IP Counsel

About the role

ElevenLabs is seeking an experienced IP Counsel to own the full lifecycle of our most valuable intangible assets. You will architect and execute our strategy for copyright protection, licensing programs, and trade secret safeguards across our rapidly evolving product suite. This role requires you to own risk assessment and mitigation for model training data, output generation, and third-party integrations. You will shape the company's posture regarding authorship, originality, and derivative works in the context of generative AI audio. You will proactively identify opportunities to strengthen our IP estate and translate technical innovations into legally defensible assets. This position demands ownership of high-stakes negotiations that balance commercial ambition with legal defensibility. You will serve as the primary internal thought leader on emerging trends in AI copyright and regulatory developments affecting synthetic media.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Analyze product roadmaps and research initiatives to identify potential copyright infringement risks in training data and model outputs.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive licensing strategy that aligns with business objectives across digital platforms and revenue streams.
• Design and implement internal frameworks to document, classify, and protect trade secrets related to proprietary models and datasets.
• Evaluate and engage external law firms and coordinate multi-jurisdictional legal strategies for global compliance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements governing software licenses, data usage, and commercial distribution of AI-generated content.
• Provide clear, actionable guidance to engineering and product teams on implementing legally sound technical workflows.
• Lead investigations into potential copyright infringement or misappropriation involving the company's technology or brand.
• Partner with commercial leaders to structure deals that maximize revenue while preserving key intellectual property rights.
• Advise on rights of publicity and persona usage in the context of synthetic voice generation and digital identity.
• Establish best practices and playbooks to ensure consistent IP management across all departments and product lines.
• Partner with research teams to assess patentability of novel AI architectures and related inventions.
• Monitor competitor activities and market trends to identify potential threats to our core technologies and content libraries.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on IP portfolio management and long-term corporate positioning.
• Coordinate cross-functional training sessions to elevate organizational awareness of IP obligations and opportunities.

Requirements

• Possess a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school or an equivalent law degree recognized for practice in the United Kingdom.
• Maintain active admission to the bar in a U.S. state or hold equivalent professional qualification to practice law in the United Kingdom.
• Bring a minimum of 6 years of post-qualification experience specializing in intellectual property law.
• Demonstrate extensive hands-on experience with copyright law, particularly concerning authorship, fixation, and derivative works.
• Show a proven track record in trade secret protection, confidentiality agreements, and secure development practices.
• Exhibit substantial experience drafting and negotiating licensing agreements, service contracts, and commercial transactions.
• Display a sophisticated understanding of the legal challenges unique to generative AI, including data sourcing, model training, and output ownership.
• Demonstrate strong analytical reasoning, precise written communication, and meticulous attention to detail in all deliverables.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where priorities shift rapidly and ambiguity is inherent.
• Exercise sound business judgment to align legal advice with commercial goals and risk tolerance.
• Commit to maintaining strict confidentiality regarding sensitive company data and strategic initiatives.
• Willingness to collaborate effectively with colleagues across diverse cultures, time zones, and professional backgrounds.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously without compromising quality.
• Adhere to ethical standards and professional responsibility as defined by the relevant bar jurisdictions.

Nice to have

• Professional background in content distribution, licensing, or business operations within music, media, entertainment, or publishing industries.
• Direct experience managing intellectual property risk in software development and engineering workflows.
• A blend of in-house counsel responsibilities and prior work in a traditional law firm setting.

Practical notes

• This is a full-time role with the expectation of consistent availability during standard business hours.
• Compensation details are not specified in the source material.
• The role may require occasional travel to company facilities in New York, San Francisco, or London for meetings or offsites.
• The company hosts an annual international offsite event for team building and strategic planning.
• A monthly stipend is available to support co-working arrangements for employees not located near a primary office.
• The company offers an annual discretionary stipend for professional development and social activities with colleagues.
• Relocation support is not specified in the provided source information.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States or United Kingdom without sponsorship requirements as defined by the source materials.