Manager, Counsel

Tapestry (Coach/Kate Spade); New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced attorney to serve as a trusted legal advisor protecting the assets of Tapestry, Inc. and its Coach and Kate Spade New York brands.

The role blends hands-on execution with strategic counseling across intellectual property clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and brand protection, partnering with cross-functional teams to support innovation and preserve brand equity worldwide. The attorney will drive global trademark prosecution, clearance reviews, and enforcement

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to the New York or New Jersey Bar.
• Three to five years of substantive trademark, copyright, design patent, and brand protection experience.
• Experience advising marketing and product teams in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience managing outside counsel on assigned matters, including coordinating with a network of foreign counsel.

Responsibilities

• Conduct clearance reviews for names, designs, artwork, prints, packaging, and campaign assets with risk assessments and go/no-go recommendations.
• Manage global trademark prosecution, including office action responses, renewals, and portfolio maintenance.
• Handle routine contentious matters such as cease-and-desist letters and oppositions.
• Support global brand protection efforts and day-to-day enforcement across North and South America, including takedowns and customs recordations.
• Provide input on portfolio reporting, KPIs, and legal reporting.
• Supervise and train IP interns and externs, including assigning substantive work.

Skills

Trademark clearance

IP prosecution

Brand protection

Cross-functional collaboration

Communicating risk to non-lawyers

Education

J.D.

Bar admission NY/NJ

Tools

IP docketing tools

Job description

We believe that difference sparks brilliance, so we welcome people and ideas from everywhere to join us in stretching what's possible.

At Tapestry, being true to yourself is core to who we are. When each of us brings our individuality to our collective ambition, our creativity is unleashed. This global house of brands - Coach and Kate Spade New York - was built by unconventional entrepreneurs and unexpected solutions, so when we say we believe in dreams, we mean we believe in making them happen. We're always on a journey to becoming our best, but you can count on this: Here, your voice is valued, your ambitions are supported, and your work is recognized.

A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive. Visit Our People page to learn more about Tapestry's commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Primary Role

This attorney will serve as a trusted legal advisor responsible for protecting some of the most valuable assets of Tapestry, Inc. and its Coach and kate spade new york brands. The role combines hands-on execution with strategic counseling across intellectual property clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and brand protection programs, partnering with cross-functional teams to support innovation, mitigate risk, and preserve brand equity worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct clearance reviews for names, designs, artwork, prints, packaging, and campaign assets, including risk assessments and go/no-go recommendations on routine and moderately complex matters.
• Participate in seasonal legal walkthroughs with the Coach and kate spade new york design teams.
• Manage global trademark prosecution, including office action responses, renewals, and portfolio maintenance, in collaboration with the IP paralegal and foreign counsel.
• Handle routine contentious matters, including watch notice reviews, cease-and-desist correspondence, oppositions and cancellations, coexistence and consent discussions, and the resolution of straightforward intellectual property disputes.
• Support global brand protection efforts and oversee day-to-day enforcement activities in North and South America across marketplaces, social media platforms, and domain names, including takedowns, customs recordations, and coordination with investigators, law enforcement, and enforcement vendors.
• Support the training and supervision of intellectual property interns and externs, including assigning and reviewing substantive work such as clearance searches and portfolio research, providing day-to-day direction, delivering performance feedback, and contributing to the continued development of the program.
• Provide input on portfolio reporting, brand protection metrics, and legal key performance indicator (KPI) reporting.
• Support regional legal teams and cross-functional workstreams on intellectual property matters arising within their markets.

Qualifications

• Required
• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to the New York or New Jersey Bar.
• Three to five years of substantive trademark, copyright, design patent, and brand protection experience gained at a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage trademark clearance, prosecution and enforcement matters, and effectively communicate legal risk assessments to non-lawyers.
• Experience advising marketing, and product teams in a high-volume, deadline-driven commercial environment.
• Experience managing and directing outside counsel on assigned matters.Working knowledge of copyright law, rights of publicity, advertising claims, and online enforcement mechanisms.
• Preferred
• Experience in the consumer products, fashion, luxury, or retail industries.
• Experience with design rights, trade dress, or design patent strategy.
• Experience with Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) oppositions and cancellations, Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings, or customs recordation programs.
• Familiarity with intellectual property docketing and clearance platforms, as well as legal intake and workflow management tools.
• Experience supporting international trademark portfolios and coordinating with a network of foreign counsel.

Our Competencies for All Employees

• Courage : Doesn't hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and "actionable" positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
• Creativity : Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
• Customer Focus : Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external