Job Details

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care.

What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

Title: Lead Counsel, Innovation Law

Hub locations: Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX (Corp HQ)

Remote/Onsite/Hybrid: REMOTE position

The Lead Counsel, Innovation Law is responsible for driving McKesson’s next-generation approach to patents, trade secrets, and innovation alignment, with a primary focus on innovation portfolio monetization and strategic business value creation. This role transforms patent and trade secret management from a technology-pushed model to a strategy-pulled approach grounded in business priorities and commercial opportunities. The role partners across McKesson Technology, product teams, business development, and the enterprise to create a modern, defensible, cost-disciplined, and revenue-generating innovation posture. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, experience in patent licensing, monetization strategies, and cross-functional business liaison skills.

Innovation Strategy & IP Portfolio Monetization

• Lead the shift to a strategy‑pulled technology IP program aligned with business priorities

• Prioritize and harvest high‑value innovation opportunities with commercial potential

• Oversee portfolio pruning and rationalization for relevance, cost discipline, and monetization readiness

• Develop and execute business-driven IP strategies including licensing programs, portfolio sales, and strategic partnerships

• Lead patent monetization and licensing efforts, including negotiating license agreements, identifying licensing opportunities, and managing licensing relationships

• Partner with business development teams to identify strategic IP opportunities and revenue streams

• Conduct competitive IP landscape analysis to inform business strategy and identify monetization targets

Trade Secrets & NDA Modernization

• Design and operationalize a focused trade secret program with emphasis on protecting commercially valuable innovations

• Redefine confidentiality posture and reduce friction in NDA usage

• Support adoption and evolution of McKesson’s proprietary NDA automation chatbot

Freedom to Operate Analysis

• Lead Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis and clearance opinions, primarily for McKesson's NorthStar Rx business

• Oversee and manage outside counsel for FTO opinions and competitive patent landscape assessments

• Partner with product and business teams to identify and mitigate third-party IP risks

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop communications and training to help the enterprise understand patent and trade secret opportunities, risks, and commercial value

• Serve as strategic business partner to technology and product leadership on IP-related business decisions

• Build and maintain relationships with external IP counsel, licensing partners, and industry contacts

• 7+ years’ experience in IP portfolio management, patent monetization, licensing, or related IP commercialization fields;

• Demonstrated experience with patent licensing, portfolio monetization, IP transactions, or IP litigation support

• Experience in healthcare technology or enterprise technology environments

• Strong business acumen and ability to translate IP strategy into business value

• Proven ability to partner effectively with business stakeholders and cross-functional teams

• Patent monetization and licensing expertise

• Strategic IP portfolio design and commercialization

• Business development and revenue generation through IP assets

• Innovation prioritization and harvesting with focus on commercial value

• Ability to translate business priorities into IP protection and monetization strategies

• Strong business acumen and financial analysis skills

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and cross-functional stakeholder influence

• Experience with licensing negotiations, IP transactions, or IP-related dispute resolution

Education

• Juris Doctor Degree with excellent academic credentials. Member of a jurisdiction is required

Minimum Education & Typical Experience or Equivalent Combination

• Degree or equivalent and typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience

Must be authorized to work in the US. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

We are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson as part of our Total Rewards. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered. For more information regarding benefits at McKesson, please click here.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

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McKesson Talent Advisors will never solicit money or credit card information in connection with a McKesson job application.

McKesson Talent Advisors do not communicate with candidates via online chatrooms or using email accounts such as Gmail or Hotmail. Note that McKesson does rely on a virtual assistant (Gia) for certain recruiting-related communications with candidates.

McKesson job postings are posted on our career site: careers.mckesson.com.

McKesson is an Equal Opportunity Employer

McKesson provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other legally protected category. For additional information on McKesson’s full Equal Employment Opportunity policies, visit our Equal Employment Opportunity page.

McKesson welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation please contact us by sending an email to Disability_Accommodation@McKesson.com.

Join us at McKesson!