Registry Services (Formalities) Paralegal

Mishcon de Reya LLP; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Mishcon de Reya LLP is seeking a Registry Services (Formalities) Paralegal to join our dedicated Registry Services team. The role involves handling all trade mark and design formalities, including filings, renewals, and client onboarding, across the Brands group.

The ideal candidate will have at least two years' TM practice experience, with strong IT skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to work independently as well as in a close-knit team within a busy IP department.

Qualifications

• Two years' experience in a trade marks practice.
• Ability to perform all aspects of trade mark and design formalities accurately.
• Experience of working collaboratively within a team.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills and ability to build relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent IT skills and interest in using new systems to improve efficiency.
• Ability to prioritise workload and be flexible as required.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Enhancing the Registry Services team's capabilities to deliver high-quality service.
• Handle incoming post and communications; ensure proper distribution and filing of emails.
• Accurately recording and maintaining deadlines in the practice database.
• Diligently monitoring deadlines and ensuring they are met.
• Prepare and file trade mark and design applications.
• Prepare and file registry forms including oppositions and recordals.
• Report and carry out trade mark and design renewals.
• Prepare initial cost estimates for trade mark and design filings.
• Prepare trade mark and design schedules for clients.
• Onboard new client portfolios.
• Maintain and update the database of foreign agents and client allocation lists.
• Keep abreast of updates in UK, EUIPO, and international trade mark practices.

Skills

Trade marks knowledge

IT literacy

Attention to detail

Time management

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Independence

Education

CITMA Paralegal Qualification

Job description

The Practice Group

The Intellectual Property team is renowned for its market-leading expertise, having successfully represented clients in landmark IP cases before all levels of UK courts, as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Practice Group

The Intellectual Property team is renowned for its market-leading expertise, having successfully represented clients in landmark IP cases before all levels of UK courts, as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union. Our integrated Brands group offers comprehensive and streamlined services covering the entire brand lifecycle, from inception to protection, commercialisation and enforcement. Our diverse team of Partners, Associates, Trade Mark Attorneys, and Paralegals advises clients across a broad range of sectors, safeguarding new, established, or expanding brands, and ensuring that brand protection strategies are robust and commercially viable. We foster close ties with industry bodies and the UK and EU IP Offices and the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This enables us to provide our clients with proactive and informed advice that anticipates change and protects their interests and adds significant value to their brand.

Job Profile

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our IP team as a Registry Services (Formalities) Paralegal and to be a part of our dedicated Registry Services team, which handles all our Brands team's trade mark and design formalities. The role will suit a Trade Mark Paralegal or Formalities Specialist who welcomes the opportunity to contribute to a busy and expanding IP team. The candidate will have the opportunity to work across all areas of the Registry Services team, including filing applications and oppositions, working on renewals, processing registry correspondence, updating records and onboarding new clients.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Enhancing the capabilities of our Registry Services team to deliver a high-quality service to our clients.
• Handling incoming post and communications and ensuring proper and timely distribution and filing of email correspondence.
• Accurately recording and maintaining deadlines for all matters in the practice database.
• Diligently monitoring deadlines and ensuring they are met.
• Preparing and filing trade mark and design applications.
• Preparing and filing all registry forms including for oppositions and recordals.
• Reporting and carrying out trade mark and design renewals.
• Preparing initial cost estimates for trade mark and design filings.
• Preparing trade mark and design schedules for clients.
• Onboarding new client portfolios.
• Maintaining and updating the database of foreign agents and client allocation lists.
• Keeping abreast of updates in UK, EUIPO, and international trade mark practices.

Special Projects

• There is the opportunity to participate in practice transformation initiatives, focusing on process enhancements to increase efficiency and streamline operations.

Skills/Experience

• Minimum of two years' experience within a trade marks practice.
• Ability to carry out all aspects of trade mark and design formalities work accurately and to a high standard.
• Experience of working collaboratively within a team.
• Ambitious, with excellent interpersonal/communication skills, and the ability to build strong relationships both externally and internally across the Firm.
• Excellent IT skills and the interest in using new systems to improve efficiency.
• Ability to prioritise workload and demonstrate flexibility when required.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently without supervision, as well as being able to work as part of a close team.
• CITMA Paralegal Qualification preferred.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon De Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone. With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.