Trade Mark Associate (Fluent English & Mandarin Speaker)

Trade Mark Associate (Fluent English & Mandarin Speaker) WL: 1CC Company Overview: Unilever is one of the world’s leading fast-moving consumer goods companies with some of the world’s best known and best loved brands (Dove, Hellmann’s, Horlicks, Axe, Lifebuoy, Knorr, Paula’s Choice, Persil, TRESemmé and Vaseline). Our products are sold in over 190 countries, and, on any given day, 3.4 billion consumers worldwide use them! We are on a mission to accelerate value and growth at Unilever through differentiated science and brands! Our 30 Power Brands are front and centre of our Growth Action Plan, as is unmissable brand superiority. Our focus in Legal is on high impact strategic business partnering, leveraging and strengthening our legal expertise and focus on digital transformation. We were recently 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: Intellectual Property is at the heart of innovation and our role is to help the business win. The Trade Mark Team is an integral part of the IP function, and provides expert global 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. In 2023, the Unilever Legal team embarked on an ambitious plan to set up Legal Powerhouses in Barcelona, Mexico and Bangalore. We now have around 80 legal team members including a team of around 10 IP Associates based in Bangalore and Barcelona. These team support our business globally. We are now looking for an additional IP Associate to join our team in Barcelona. If you are passionate about brands, having fun and you are fluent in English and Mandarin, this is the role for you! Core Responsibilities: You will be responsible for supporting with the following activities: • Trade Mark Searches: Conduct trade mark screening searches (primarily in Chinese characters) using specialised technology, analyse search results to determine the availability of proposed trade marks and prepare initial advice for the 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 summary advice for business partners on the availability and registrability of proposed trade marks. • Trade Mark Applications: Prepare trade mark application instructions (primarily in Chinese characters) to our network of external law firm(s) for the filling and prosecution of trade mark filling projects, as well as collating supporting documentation and preparing cost estimates where required. • 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 Enforcement: Assist with trade mark disputes, including undertaking OSIN investigations, drafting pre-action correspondence 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. • Knowledge Management: Assist with the management of our trade mark precedent bank, updating with new templates, playbooks and other know-how materials. • 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. • Other Duties: Support the Trade Mark Counsel with general tasks assigned to meet the requirements of the position, including the preparation of documents of signature and legalization. About You: • You are a passionate and knowledgeable IP professional 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 both English and Mandarin. • 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.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.