Counsel, Trademarks, Copyright and Design

Be a part of a revolutionary change!
At Philip Morris International (PMI), we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business and building our future with smoke‑free products that have the power to improve the lives of a billion smokers worldwide. We have broadened our horizons into the health and wellness space through our dedicated healthcare business, Aspeya.

Are you a solicitor or trademark attorney with Intellectual Property experience gained in a law firm and/or in‑house in an international company (or an international lawyer with equivalent qualifications and experience)? Are you driven by getting things done and making a difference? Do colleagues appreciate your collaboration, contribution and performance? If yes, this job might just be for you.

We are hiring a Counsel to join our Trademarks, Copyright and Designs team on a permanent basis.

THE OPPORTUNITY

PMI’s Trademarks, Copyright and Designs group is spread over three locations around the world: London, Connecticut, and Hong Kong. We actively clear, protect and enforce our company’s trademarks, designs and copyright – and also provide the Phillip Morris business with IP advisory services. You will join the team based in London, at our Global Studio, located at One New Change.

You will report to a Senior Counsel within the Region 3 team of our Trademarks Copyright and Designs department which is responsible for the European region, e‑vapor products, combustibles, our Wellness/Healthcare portfolio globally, and generative AI matters.

IP experience in the fields of Wellness/Healthcare and GenerativeAI would therefore be advantageous.

Specific Responsibilities Include

• Working closely with internal clients and outside counsel to review and clear new pack designs, marketing materials, innovations, main brands, sub‑brands, product features, slogans and logos – including conducting online searches and reviewing and reporting full availability searches.
• Trademark portfolio management: devising global filing programmes, managing and prosecuting our trademark portfolio – including handling significant registry objections such as non‑distinctiveness and relative grounds objections.
• Actively running disputes: contentious matters before trademark registries (active and passive oppositions and cancellations) and the courts (infringement and cancellation actions)
• Advising the business, as well as our non‑IP legal colleagues on our business’ day‑to‑day trademark, design and copyright queries – including the IP clauses of agreements.
• Supporting the business and our non‑IP legal colleagues in relation to other IP related projects, such as licenses and assignments, trademark portfolio audits, copyright and domain name matters.
• Sharing IP awareness and knowledge to market lawyers and marketing teams.
• Providing IP risk advice in relation to use of Generative AI by internal clients and by third‑party vendors on our behalf.

Required Skills And Experience

• Qualification as a UK solicitor or trademark attorney, or as an international lawyer with equivalent qualifications.
• Experience in management of the end to end trademark prosecution lifecycle.
• Experience in advising on trademark, copyright and designs enforcement including complex contentious matters.
• Confidence in providing legal opinions and risk analysis, including trademark, copyright and design infringement assessments.
• Excellent English language written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and business counselling skills.
• The ability to think critically and work independently to a high degree.

WHY WORK FOR US?

Here Are 3 Reasons To Work For PMI

• We’re international: Our global workforce of more than 82,000 is one of our greatest strengths and our employees speak more than 80 languages.
• We’re flexible: your work fits you and not the other way round, thanks to our Flexible Work Arrangement Program.
• We’re a certified top employer: This position will advance your experience with innovative technologies, services, and processes. Backed by an attractive salary and compensation package, you will work in a professional setting with clients and team members from all over the world. We are the first multinational Swiss company to obtain the Equal‑Salary label, for men and women.