Senior Paralegal, IP

Position Title: Senior Paralegal, IP

Location: New York, US

Reports to: Associate General Counsel, Trademarks

Direct Reports: NA

Scope / Brands:  Global – all brands

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.

For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com.

THE ROLE

The Wella Company is seeking an experienced Senior Paralegal to support the Legal – Intellectual Property (IP) team for Wella Company. The IP team supports brands and innovations globally covering all Wella Company’s beauty brands, inclusive of GHD, OPI and BRIOGEO.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Trademarks & Brand Protection

• Conducting global trademark searches and performing trademark clearance analysis under supervision.
• Coordinating trademark filings and Handling office actions and provisional refusals with outside Counsels.
• Drafting and filing U.S. trademark applications, including electronic filings, statements of use and renewal documents.
• Handling complex office actions, C&D, Negotiations under supervision.
• Monitoring part of Trademark portfolio (Trademark surveillance).
• Handling opposition and cancellation actions with outside counsels under supervision.
• Drafting/reviewing cease & desist letters, coexistence agreements, letters of consent and affidavits under supervision.
• Preparing and submitting evidence in support of opposition and cancellation proceedings.
• Providing support to attorneys during litigation and Assisting in the enforcement of trademark rights.
• Handling trademark renewals globally for part of Trademark portfolio.
• Handling use requests for renewals / SoUs / DoUs for part of Trademark portfolio.

Patents & Designs

• Managing FTO and invention portal fort part of the Patent portfolio.
• Filing new patent applications and preparing filing paperwork directly with US PTO.
• Managing deadlines and office action responses with external law firms.
• Inventorship law agreement preparation.

Administrative

• Handling internal requests for IP portfolio status details and certificates
• Creating NDA for R&D (based on template)
• Ensuring IP database (DIAMS IQ) is well-updated, and deadlines are under control (docketing)
• Administrative tasks to support IP Lead Team

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of experience in connection with IP. The position will be based in New York and reports to the Associate General Counsel, Trademarks located in Geneva (CH). 

This position requires an experienced, proactive, and independent senior paralegal with experience in U.S. and foreign trademark prosecution and enforcement matters to provide support to trademark partners and other experience trademark personnel. He / She will also assist on US Patent related work.  The role demands sound judgment and flexibility, strategic insight and the ability to seamlessly handle significant demands in a fast-paced environment.

Key Functional and Personal Attributes and skills to succeed:

• Must be a self-starter, innovative and creative thinker, able to work independently, yet have a win for the team attitude.
• Must see the big picture but also give attention to details.
• Flexibility to work across multiple time zones
• Computer skills: Proficient in Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint…
• Knowledge of DIAMS Trademark interface is a significant advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - Ability to drive a process while addressing not just legal, but also pragmatic business considerations.
• Strong organization skills: Ability to manage heavy workload and to independently prioritize tasks and identify the next steps – Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills: Ability to work independently and as part of a team with a variety of people, lawyers, fellow paralegals and clients at all levels.
• Flexible and agile - Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment
• Passion for Beauty!

We disclose the compensation range for positions in compliance with local law. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, skills and in comparison to internal incumbents currently in similar roles. Pay Range: $130,000 - $135,000 salary per year. The range listed is just one component of Wella Company's total rewards package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus plan or variable pay, depending on the role. In addition, Wella Company provides a rich variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance, life and disability insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).

NOTICES 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please email NA.Recruiting@wella.com. This email account will not respond to inquiries regarding the status of a candidate’s application.

[For CA located postings ONLY]: Qualified Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Information regarding your rights: Know Your Rights and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

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