Intellectual Property Paralegal

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

The Opportunity:

The Intellectual Property Paralegal will join our highly-regarded Intellectual Property team at Baker McKenzie, Belfast. The role-holder's primary responsibility will be to support the Firm's Global Intellectual Property (IP) practice on a range of matters, covering high volumes of IP prosecution, maintenance, and IP transactional work in a deadline-driven environment. They will be working on the rapidly developing IP portfolios of household names that have worldwide coverage and, as such, will need to have a global mindset with the ability to pick up knowledge regarding different requirements throughout the world.

The role involves working with a diverse range of people at various levels globally. The individual will need to have the confidence and ability to coordinate effectively with technology teams, paralegals, lawyers, and partners across different cultures and teams, and to drive matters forward with local counsel or our internal/external clients. As such, they will provide key support to a range of more senior professionals, each of whom will need to be able to place reliance on the work performed.

Main responsibilities:

Technical requirements:

• Handle technical trademark formalities, including all pre-registration, prosecution, maintenance, renewal, and post-registration steps, which involve managing complex operational or technical issues and seeking guidance when required
• Prepare client reporting emails without supervision
• Support global IP M&A matters, including the recordal of assignments, licenses, security interests, and changes of name and address at local registries, including the drafting of legal documents, liaising with local counsel, producing schedules, communicating with internal stakeholders, and arranging for the execution of documents
• Conduct comprehensive IP asset due diligence using official trademark, patent, copyright, and design online registries, as well as other screening platforms, to audit data from local associates,
• commercial databases, and other parties with limited supervision
• Support global anti-counterfeiting programmes, including the drafting of product guides, handling seizure notifications, handling and coordinating AFA filings, and liaising with infringers
• Conduct trademark scan searches and draft high-quality search reports
• Perform trademark watching services
• Develop legal knowledge and expertise to provide the highest levels of support to Firm lawyers and clients

Services and process standards:

• Liaise with global teams to understand and follow correct procedures, effectively implementing and maintaining established processes
• Meet agreed service delivery standards and provide accurate, high-quality service while managing your workload and deadlines
• Assist with docket and deadline management and other trademark-related tasks as required from time to time
• Proactively inform your manager and colleagues in advance if deadlines and workloads cannot be met
• Understand and comply with all the Firm’s procedures and standards

Skills and experience:

• A relevant undergraduate degree with 2.1 or above is preferred
• Legal background with trademark/IP experience (preferred)
• Have an intrinsic passion for Intellectual Property and a keenness to develop specialist IP knowledge and skills over time
• Authorization to work in the United KingdomA CITMA qualification would be an advantage

Personal & Technical Skills:

• A high work standard, including an excellent attention to detail, with strong prioritization and organization skills
• A proven proactive attitude
• Keen to develop and use initiative
• Able to work independently, with the confidence to drive matters forward
• Able to stay calm in demanding situations, in particular when working on high-pressure projects
• Have a clear and succinct writing style
• Comfortable working to and taking personal responsibility for managing tight deadlines
• Works well as part of a team
• Able to adapt your style of working to different work types and client requirements
• Good interpersonal skills, both verbally and in writing, whether dealing with colleagues, service providers, or internal/external clients

Working at Baker McKenzie Belfast Center:

Baker McKenzie is the world’s leading law firm with offices all over the world. Our Belfast Center is home to over 400 colleagues in both legal and professional services.

We offer one of the best workplace benefits packages in the business with comprehensive private health cover, income protection, life assurance and a full employee assistance plan. These and a host of other benefits make us one of the most desirable companies to work for in Belfast.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates