Job Description

London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
Contract (5 months 29 days)
Published 20 hours ago
Vendor Management
cost control
maintenance
Paralegal
trademark filing
CITMA
prosecution
management of vendors

Job Title:

Brands/Trade Mark Paralegal

Job Location:

Canary Wharf, London

Contract Length:

6 Months

Industry:

Oil and Energy, Legal

Working Hours:

7.25 per day/ 37.5 per week

Role Overview:

To manage domestic, foreign and international trademark paralegal activities (i.e., trademark filing, prosecution, and maintenance) in support of bp's intellectual property needs in relation to the acquisition and maintenance of bp's trademarks rights. To manage a global complex trademark docket, assisting a team of attorneys in resolving routine legal issues with minimal supervision. Robust vendor management, cost control and management of vendors in the areas of acquisition, enforcement and maintenance of bp's trademark rights.

What you will do:

Manage domestic, international and foreign trademark paralegal activities (i.e., trademark filing, prosecution, and maintenance) in support of BP's intellectual property needs Interact with UK Intellectual Property Office, World Intellectual Property Office and other foreign intellectual property offices with respect to paralegal matters, interact with outside counsel and instruct foreign law firms as appropriate, and manage all documents / correspondence in accordance with departmental practice; resolving the legal issues with supervision Under supervision, prepare and submit legal documents compliant with legal requirements for each jurisdiction and for bp's IP practice such as powers of attorney and specific authorizations to third parties; intercompany assignments and worldwide assignments; and arrange for the legalization and notarization of them in line with country-specific legal guidelines Manage trademark attorney dockets and maintain the IP databases. From government notifications (national and international) and legal correspondence, capture accurately the deadlines and requirements for legal submissions; keep docket current; prepare initial drafts of response to office actions for review by the attorney and support the attorneys in the filing of submissions to meet deadlines. Support the global trademark renewal process across a large and diverse portfolio. This role involves managing deadlines, coordinating with external counsel, and ensuring timely renewals to maintain brand protection in all key markets. Work closely with legal, brand, and commercial teams to track renewal cycles, maintain accurate records, and support strategic decisions around trademark retention. With supervision, manage the trademark renewal budget, including forecasting, tracking spend, and identifying cost efficiencies across jurisdictions. To support large transactions/ divestments and in the acquisition or disposal of trademarks. Handling complex pre filing issues that arise and verify attorneys' instructions. Actively contributes to agenda for drive for simplification and harmonization of processes and procedures globally.

What you will have:

Qualified paralegal (CITMA qualified or equivalent experience) Previous trademark paralegal experience Ability to network and build key relationships to enhance effectiveness and to operate from a position of influence given the seniority of the individuals they interact with Previous experience of working in law firm, or in-house legal team with trademark attorneys Demonstrates evidence of management of vendors Ability to prioritize workload in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. Planning and organizational skills. Ability to work independently and with strong attention to detail Strong interpersonal skills and good communicator with proven ability to lead meetings with clients. Work well as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility to support others in the team at times of high-volume workload to achieve the best results. Foster a one team environment Knowledge of Excel and ability to provide effective reporting Previous experience of working with document management system Previous experience of working with trademark portfolio management tool - WebTMs or similar Previous experience of working with Co-Pilot / AI tools to support efficient workflow Knowledge of patents / working as a patent paralegal Patent portfolio management tool - CPI or similar

Challenges:

The role involves working with all members of the Digital, applied sciences, privacy & brands team (attorneys and paralegals based in the US and UK) and with clients throughout all businesses in bp. Working with vendors in high-risk regions requires strict compliance and escalation to E&C / legal when appropriate. Requirement to prioritize their workload and ensure workload is completed in a timely manner to meet deadlines. In times of high-volume workload for the team, the role should seek to support all members of the team. Timely collaboration with attorneys, outside counsel and clients in relation to resolution of legal issues as many legal submissions are subject to short deadlines. Accountability for the verification of instructions from attorneys to ensure that legal submissions are correct. Expertise in knowing key legal requirements for many jurisdictions; keeping up to date with legal changes as applicable to bp's IP assets.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.