Job Purpose:
The role of the Legal Group is to protect Unilever and help it to win by providing objective advice and creative legal solutions. As Trade Mark and Brand Protection Director, South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal) Turkey and Arabia, you will report directly to a newly created role of Head of Trade Marks & Brand Protection based in London, 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.
Core Responsibilities:
- As a member of the global Trade Mark 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 trade mark strategies for the Power brands for which you are responsible in line with the business strategy and GAP.
- Protection and Maintenance: global trade mark prosecution, including conducting clearance searches, preparing risk assessments for new and existing brands, products, and campaigns (including copyright and music clearance and other forms of IP rights); and managing filing, maintenance and watching programs aligned to business priorities.
- Enforcement: defensive and offensive IP disputes, including TM oppositions and cancellation proceedings, trade mark 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.
- Brand Protection: 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, remediation strategies and integration, and post-closing activities.
- Domain Names: trade mark related domain name issues, domain name recoveries
- 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 & Experience: what you need to succeed
- Minimum of 15 years PQE from a reputed law college. Masters in Intellectual Property Law.
- Must have worked with a global FMCG or equivalent company (large scale) with relevant International Trademark.
- Proven track record of global trade mark portfolio management and enforcement, brand protection, copyright law and practice, with experience in strategic portfolio management, litigation and commercial agreements.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation 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.