Deputy General Counsel / General Counsel (IP-Focused)

📍 Oklahoma City, OK (preferred)

Piper Maddox is exclusively partnered with a fast-growing company in the renewable fuels & bioeconomy space on a unique legal leadership opportunity.

This is a high-impact, build-from-scratch role where you will establish and lead the company’s internal legal function. The position sits at the intersection of intellectual property, corporate strategy, and commercialization—ideal for someone who thrives in a greenfield environment and wants to shape how legal supports a scaling, innovation-driven business.

About the Opportunity

• Stand up the internal legal function from near scratch (IP systems, contract workflows, governance structures)
• Take ownership of a highly complex IP estate, including:
• Internally developed patents
• Acquired international portfolio
• Licensed university and national lab technologies
• Play a key role in legal readiness and diligence for upcoming capital raises
• Transition work from external counsel in-house over time
• Partner directly with executive leadership on legal and business strategy

What You’ll Lead

• End-to-end IP portfolio management and strategy alignment with business objectives
• Legal support across financing activities, commercial agreements, and governance
• Development of scalable legal infrastructure for a high-growth company
• Cross-functional collaboration with technical, commercial, and leadership teams

Background Requirements

• Strong experience in intellectual property law (GC-level preferred, but open to high-potential mid-level candidates)
• Exposure to chemicals, energy, biotech, or deep tech IP environments
• Experience managing or advising on complex IP portfolios
• Comfortable operating independently in a build-from-scratch / startup environment
• Ability to provide strategic input and confidently challenge stakeholders when needed