Legal Counsel – Trademark & Brand protection

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 the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Every day, nine out of ten Indian households use our products to feel good, look good and get more out of life – giving us a unique opportunity 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 your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and 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 business services, technology, and enterprise solutions. UniOps serves over 190 locations and through a network of specialized service lines and partners delivers insights and innovations, user experiences and end-to-end seamless 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 60 colleagues in Bangalore

• Integral part of the Unilever’s Legal Function - a global operation consisting of approximately 500 lawyers and specialists

• 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. 

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.

• We are now looking for an additional IP counsel to join our team in Bangalore. If you are passionate about 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 and creative legal solutions.

• As Trademark Counsel, you will report directly to a newly created role of Director - Trademarks & Brand Protection (India & PTAB) based in Bengaluru and will be an integral member of the global IP team. You will work closely with IP colleagues around the world, as well as the Head of IP Operations, Head of Patents and Group Chief IP Officer.

• As Trademark Counsel, you will provide comprehensive IP advice, risk management support and creative legal solutions to the business, with a focus on all aspects of global trademark portfolio management and enforcement, 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 have responsibility for designs, the candidate is expected to understand the principles around design rights and other 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 a core 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 key stakeholders, 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 brands for 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, invalidity and 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 Industrial Designs); managing global filing, maintenance and watching programs 

• Enforcement and Brand Protection:

Global understanding of brand protection and enforcement - defensive and offensive IP disputes, including trademark and copyright infringements, unfair competition, passing off and infringement claims, including the preparation and review of pre-action letters, pleadings, witness statements and collation of supporting evidence, as well as conducting settlement negotiations; Strategic advice and support on anti-counterfeiting and illicit trade enforcement activities, customs and law enforcement strategies, and expert guidance to our brand protection and legal colleagues on diversion 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 all innovation 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 all contentious 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 your business partners to ensure the protection of all Company IP and compliance with our global standards 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 an equivalent 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 portfolio management, litigation and commercial agreements.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills to cope with multiple stakeholders, competing deadlines and priorities, with requests often at very short notice.

• Curious, flexible and purposeful leadership style with a willingness to learn and take on increasing degrees 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 opportunities and 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 the world 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 individuals or unofficial sources may be fraudulent—please verify before proceeding."