[Urgent Search] Legal Counsel – Trademark

Job Description Job Title: Legal Counsel - Trademark - India/ PTAB Location: Bangalore, India ABOUT UNILEVER: Be part of the world's most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around theworld, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, bigand small, to make our business win and grow and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash yourcuriosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant businessleaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Every day, nine out often Indian households use our products to feel good, look good and get more out of life - giving us a uniqueopportunity to build a brighter future. Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work.Join us and you'll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you'll channel yourpurpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the businessand the world, we'll work to help you become a better you. ABOUT UNIOPS: Unilever Operations (UniOps) is the global technology and operations engine of Unilever offering businessservices, technology, and enterprise solutions. UniOps serves over 190 locations and through a network ofspecialized service lines and partners delivers insights and innovations, user experiences and end-to-endseamless delivery making Unilever Purpose Led and Future Fit. Where this position fits-into the team: - Part of the Unilever Legal Powerhouse - a team we're currently building, which consists of around 60colleagues in Bangalore - Integral part of the Unilever's Legal Function - a global operation consisting of approximately 500lawyers and specialists - In 2023, the Unilever Legal team embarked on an ambitious plan to set up Legal Powerhouses inBarcelona, Mexico and Bangalore. We now have around 80 legal team members including a team ofaround 10 IP Associates based in Bangalore and Barcelona. These team support our business globally. Job Purpose: - Intellectual Property is at the heart of innovation and our role is to help the business win. The TradeMark Team is an integral part of the IP function, and provides expert global legal advice, riskmanagement support and creative legal solutions to the business, with a focus on trade mark andcopyright law, including searching, clearance, filing, renewals, oppositions, infringement, look-a-likeproducts, unfair competition and passing-off, licensing, assignments, mergers and acquisitions as wellas domain name registrations, recoveries and acquisitions. - We are now looking for an additional IP counsel to join our team in Bangalore. If you are passionateabout brands, having fun and you are fluent in English, this is the role for you Core Responsibilities: You will be responsible for supporting with the following activities: - The role of the Legal Group is to protect Unilever and help it to win by providing objective advice andcreative legal solutions. - As Trademark Counsel, you will report directly to a newly created role of Director - Trademarks & BrandProtection (India & PTAB) based in Bengaluru and will be an integral member of the global IP team. Youwill work closely with IP colleagues around the world, as well as the Head of IP Operations, Head ofPatents and Group Chief IP Officer. - As Trademark Counsel, you will provide comprehensive IP advice, risk management support and creativelegal solutions to the business, with a focus on all aspects of global trademark portfolio management andenforcement, M&A, copyright, music, contract drafting and negotiation, domain name registrations,recoveries and acquisitions, as well as global litigation and negotiation. Whilst the role will not haveresponsibility for designs, the candidate is expected to understand the principles around design rights andother ancillary IP rights, such as patents, know-how and trade secrets and to support on licensing,sponsorship and other marketing related agreements insofar as brand IP rights are concerned. - You will also work with other lawyers and functional experts on other areas such as licensing, litigation,competition law, privacy, data and digital. Close collaboration with global lawyers across the business is acore part of the role. Critical Standards of Leadership Behaviors - Say Three Steps Ahead - Care Deeply - Focus on What Counts - Delivery with Excellence Key Accountabilities: As a member of the global Trademark team, you will work with regional IP colleagues and other keystakeholders, as well as our external law firm partners and will be responsible for: - Strategy: Developing and implementing global and regional trademark strategies for the Power brandsfor which you are responsible in line with the business strategy and GAP. - Protection and Maintenance: All aspects of global trademark prosecution, including conducting global clearance searches,preparing global risk assessments for new and existing brands, opposition, cancellations, invalidityand other relevant trademark proceedings advising on ancillary IP issues in brand campaigns(including copyright and music clearance and other forms of IP rights, such as overlap with IndustrialDesigns) managing global filing, maintenance and watching programs - Enforcement and Brand Protection: Global understanding of brand protection and enforcement - defensive and offensive IPdisputes, including trademark and copyright infringements, unfair competition, passing off andinfringement claims, including the preparation and review of pre-action letters, pleadings, witnessstatements and collation of supporting evidence, as well as conducting settlement negotiationsStrategic advice and support on anti-counterfeiting and illicit trade enforcement activities, customsand law enforcement strategies, and expert guidance to our brand protection and legal colleagues ondiversion issues. - Commercial Contracts: Drafting and negotiating agreements and other contracts in relation to Unilever's and third parties IP, including licensing agreements, sponsorship and partnership agreements. - M&A: Advising on M&A activities, including due diligence - Domain Names: Trade mark related domain name issues, domain name recoveries, understanding of UDRP/INDRP proceedings - Business Partnering: Acting as a trusted business partner and provide timely, pro-active, IP counselling on allinnovation areas, whilst identifying wider legal issues and notify legal colleagues, e.g. claims,competition risk, design rights, tax, compliance, marketing / regulatory / advertising law. - Knowledge Management: Knowledge of IP ownership structures and manage and maintain accurate data for allcontentious disputes and IP-related agreements. - Budget: Forecasting, tracking, and controlling IP legal spend to stay within budgetary guidelines,ensuring that fiscal responsibility is practiced and demonstrated. - Team Leadership: You will l have a proven track record as a mentor and coach to drive professional and personal development and build relevant expertise. - IP Culture: You will raise the level of IP awareness across the business and lead regular trainings for yourbusiness partners to ensure the protection of all Company IP and compliance with our globalstandards and policies as needed. - Emerging and Adjacent Areas: You will upskill and ensure awareness and training on emerging trends such as GenAI, pop culture,music rights. Skills and Experience: - LLB degree from an accredited law school - Bar admission with a state bar in India - 10 years of experience in tier 1 law firms is preferred. Experience in a global FMCG company or anequivalent organization is considered beneficial. - Understanding of Arabic will be an added advantage. - Strong expertise and specialism in international trademark portfolio management and enforcement, brand protection, copyright law and practice, with proven experience in strategic portfoliomanagement, litigation and commercial agreements. - Strong organizational and prioritization skills to cope with multiple stakeholders, competing deadlinesand priorities, with requests often at very short notice. - Curious, flexible and purposeful leadership style with a willingness to learn and take on increasingdegrees of responsibility and develop talent. - Passion for high performance, and excellent written and verbal communication skills - Ability to think strategically about business growth, with a proactive approach to seizing opportunitiesand addressing challenges. - Financial acumen and proven experience in budget management. - Adaptable and flexible style with proven track record of embracing change. At HUL, we believe that every individual irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, age, nationality, caste, disability or marital status can bring their purpose to life.So apply to us, to unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes use your energy to make theworld a better place. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we'll work to help you become a better you All official offers from Unilever are issued only via our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Offers from individualsor unofficial sources may be fraudulent-please verify before proceeding.