Trademark Associate

Join us as Trademark Associate

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. 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 focus in Legal is on high impact strategic business partnering, leveraging and strengthening our legal expertise and focusing on digital transformation. We were recently awarded Most Innovative In-House Legal Team in Europe for our focus on innovation and digitalization with GenAI tools, data and Powerhouses.

The Trade Mark Team is an integral part of the IP function, providing expert global legal advice, risk management support and creative legal solutions. This includes focus on trade mark and copyright law, searching, clearance, filing, renewals, oppositions, infringement, look-a-like products, unfair competition, 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 teams support our business globally.

Job Purpose

This Trademark Associate role aims to help the business win. We are looking for an additional IP Associate to join our team in Barcelona. If you are passionate about brands, enjoy having fun, and are fluent in English, this is the role for you! At Unilever, we invite you to be part of something bigger.

Key Responsibilities

• Trademark Searches: Conduct trademark screening searches using specialized technology, analyze results, and prepare initial advice for Trademark Counsel. Instruct external law firms for full clearance searches, monitor responses, and draft summary advice for business partners.
• Trademark Applications: Prepare trademark application instructions for external law firms for filing and prosecution projects, collating supporting documentation and cost estimates.
• Trademark Renewals: Support the annual trademark renewal cycle, gathering input from regional legal colleagues and business partners, preparing instructions for external law firms, and collating documentation and cost estimates.
• Evidence Collation: Prepare evidence packages of Unilever’s use of trademarks for renewals, Statements of Use, and for trademark prosecution, opposition, and cancellation matters.
• Trademark Watching: Conduct trademark watching to identify infringing third-party trademark applications and prepare recommendations for Trademark Counsel. Instruct external law firms for legal advice and draft summary advice for business partners.
• Trademark Enforcement: Assist with trademark disputes, including undertaking OSIN investigations, drafting pre-action correspondence, and settlement agreements.
• Business Partnering: Manage requests from legal colleagues and business partners for authorization letters, trademark portfolio reports, copies of trademark certificates, and other ad-hoc trademark requests.
• Trademark Recordables: Support the integration and/or divestiture of IP assets from M&A activity, including trademark assignment recordables.
• Knowledge Management: Assist with managing our trademark precedent bank, updating with new templates, playbooks, and know-how materials.
• Database Management: Assist with the creation and maintenance of matters within our IP case management systems, support deadline management, and prepare audit reports for the (Senior) Trademark Counsel.
• Other Duties: Support the Trademark Counsel with general tasks assigned to meet the requirements of the position, including preparing documents for signature and legalization.

Required Qualifications

• Passionate and knowledgeable IP professional with proven experience in trademark portfolio management and conducting trademark clearance searches.
• 3-5 years of experience.
• Preferably experienced with an in-house legal team in a paralegal or junior lawyer role within the FMCG sector.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize, agility, proactivity, and a growth mindset.
• Business Acumen.
• Experience working with different people located in different geographic locations/time zones.
• Exceptional computer skills, especially with Microsoft Office & Copilot and standard IP technologies & tools, including case management software and trademark searching and watching platforms.

Unilever is 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.

Key skills/competency

• Trademark Law
• IP Portfolio Management
• Trademark Clearance
• Legal Research
• Brand Protection
• Copyright Law
• M&A Support
• Database Management
• Business Partnering
• Microsoft Office & Copilot