Principal Intellectual Property Attorney

Requisition ID:  67275 

Florida Power & Light Company is America’s largest electric company, providing clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to more than 12 million people in Florida. We operate one of the cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S. and our reliability is among the best in the nation. Our goal is to achieve Real Zero carbon emissions from our operations by 2045 by expanding our solar capacity, increasing battery storage and bringing new renewable energy opportunities to Florida, while improving customer affordability and reliability. Are you interested in becoming a game-changer in the energy industry?  Join our world-class team today! 

Position Specific Description

NextEra Energy (NEE) is the world’s leading clean energy provider based in Juno Beach, Florida. We are seeking a highly motivated and accomplished individual to work with the Strategy, General Counsel and leadership teams to support NEE’s intellectual property (IP) strategy. The role will have primary responsibility over IP matters for multiple NextEra business units and support our department objectives, including building and managing our IP portfolio.  The role will sit within Corporate Development and report to the Director & Senior Attorney – Intellectual Property for NextEra. This position is based in Juno Beach.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Partnering with internal stakeholders (including engineers, project and leadership teams) to identify IP opportunities and build IP strategies for our businesses and projects.
• Evaluating new IP for classification and protection, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection.
• Providing patentability assessments to teams; guiding teams on whether to file, and if so, appropriate filing strategies.
• With external counsel, drafting and prosecuting patent and trademark applications.
• Strategically managing NEE’s patent and trademark portfolio.
• Identifying and helping to maintain company trade secrets.
• Training teams/inventors who develop IP on the importance of IP to the success of the company and how they can contribute to enhancing the breadth and strength of our IP portfolio by communicating and coordinating effectively within the organization.
• Identifying IP monetization opportunities and supporting execution.
• Executing defensive IP strategies to mitigate IP risks.
• Negotiating IP agreements and IP aspects of commercial agreements.
• Assisting with IP due diligence.
• Analyzing financial impact of IP-related decisions.
• Developing IP policies and procedures and regularly disseminating throughout the organization.
• Tracking and reporting internal and competitive IP developments on a regular basis.
• Maintaining IP expertise and patent practice to best advise teams and leadership; attend relevant conferences and join relevant networks.
• Organizing and/or attending appropriate internal meetings.
• Managing outside IP counsel.
• Overseeing administrative aspects of IP management.
• Other IP related duties as assigned.

Experience and Skills

• At least 5-7 years of IP experience, preferably with law firm and in-house experience
• Strong understanding of IP laws and processes
• Strong understanding of IP business practices at a large company
• Strong business judgment and the ability to think strategically
• Experience managing a large IP portfolio
• Experience licensing and selling IP
• Excellent leadership skills and strong team player
• Excellent analytical skills and scientific/technical expertise
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong intellectual curiosity and passion for NEE’s mission
• Comfort working individually and in cross-functional teams
• Accustomed to providing business-oriented solutions
• Creative and collaborative approach to problem-solving
• Ability to work efficiently both independently and in cross-functional teams, multitask with ease, and skillfully manage internal and external stakeholders
• Organizational ability
• Ability to adjust to shifting priorities
• Good computer skills and familiarity with standard office software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)

Education Preference

• BS in Engineering or Physical Sciences
• USPTO Registration
• JD from an accredited U.S. law school
• Member in good standing of a state bar