Trade Mark Counsel

Unilever; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company in the UK is seeking a Trade Mark Counsel for a 12-month maternity cover. In this role, you will provide commercially focused advice on trade mark risk and strategy, managing global portfolios and collaborating with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a qualified Trade Mark Attorney with extensive experience in trade mark prosecution and strong communication skills. This full-time position requires an individual who can thrive in a dynamic environment while safeguarding valuable brands. Competitive compensation offered.

Qualifications

• Qualified Trade Mark Attorney or equivalent with prosecution experience.
• Experience in managing international trade mark portfolios.
• Ability to manage budgets effectively and work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on trade mark risk and strategy.
• Lead global trade mark portfolio management.
• Handle oppositions and cancellations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on various legal matters.

Skills

Trade mark prosecution experience

Global trade mark portfolio management

Drafting commercial IP agreements

Stakeholder management

Strong communication skills

Creative problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Qualified Trade Mark Attorney or equivalent

Tools

Trade mark database systems

Corsearch

TM Now

Job description

We are seeking a Trade Mark Counsel to join our Intellectual Property team on a 12-month maternity cover. In this role, you will provide fast, accurate, and commercially focused advice on trade mark risk and strategy, working with some of our most loved brands including Persil/OMO, Dove, Axe and Lynx. You will lead global trade mark portfolio management across prosecution and contentious matters, while advising on adjacent areas such as advertising, sports marketing, ambush marketing, sponsorship, and partnership agreements. Collaboration is key-you will work closely with IP colleagues in China, the US, India, and Barcelona, as well as other legal specialists in licensing, litigation, competition law, privacy, and digital.

• Clearance: Conduct, develop strategies and advise on global IP clearance using industry tools and external legal support.
• Protection & Maintenance: Build strategies for IP protection and ownership structures; manage all aspects of prosecution and evidence requirements.
• Monitoring: Analyse watch results and ensure Unilever assets are safeguarded.
• Contentious Work: Handle oppositions, cancellations, invalidity actions, pre‑action correspondence, enforcement (civil/criminal), customs, and online/offline monitoring.
• Portfolio Management: Manage trade mark portfolios within budget and oversee preparation of official and evidentiary documents.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work on licensing, copyright, designs, patents, and usage rights as needed.
• Education & Advocacy: Present at team meetings, educate colleagues and the business on IP issues and policy.
• Transactional Support: Advise Licensing and M&A teams on IP matters.
• Product Launch Support: Partner with Patent Attorneys, Design Counsels, and marketing lawyers on new launches.
• Risk Spotting: Identify wider legal risks including competition, design rights, and advertising law.
• Brand Protection: be involved with wider brand protection initiatives to safeguard Unilever's valuable brands.
  Qualified Trade Mark Attorney/ qualified solicitor or foreign lawyer equivalent with trade mark prosecution experience.
• Proven experience in managing international trade mark portfolios, ideally within FMCG or sports marketing.
• Skilled in drafting commercial IP agreements (e.g., sponsorships).
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills; able to manage multiple stakeholders and deadlines under pressure.
• Proficient in trade mark database systems and search tools (e.g., Corsearch, TM Now).
• Excellent communication skills-able to provide clear, jargon‑free, commercial advice.
• Creative problem solver with attention to detail and integrity.
• Team player with strong project and stakeholder management skills, as well as being willing to throw themselves into a busy environment with a smile and bring others on the journey.
• Experience in global matrix organisations preferred; passion for technology is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets effectively., Passion for brands and IP advocacy
• Strong business partnering and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to champion IP within the organisation and influence behavioural change where needed.
• Collaborative, proactive, and positive approach in a fast‑paced environment.
  Unilever is one of the world's leading fast-moving consumer goods companies, with products sold in over 190 countries. Every day, 3.4 billion consumers worldwide use Unilever brands. Our portfolio includes some of the most iconic brands such as Axe, Cif, Comfort, Dermalogica, Dove, Hellmann's, Horlicks, Lifebuoy, Knorr, Paula's Choice, Persil, TRESemmé and Vaseline.

The position is based at Blackfriars on London's Victoria Embankment, just a short walk from Blackfriars tube. This is a full‑time temporary role for 12 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive.