About the Role
As the IP Counsel, you will be responsible for providing legal and/or business support to one or more business divisions, strategic business units ("SBU"), or corporate functions including, but not limited to: the Lifestyle and/or Automotive division, the DTS SBU, under the supervision of senior attorneys. You will support manager and senior attorneys with the following: assist with management of the global trademark portfolio including, but not limited to prosecution, maintenance, clearances, oppositions, infringement opinions; draft rules for promotions and provide counsel for various marketing matters such as brand licensing, social media marketing, endorsements, and advertising claims; negotiate and draft contracts for the SBU, division, or function, prepare/draft/review/revise legal documents, and research/analyze legal issues and factual situations.
You will also support senior attorneys with general legal functions such as: consult with and advise internal clients, respond to client inquiries, conduct investigations, and may serve as the day-to-day liaison for a specific SBU of a division or function. Basic level contract review, drafting, and negotiation experience is required.
Your Team
This position will work closely and strategically with manager, paralegals, and senior attorneys. This position will report directly to Senior Counsel- IP.
What You Will Do
Managing Legal and Business Risk
Assist with the reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide variety of agreements and amendments, including master services, statements of work, licensing, marketing, and vendor agreements under the supervision of senior attorneys
Prepare, draft, and file documents for global trademark prosecution matters, maintenance, and oppositions, including, but not limited to report and respond to Office Actions, filing Declarations of Use, Statements of Use, and renewals; assess adequacy of specimens for amendments to allege use/statements of use
Conduct global trademark searches; analyze and report search results;
Counsel clients regularly on various global trademark matters and may include copyright matters or other intellectual property
Draft and respond to cease and desist letters
Assist with brand enforcement including global anti-counterfeiting raids, investigations, and seizures
Assist with oppositions and cancellations before the TTAB
Work closely with local and foreign associates on global trademark matters
Draft and negotiate marketing agreements including endorsement and co-branding contracts, product placement, and other release forms
Draft terms and conditions for promotions, incentives, sweepstakes, contests, and BOGOs
Provide practical, creative legal advice on a broad range of topics as assigned by senior attorneys in a fast-paced, high growth environment
Work closely with the senior attorneys to support the teams charged with generating business and proactively establishing relationships across the legal team
Assist with corporate, MD&A, and other legal matters as requested
Address legal risks and communicate to more senior legal colleagues within the legal department in a timely manner
Demonstrate general risk awareness and complies with Harman's operating procedures and policies relevant to their role
Collaborate with other legal and compliance staff and organizational partners to develop, update and maintain templates, negotiation resources and playbooks
Contribute to development and implementation of innovative ways to scale commercial legal processes
Other duties as assigned
What You Need
Juris Doctor (or equivalent in jurisdiction) and admitted to practice law in the United States
Analytical and project management skills, task-focused, works on own initiative to get things done, is able to work under pressure and manage multiple stakeholders
3+ years of relevant (generally in-house or law firm) experience and a law degree from law school
Also 1+ years of specialized experience in the area of intellectual property.
Critical skills required to perform the core responsibilities of the position:
Operational Effectiveness and Efficiency
Takes initiative to contribute to the improvement of internal processes
Draft documents effectively, where appropriate using data or precedents
Influencing and Communicating
Coordinate and communicate with in-house domestic and international law firms and agencies/business units
Able to translate legal issues for primary business clients and explain in a comprehensible manner; possesses diplomacy skills
Is approachable and is comfortable to ask questions and seek help from other team members
Communicates clearly, accurately, confidently, and concisely in a timely manner
Commercial Awareness and Effectiveness
Seeks regular feedback and discusses primary client business needs to fully understand business drivers from the beginning
Prioritizes resource and effort around key client business deliverables as assigned by senior attorneys
Uses legal experience and knowledge to anticipate client business needs and seeks to add value
Understands and can articulate the legal issues and risks for the primary business client in which they support or senior attorneys
What is Nice to Have
California attorney license in good standing
Substantial experience with managing a global trademark portfolio
Experience with advertising and marketing issues
Previous experience as an in-house practitioner
What Makes You Eligible
Be willing to travel up to 10%, domestic and international travel
Be willing to work remotely and occasionally in Northridge, CA, USA
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen
What We Offer
Access to employee discounts on world class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG etc.).
Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University's business and leadership academies.
Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work life integration and collaboration in a global environment.
An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.
Tuition Reimbursement.
"Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program.
The standard base salary for this position is:
$ 119,850-$133,500-$146,850 plus applicable bonus.
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