The Marketing Properties (MP) Paralegal is responsible for the collaborative development and execution of global business and marketing brand strategies and the coordination and oversight of the day-to-day overall work, including trademark and copyright clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and related domain name, trade dress and online/social media activities.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree and a demonstrable track record as a trademark paralegal with a Paralegal Certificate, and/or a brand or marketing professional, working in an in-house global trademark department, or a portion thereof, or in a trademark practice group of a law firm with at least 3 years of trademark and/or brand marketing related experience and strong brand-strategy business acumen

• Working with internal marketing and/or creative professionals in support of the strategic development of a company’s brand assets and related trademark portfolios

• Quickly prioritizing and focusing efforts upon the most critical issues and engaging fully with proper supervision with regions and local business to assist in implementation of decided global and/or regional strategies

• Requesting multi-country trademark clearances including classification of goods and services and related nuances

• Evidence of use gathering for trademark prosecution and enforcement matters and ability to collect and sustain an evidence library

• Brand-related aspects of online presence (mobile, digital and social media)

• Brand-related trade dress, packaging and advertising issues

• Working in a global business environment, with requisite sensitivity

• Trademark databases and legal billing software such as WebTMS and Serengeti, respectively, as well as PowerPoint and Excel

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Supports MP team in executing on global strategic brand development and growth of the assigned business segment by assisting with ensuring consistent use of our brands globally, implementing and sustaining brand strategy that promote consistent use of our brands and are aligned with business needs, and assist with managing global clearance and filing programs using existing procedures and processes

• Participates in meetings with business teams as necessary, and liaises with others while developing solid relationships and credibility and providing ongoing training

• Monitor and follow-up on dates associated with the U.S. and foreign dockets, including clearing dates and providing follow-up with the MP team and business units in order to provide adequate time to respond

• Uses the USPTO online filing systems including preparing and filing documents with the USPTO with minimal oversight such as trademark applications, extension of time, statements of use and renewals

• Ability to learn and undertake with supervision the conducting, reviewing, analyzing and tracking preliminary trademark searches and assisting in reporting on comprehensive trademark searches from search vendors and local counsels

• Basic understanding of creative review system and ability to review advertising and packaging materials with some support

• Provides support to ensure execution of legal tasks supporting our enforcement strategy, such as the investigation of potential infringements, trademark oppositions and cancellations, enforcement disputes, including cease and desist letters, litigation and related consents, co-existence agreements and settlements, gathering evidence of use supporting the above, and assisting with local counsel relations as requested

• Assists with adherence to billing guidelines and invoice review

• Works closely with MP Docketing team to ensure docketing and filing standard operating procedures are adhered to and ensures proper data and filing documentation is transferred to the Docketing team

• Travel, as required, to secure necessary region business and marketing relationships; attend appropriate regional brand-related meetings; attend MP and legal department meetings

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.