Job Description

Senior IP Paralegal
Location: 5, Queensway, Croydon, CR9 4DL
Reports to: Managing Counsel, IP
Contract: Maternity Cover, Fixed-Term Contract
Your role @ CHANEL:
We are currently seeking a Senior IP Paralegal to join Chanel UK's Intellectual Property Team on a fixed term 12-month maternity cover contract. The role will be based at our Croydon office, with occasional travel to Central London, and will report to the Managing Counsel - IP.
The role requires sufficient experience to work largely at an independent level, with a highly collaborative approach, in a supportive environment that expects curiosity and an appetite for learning.
What impact you can create at CHANEL:
The successful candidate will work on a wide variety of business-critical IP issues, with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally. Working closely with the business, primarily in the UK and Ireland, as well as in Canada, South Africa and Australia, giving day-to-day support. There is also daily collaboration with Chanel's other Regional IP teams in various locations across the world, as well as close working with the Global IP team and with the wider Legal Team.
Leveraging your unique skills and experience will enable you to support and advise primarily in the following areas of expertise:Trademark & Filing Strategy: you will be responsible for reviewing weekly notifications of our adopted marks and shall conduct regular auditing of our trademark portfolio. You will contribute to trademark filing strategies and programmes with the Managing and Senior IP Counsels and Head of Intellectual Property (Regional). You will implement any agreed filing strategies, file trademark applications and instruct external counsel as well as attend to electronic communications to the UKIPO & WIPO.
Trademark Objections & Oppositions: you will assist with objections and oppositions to third party trademarks, including monitoring publication deadlines, providing reports, gathering, collating and preserving evidence of use and reputation of Chanel's trademarks, drafting and sending formal legal correspondence, official forms, reports and documents. This will also include liaising regularly with UK and overseas trademark attorneys regarding local procedures and requirements and managing progress updates.
Designs: you will be responsible for regular auditing of our designs portfolio and will contribute to design filing strategies and programmes with Managing Counsel - IP and paralegals and counsel in other Chanel offices. You will implement the agreed filing strategies and file both national and Hague design filings including liaising with external counsel and draughtsmen.
IP Rights Management: you will be responsible for creating and maintaining all IP rights records within our IP rights database, following our internal guidelines and processes. This requires accurate data entry and attention to detail, inputting and monitoring of deadlines and actions, and generating prompt and accurate daily and weekly reports.
Documentation: you will liaise with our Notary Public as needed for powers of attorney and other documentation.
Administrators & Paralegals' Group (APG): you will be active and engaged in our APG, including ongoing and new projects to support workflow and process efficiencies, and you will be responsible for updating and liaising with the UK IP team.
Ad hoc administration: you will assist the Managing and Senior IP Counsels and Head of Intellectual Property (Regional) with compiling any ad hoc statistics, reports, analyses (using Excel, Word, Power BI) and the preparation of PowerPoint presentations.

What you will bring to the role:Curiosity and a genuine interest in the retail sector Energy and enthusiasm Ability to prioritise, work to tight deadlines and exercise efficient time management Ability to take the initiative. Self-motivated, with an ability to operate both autonomously and within a team Reliable, supportive, pragmatic and adaptable Work effectively and efficiently, maintaining confidentiality as appropriate

You will have:Post Qualification Experience of 5 years + Have obtained your CITMA Paralegal Certificate Have previous experience of trademarks administration, either in-house or in private practice, with an understanding of trademark formalities, renewals administration and records processes Liaise effectively, calmly and appropriately with all levels within the group, both locally and internationally, as well as with external contacts Have previous experience with an IP rights database such as Anaqua/AQX and preferably with other tools such as Docusign. Knowledge of other legal tech tools preferred but not essential

You are energised by:Building relationships at all levels, working in a highly collaborative and international environment, with a complex structure Personal and professional development Providing a high level of accuracy and attention to detail Contributing in the on-going and companywide version of sustainability. Sustainability is one of CHANEL's key performance drivers, embedded into our ways of working we require continued collective action from all employees to deliver on CHANEL's House Sustainability Ambitions across our four key areas: + Restoring Nature and Climate
+ Investing in Circularity
+ Advancing dignity and prosperity
+ Promoting the autonomy of women


What you will gain from this experience:Professional growth as a trusted senior paralegal, with exposure to a wide variety of intellectual property issues Collaboration with a high-calibre team of legal experts A chance to work on impactful projects within one of the world's premier luxury brands, shaping the future of its brand protection strategies The UK Region plays a pivotal role in delivering on CHANEL's House Sustainability Ambitions. Transforming our business and leaving a lasting positive impact on people and planet will require the collaborative efforts of everyone across our House. As an employee of CHANEL, you will be an important part of this journey

Benefits at CHANEL
Our employee benefits have been created to support you across your professional and personal life by offering you:Physical Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and ability to add family members, Online GP App with 24/7 appointments available within 24 hours and Cycle Scheme participation for a tax-exempt bike and/or accessories Financial Wellbeing: Pension, Life Assurance and Retail Discounts across multiple retailers including Supermarkets, Gyms, Days Out and 100's more Mental Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programmes and Other Support Lines Platforms: Multiple Platforms to support across Wellbeing Lifestyle: Arts & Culture Ticket Discounts across major London attractions, CHANEL Product Discounts and Employee Only Sales Employee Recognition: Service Awards Programme offering CHANEL Products, Retail Vouchers and Additional Holidays across milestones Benefits are eligibility dependent and subject to change at any time
At CHANEL we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe that the uniqueness of everyone increases the diversity, complementarity, and effectiveness of our team. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective and potential your experience could bring to CHANEL.