Robert Stanley

Head US Legal and Global Head Legal Innovation at Novartis

New York City Metropolitan Area

About

Experienced in-house US and international legal and IP group leader and US law firm partner, with a demonstrated history of success in legal counseling, patent and trademark litigation and prosecution strategies, and legal management and technologies for the pharmaceutical and other industries.

Experience

  • Novartis (9 yrs 3 mos)
    • Head US Legal and Global Legal Innovation
      Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

      As Head US Legal (GC), I lead, empower, and support a team of 30+ US legal professionals who enable Novartis’s US business to reach as many patients as possible with innovative, efficient, and compliant legal advice and product services, including product strategy, market access, patient support, and employment-related issues. As Global Head of Legal Innovation (Legal Operations), I am responsible for law firm engagement and management, e-billing, and use of external legal technologies (like e-discovery) for the Novartis Security & Legal function. Member of the Novartis US Leadership Team and the Security & Legal Leadership Team.

    • Global Head of Legal Innovation
      Sep 2022 - May 2026 · 3 yrs 9 mos

      Responsible for law firm engagement and management, legal function budgeting, e-billing, and use of legal technologies (AI, e-discovery).

    • Global Head of Intellectual Property
      Jul 2020 - May 2026 · 5 yrs 11 mos

      Oversees, coordinates, and drives patent and trademark prosecution, litigation, transactions, and other intellectual property worldwide with a broad team of 150+ worldwide IP and Legal Innovation professionals, and leads the Intellectual Property Leadership Team. Member of the Novartis Global Security and Legal Leadership Team.

  • Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP ()
    • Partner
      Jan 2011 - Apr 2017 · 6 yrs 4 mos

      Significant experience in all stages of IP litigation, predominately representing innovative pharmaceutical companies in Hatch-Waxman ANDA cases and in cases against other innovators, but also with litigation in the chemical, mechanical, and electronic/computer-related areas. Extensive experience in patent prosecution for multiple technology types, including portfolio management and BPAI/PTAB appeals. Listed for 4 years in IAM Patent 1000 as a leading patent practitioner, in part for ANDA litigation and also prosecution strategy.

    • Associate
      Sep 2002 - Dec 2010 · 8 yrs 4 mos