Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

We are seeking a business-oriented attorney with intellectual property legal experience to join our team.  The Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property, will lead a team of paralegals and assistants and partner closely with the supervising attorney, VF brand business teams and Legal Department colleagues to provide strategic oversight for the intellectual property of several brands in VF’s portfolio, while also contributing to overall management of VF’s trademark office. 
 

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more. 

• Team Leadership: Serves as lead intellectual property legal partner to VF emerging brands and selected core brands. Lead a team of paralegals and assistants to deliver comprehensive IP support, including trademark, copyright, patent, and trade dress matters.
• Strategy Development: Develop and execute strategies for the protection and enforcement of global IP rights, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, and licensing.
• Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with brand teams and Legal Department colleagues to understand business objectives, protect brand identity, enforce IP rights, and assess portfolio strengths, risks, and needs.
• Trademark Management: Review and analyze trademark searches to determine availability, make strategic decisions on new filings, oppose/cancel third-party applications/registrations, and defend trademark applications opposed by third parties.
• Dispute Resolution: Negotiate settlements of trademark disputes and draft/negotiates intercompany, trademark license, coexistence, and consent agreements.
• Corporate Support: Provide IP legal support for corporate restructuring projects, international tax initiatives, and mergers & acquisitions.
• IP Portfolio Management: Act as the primary IP attorney responsible for managing VF’s patent and trademark portfolios, including preparation, prosecution, counseling, clearance, due diligence, and enforcement, with a focus on infringing knockoff products and online enforcement.
• Innovation Protection: Evaluate, protect, and prosecute new product innovations through applicable IP protections and develop global internal processes for the same.
• Training: Develop and deliver training for product and marketing teams on IP principles, risks, and clearance processes, as well as patent-related training for R&D and other employees.
• Budget Management: Review and authorize third-party invoices, partnering with the controller and supervising attorney to ensure adherence to budget.
• Special Projects: Participate in special projects, such as selecting third-party vendors for IP management databases and other technology solutions.

What do you need to succeed?  

• Experience: 10+ years as an attorney, with 5+ years in people management at reputable law firms or in-house.
• Education: Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensing: Admitted to practice law and in good standing in at least one state/jurisdiction. Member of at least one state bar and admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
• Technical Skills: Conduct freedom to operate and infringement assessments; balance legal risks with business realities; manage legal issues cost-effectively; understand technical aspects of VF's products.
• Leadership: Strong leadership and relationship-building skills; ability to lead, influence, and advise at all levels to become a trusted advisor with strong cross functional perspective.
• IP Expertise: Experience with global patent portfolios (design and utility), brand protection, managing trademark portfolios, patent preparation and prosecution, patent search and clearance, and communicating legal risk to client leadership.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Work Style: Self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team; proactive and able to work under pressure.
• Travel: Willingness to travel by air and overnight, up to 20% of the time.

This role can be hired in Costa Mesa, CA or Denver, CO.

Hiring Range:

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com  and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.  If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at peopleservices@vfc.com. VF will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.