Your opportunity
Schwab is seeking a Managing Director and Deputy Chief Counsel – IP, Marketing, and Brand Protection to join its legal department in Westlake, TX, or in Washington, DC.
The Managing Director will serve as a key legal adviser to Schwab’s Patent Office, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer. The Managing Director will play a critical role in safeguarding the firm’s intellectual property, reputation, goodwill, and integrity through patent prosecution, strategic defense against Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs), protection of brand and trademarks, and legal oversight of communications with the public. This leader and his or her team will work with R&D leaders to drive innovation, and with Marketing and Corporate Affairs leaders to support consistent and favorable representation of the company brand and its products in various forms of media.
Importantly, this leader will play a direct role ensuring that communications comply with legal and regulatory mandates and guidance. The Managing Director will serve as the Legal Department’s primary point of contact for defamation matters and social media impersonations. In collaboration with the Patent Office, the Managing Director will help define and execute on the firm’s IP strategy and play a pivotal role advising executive leadership on issues, risks, and opportunities particularly in relation to emerging technologies like generative AI.
As a thought leader, and a highly visible officer for the firm, the Managing Director will need to manage across enterprise and organizational lines playing an instrumental role in counseling the firm’s executives in matters dealing with regulatory and legal issues which, if not handled appropriately, could result in material, financial, and reputational harm to the company, and degradation of its brand.
As trusted leader and advisor to executive management, this role requires seasoned judgment, strategic focus and objective perspective, the ability to see the entire landscape – the company, financial markets, investment, and broader communities, along with regulatory, competitive, reputational, and political dynamics.
Specific Responsibilities Of The Managing Director Will Include
- Interacting with C-Suite executives and functional leaders for R&D, Corporate Affairs, Marketing, and their respective teams.
- Advising on high-profile media initiatives, promotional offers, and press releases.
- Demonstrating proactive leadership to help the company ensure engagements with the public account for SEC, FINRA, and FTC rules and guidance.
- Work closely with R&D, Risk, Litigation, and the business to integrate IP considerations into broader business strategies.
- Understanding the firm and demonstrate the ability to “connect the dots” among various lines of business and functional areas to drive a consistent approach in its public facing communications, verbal and written.
- Initiating legal remedies ranging from cease-and-desist letters to litigation accounting for risks/rewards and business priorities as it relates to matters impacting the firm’s reputation.
- Providing excellent communication and decision-making skills to explain and advise on nuanced legal matters to help facilitate sound business judgment.
What you have
- 12+ years of relevant law firm and/or in-house experience.
- Excellent partnering skills – a team player with the ability to lead and collaborate cross-functionally to achieve enterprise-wide results.
- Strong facilitation skills – an open communicator comfortable gathering and exchanging feedback and the sharing of ideas.
- Excellent advocacy, influence, oral and written communication skills –effective in representing and advocating on behalf of the company.
- Critical thinking and analytical skills, and experience with integrating legal theory into business practice.
- Proven leadership strengths and experience managing diverse, high functioning teams.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Financial services industry-specific experience preferred.
- Base Compensation: $300,000- $400,000. Your compensation may be different. Talk with your Talent Advisor to learn more. In addition to the salary range, this role is also eligible for bonus or other incentive opportunities.
What’s in it for you
At Schwab, we’re committed to empowering our employees’ personal and professional success. Our purpose-driven, supportive culture, and focus on your development means you’ll get the tools you need to make a positive difference in the finance industry. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.
We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:
- 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
- Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
- Paid parental leave and family building benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
