Senior TradeMark Paralegal

Company Overview:
Unilever is one of the world’s leading fast-moving consumer goods companies. Our products are sold in over 190 countries, and, on any given day, 3.4 billion consumers worldwide use them. We own some of the best known and best loved brands, including Axe, Cif, Comfort, Dermalogica, Dove, Hellmann’s, Horlicks, Lifebouy, Knorr, Paula’s Choice, Persil, TRESemmé and Vaseline. 

In order to unlock our full potential and accelerate business performance, Unilever has set out a Growth Action Plan. It outlines the steps we are taking to deliver faster growth, drive productivity and simplicity, and dial up our performance culture.  Our 30 Power Brands are front and centre of our Growth Action Plan, as is unmissable brand superiority across the 6Ps, as well as science and technology. 

Our focus in Legal is on high impact strategic business partnering, leveraging and strengthening our legal expertise whilst continuing to expand the powerhouses and focus on digital transformation. 

Unilever's legal team has recently been awarded Most Innovative In-House Legal Team in Europe and In-House Legal Team.  We are at the forefront of innovation and digitalisation with GenAI tools, data and Powerhouses shaping the future of how we work.   

JOB PURPOSE

The role of Unilever’s Legal Function is to protect Unilever and help it to win by providing objective advice and creative legal solutions.  The Legal Function, a global operation consisting of approximately 500 lawyers and specialists, is structured with corporate expertise Leads and General Counsels who head up each of our five Business Groups.  

Intellectual Property (IP) is a corporate expertise function under the leadership of Unilever’s Chief Intellectual Property Officer.  The Trade Mark Team has global responsibility for all trade mark work and provides expert legal advice, risk management support and creative legal solutions to the business, with a focus on trade mark and copyright law, including searching, clearance, filing, renewals, oppositions, infringement, look-a-like products, unfair competition and passing-off, licensing, assignments, mergers and acquisitions as well as domain name registrations, recoveries and acquisitions. 

This role will report to the Senior Trade Mark Counsel.  The Senior Trade Mark Paralegal will provide essential support on all aspects of trade mark portfolio management and enforcement.   You will work closely with with our IP shared services hubs based in Bangalore and Barcelona and you will directly contribute to their ongoing professional development through effective oversight and constructive feedback. 

Please note that Unilever has introduced a hybrid working model, with staff required to be in the office for a minimum 2 days each week. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

You will be responsible for supporting with the following activities: 

• Trade Mark Searches: Conduct trade mark screening searches using specialised technology, analyse search results to determine the availability of proposed trade marks and prepare initial advice for the Senior Trade Mark Counsel.  Where required, instruct our network of external law firm(s) to undertake full clearance searches, monitor and collate responses, and prepare draft advice for business partners on the availability and registrability of proposed trade marks. 

• Trade Mark Applications: Prepare trade mark application instructions to our network of external law firm(s) for the filling and prosecution of trade mark filling projects, as well as collating supporting documentation, preparing cost estimates where required and monitoring priority deadlines. 

• Trade Mark Renewals: Support with our annual trade mark renewal cycle, including the gathering of input from our regional legal colleagues and business partners, the preparation of instructions to our network of external law firm(s), as well as collating supporting documentation and preparing cost estimates where required. 

• Evidence Collation: Prepare evidence packages of Unilever’s use of our trade marks to support our annual trade mark renewal cycle and the preparations of Statements of Use, as well as for trade mark prosecution, opposition and cancellation matters. 

• Trade Mark Watching: Conduct trade mark watching to identify infringing third party trade mark applications and prepare recommendations to the Trade Mark Counsel. Where required, instruct our network of external law firm(s) to provide legal advice and prepare summary advice for business partners on the availability and registrability of proposed trade marks. 

• Trade Mark Disputes: Assist with trade mark disputes (such as TM oppositions and cancellation proceedings) including undertaking investigations and the initial drafting of pre-action correspondence, pleadings and settlement agreements. 

• Business Partnering: Manage requests from our legal colleagues and business partners for the preparation of authorisation letters, trade mark portfolio reports, obtaining copies of trade mark certificates and other ad-hoc trade mark requests. 

• Trade Mark Recordals: Support with the integration and/or divestiture of IP assets resulting from M&A activity, including trade mark assignment recordals. 

• Database Management: Assist with the creation and maintenance of matters within our IP case management systems, support with deadline management and prepare audit reports for the Senior Trade Mark Counsel.  

• Knowledge Management: Assist with the management of our trade mark precedent bank, updating with new templates, playbooks and other know-how materials. 

• Other Duties: Support the Senior Trade Mark Counsel with general tasks assigned to meet the requirements of the position, including the preparation of documents for signature and legalization. 
  

ALL ABOUT YOU

• You are a passionate and knowledgeable IP paralegal with proven experience in trade mark portfolio management and conducting trade mark clearance searches. 

• You have experience with an in-house legal team and, preferably, within the FMCG sector. 

• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English. 

• You have outstanding analytical skills and attention to detail. 

• You have an ability to prioritise task in a fast-paced work environment and have experience working with different people located in different geographic locations/time zones. 

• You are adaptable, proactive, keen to learn and are willing to take on an increasingly varied and challenging workload as your skills develop. 

• You have exceptional computer skills especially with Microsoft Office & Copilot and standard IP technologies & tools, including case management software and trademark searching and watching platforms. 

• You have a strong send of teamwork, with an ability to work independently and accomplish team priorities without day-to-day supervision. 

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