IP Licensing Counsel

Trellis Group; United States; Hybrid; USD 104,500 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays and PTO

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Axiom, a leader in flexible, on-demand legal services, seeks a Retail & Brand Licensing Counsel to advise on complex brand licensing, IP, and commercial transactions for top consumer brands.

You will draft and negotiate licensing agreements, support strategic partnerships, and counsel on trademark and branding issues across global campaigns and collaborations.

Qualifications

• 6–15+ years of experience in commercial transactions, IP, or licensing law.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating brand licensing and commercial agreements for retail, apparel, consumer products, or CPG companies.
• Experience supporting partnerships involving consumer brands, entertainment, sports, or influencers.
• Strong understanding of trademark licensing, brand protection, and IP rights.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives in a fast-paced environment.
• JD degree and active license to practice law.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate brand licensing and commercial agreements.
• Advise on licensing strategy, IP protection, and risk management.
• Support partnerships with major brands, entertainment entities, and athletes.
• Counsel on trademark, copyright, branding, marketing, and advertising issues.
• Collaborate with marketing, product development, and executive teams.
• Identify legal/commercial risks and provide business-oriented solutions.
• Monitor developments in IP, licensing, advertising, and consumer products law.

Skills

Brand licensing

Commercial transactions

Intellectual property

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder management

Business risk assessment

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Join Our Team as an Attorney at Axiom

We are seeking a Retail & Brand Licensing Counsel to join our team in support of leading consumer brands across the retail, apparel, footwear, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and technology sectors. This role focuses on advising clients on complex brand licensing, intellectual property, and commercial transactions, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships involving globally recognized brands, entertainment companies, sports organizations, athletes, and celebrity collaborations

Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
  • Brand licensing agreements
  • Trademark licensing agreements
  • Collaboration and co-branding agreements
  • Sponsorship and endorsement agreements
  • Merchandise and promotional licensing agreements
  • Distribution and commercial contracts
• Advise business teams on licensing strategy, intellectual property protection, and risk management.
• Support partnerships involving major consumer brands, entertainment companies, sports organizations, athletes, influencers, and celebrities.
• Counsel stakeholders on trademark, copyright, branding, marketing, and advertising issues related to licensed products and campaigns.
• Partner closely with marketing, merchandising, product development, legal, and executive teams to facilitate strategic business initiatives.
• Identify legal and commercial risks while providing practical, business-oriented solutions.
• Monitor developments in intellectual property, licensing, advertising, and consumer products law.

Qualifications:

• 6–15+ years of experience practicing commercial transactions, intellectual property, or licensing law.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating brand licensing and commercial agreements for retail, apparel, footwear, consumer products, or CPG companies.
• Experience supporting partnerships involving major consumer brands, entertainment companies, sports organizations, leagues, athletes, celebrities, or influencers.
• Strong understanding of trademark licensing, brand protection, and intellectual property rights.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives in a fast-paced environment.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law.

Preferred Skills:

• In-house legal experience with retail, apparel, footwear, luxury, or consumer products companies.
• Experience supporting globally recognized brands such as Nike, American Eagle, Under Armour, Tapestry, Disney, or similar organizations.
• Familiarity with sponsorship, endorsement, merchandising, or promotional licensing programs.
• Experience with international licensing agreements and cross-border commercial transactions.
• Background in technology licensing, SaaS, software, or biotech licensing is a plus.
• Ability to support clients in both remote and hybrid environments while adapting to evolving business needs.

Compensation:

The estimated total compensation for full-time Axiom attorney roles is $104,500-325,000 per year and for non-attorney roles is $71,250-309,750 per year. Compensation decisions are based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, certifications, location, and business needs.

Employees may be eligible for additional benefits, including:

• health, dental, and vision insurance
• paid holidays and PTO
• flexible work arrangements
• professional development opportunities and tools

About Axiom:

For over 25 years, Axiom has pioneered the alternative legal services industry, now serving more than 1,500 legal departments globally with our unique blend of world-class legal talent and advanced AI tools, delivering innovative solutions ranging from that combine top-tier talent with cutting-edge technology. We tackle complex legal matters across 12 practice areas for clients ranging from Fortune 100 to SMBs, empowering our legal professionals to engage in meaningful work that advances their careers. Our Talent NPS score of +71% and our Client NPS score of +64% highlight our commitment to excellence Reported scores were Axiom's average for 2025 - the legal industry average NPS score is +35%. Join our forward-thinking community where you'll keep your career dynamic and multi-faceted, be part of a company that values agility, collaboration, and excellence, and love both the law and your life.

Learn more about life at Axiom.

Axiom is the global leader in high-caliber, on-demand legal talent. Covering North America, the UK, Europe, and APAC, we enable legal departments to drive efficiency and growth and meet the demands of today’s business landscape with best inclass alterative legal services.

Diversity is core to our values and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom ensures equal employment opportunity in recruitment and employment, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religious creed or belief, political opinion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender identity status, pregnancy or maternity, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital (or civil or other partnership recognized by law) status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Axiom prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.

Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Axiom will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in each stage of the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Axiom respects your privacy. For an explanation of the kind of information we collect about you and how it is used, our full data privacy notice is available here.

Employment with Axiom may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check, providing proof of identity, and possessing the necessary legal authorization to work. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, NY Fair Chance Act, and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.