security & Regulatory Compliance
· Privacy & Data Protection: Advise on privacy and data security matters,
including compliance with GDPR, CCPA, DORA and other global data protection regulations. Collaborate with Privacy and Security teams on product features involving data collection, processing, and storage.

• Legal Updates on IP & AI: Monitor legal and regulatory developments

affecting IP, product development, open source, SaaS, AI and technology
sectors. Provide timely updates and actionable guidance to stakeholders. Provide guidance on responsible AI development and deployment. · Regulatory Review: Review marketing materials, web properties, product
communications, and documentation for IP, regulatory, and compliance considerations.
Qualifications

• 
  Education: Graduate degree in Computer Science / Engineering and law (both)

with excellent academic performance.

• Experience: 8-12 years of legal experience in intellectual property, product

counselling, and technology law, ideally in a combination of law firm and in-
house roles in a multi-national company within the SaaS/software/technology industry. Experience of working with USPTO and international trademark prosecution is required. Experience with non-US global IP filings and cross-border regulatory compliance is preferred. · IP Expertise: Proven experience in patent prosecution, trademark
management, IP portfolio strategy, and IP enforcement. · Product Counselling: Strong background in advising on product
development, commercialization, and regulatory compliance for SaaS or software products.

Skills & Competencies
· Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and
provide practical, business-oriented legal advice. · Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to
translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders. · Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust and
credibility across cross-functional teams. · Agility: Flexibility and eagerness to work in a fast-paced, dynamic
environment with competing priorities and tight deadlines. · Problem-Solving: Creative, solutions-oriented mindset with a proactive
approach to identifying and mitigating legal risks.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail in drafting, reviewing, and

managing legal documents and processes.
· Ownership & Accountability: Self-starter with a high degree of ownership,
accountability, and ability to work independently
Additional Information

At Freshworks, we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion, welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees, communities, and business. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.