Lead Counsel, Ip & Commercial

Believer Meats is an innovative start-up revolutionizing the food industry through the development and commercialization of cultivated meat products. Leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology, we aim to provide sustainable, ethical, and high-quality meat alternatives to consumers worldwide. As we prepare to bring our first product to market, we are seeking a Legal Counsel ? Intellectual Property & Commercial to join our team in the greater Raleigh, NC area, or Chicago, IL.

JOB SUMMARY

This is a global individual contributor role reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer. The role will serve as the company?s intellectual property (IP) subject matter expert while also supporting broader legal needs, including internal and external contracts, commercial agreements, and liaison with external counsel. The ideal candidate brings deep IP expertise with the flexibility and curiosity to support a dynamic, high-growth biotech organization in a hands-on, cross-functional environment. This position requires both strategic insight and practical execution, with high accountability for delivering legal solutions that support the company's innovation and business objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the lead IP counsel responsible for developing and executing the global intellectual property strategy, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
• Evaluate current patent portfolio and identify opportunities to strengthen IP protections aligned with the company?s scientific and commercial priorities.
• Partner with R&D and other internal stakeholders to assess patentability, freedom to operate, and IP risk mitigation strategies.
• Draft, file, and manage patent applications, with a focus on life sciences and biotechnology.
• Coordinate with and manage outside IP counsel on patent prosecution, trademarks, and potential disputes.
• Provide general legal support, including drafting and reviewing commercial agreements, NDAs, vendor contracts, and research collaborations.
• Act as a liaison with external legal counsel to manage workflows, oversee legal budget allocation, and ensure consistency in legal approaches.
• Contribute to legal support on transactions, including M&A and strategic partnerships, as needed.
• Provide timely, practical, and business-focused legal advice to internal stakeholders across jurisdictions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and admitted to practice law in at least one U.S. state
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial work in IP law with a focus on patent prosecution and portfolio strategy.
• Demonstrated experience in life sciences, biotechnology, or related fields; familiarity with cultivated meat or alternative proteins is a strong plus.
• Experience supporting contract drafting and negotiations for R&D, commercial, and vendor agreements.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage external counsel relationships effectively across geographies.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

EEO STATEMENT

Believer is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law with respect to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment.

We also provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about accommodation during the application process or employment, please contact HR (careers@believermeats.com).