SMI - BEE Senior Associate – Trademark Enforcement; Anti-Counterfeiting

SUMMARY:

BEE Senior Associate – Trademark Enforcement (Anti-Counterfeiting)

Employer Description

A well established Intellectual Property Law Firm with offices located in Pretoria and Johannesburg North.

Our client is looking to employ a qualified Attorney specializing in anti-counterfeiting, in the capacity of Senior Associate within their Trademark Enforcement Department. The ideal candidate must possess strong business acumen, be able to communicate effectively with clients and agents located in other African regions (West Africa, East Africa, or Central Africa) and must be willing to travel to said African countries when needed.

• Drafting legal documents i.e. opinions, contracts, agreements, letters of demand and articles
• Monthly invoicing of fees and disbursements
• Compilation of quotes
• File and document management (uploading documents, correspondences, managing/ monitoring deadlines, court online processes)
• Liaising with clients and agents
• Attending consultations with counsel
• Day to day running of Anti-Counterfeiting practice
• Arranging and delivering brand identification training seminars to Customs and Police authorities across Africa
• Coordinating and participating in search and seizure operations to defend clients’ intellectual property rights in countries such as Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
• Following up on enforcement actions with rigorous civil and criminal litigation in relation to anti-counterfeiting.

• Completed LLB with 2 years of Clerkship served in an IP firm or department
• Admitted Attorney
• Minimum 4 years’ post-admission experience in Anti-Counterfeiting

• Have a minimum 4 years’ experience in Anti-Counterfeiting
• Have knowledge and understanding of Trade Marks is essential as is completion of the trade mark practitioner’s examination
• Have experience in and ability to do legal research and draft opinions
• Be fully computer literate on MS Office (Knowledge Patricia and Elite 3E will be advantageous)
• Have excellent written & oral communication skills and good command of English
• Enjoy anticounterfeiting enforcement work including training, search and seizure operations, and multi jurisdictional matters as well as have the desire to take your career to the next level
• Be able to multi-task
• Be able to work independently
• Deadline driven
• Good team player
• Good interpersonal skills
• Personal development abilities
• Client focused
• Good negotiation skills
• Able to maintain an orderly working environment
• Punctual and reliable
• Good work ethics.

• 20 days annual leave per cycle.
• 13th Cheque.