Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property: Become the Newest Member of the VF Family
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.
How You Will Make a Difference:

• Serves as lead Intellectual Property legal partner to VF emerging brands and selected core brands.
• Leads team of paralegals and assistants to provide comprehensive, consistent Intellectual Property support (including on trademark, copyright, patent, trade dress matters) to brand teams.
• Develops and executes strategy for protection and enforcement of worldwide Intellectual Property rights including trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names and licensing.
• Develops strong partnerships with brand teams and Legal Department colleagues to understand business objectives, protect brand identity, enforce Intellectual Property rights, and assess portfolio strengths, risks, and needs.
• Reviews and analyzes trademark searches to determine availability; makes strategic decisions on new trademark filings, opposing/cancelling third-party applications/registrations, and defending trademark applications opposed by third parties.
• Negotiates settlement of trademark disputes.
• Advises, drafts, and negotiates intercompany, trademark license, coexistence, and consent agreements.
• Provides IP legal support for corporate restructuring projects and initiatives for International Tax and Mergers & Acquisitions.
• Acts as primary IP attorney having day to day responsibility for patent, trademark, and copyright matters, including managing the VF patent and trademark portfolios, preparation, prosecution, counseling, clearance, due diligence, and enforcement, with a particular emphasis on infringing knockoff products and online enforcement.
• Evaluates, protects, and prosecutes new product innovations through all applicable IP protection and develops global internal processes for same.
• Develops and delivers training for product and marketing teams on IP principles, risks and clearance process.
• Develops and delivers training for research and development and other employees on patent-related matters, and engages with other law department colleagues on additional legal training as may be needed or desired.
• Reviews and authorizes third party invoices, partnering with controller and supervising attorney to ensure adherence to budget.
• Actively involved in special projects as needed, such as selecting third party vendors for IP management databases and other technology.

Qualifications

• Conduct freedom to operate and infringement assessments as necessary
• Ability to balance legal risks with practical realities of the business when providing legal advice and guidance
• Significant experience with design patents is preferred
• Ability to understand the technical aspects of VF's products
• Ability to manage legal issues in a cost effective and practical manner
• Ability to work and interact with management and others at all levels
• Strong leadership and relationship building skills that lead to successful development, implementation, and improvement of legal processes across functions/organizations
• Ability to proactively establish credibility and trust as a business-oriented attorney, trusted advisor, change agent, and legal partner with strong cross functional perspective
• Ability to work independently, as part of the on-site team, and as part of a broader, off-site legal team
• Preference for candidates with consumer products experience
• Experience with managing global patent (design and utility) portfolios, patent preparation and prosecution, patent search and clearance, and communicating legal risk to client leadership
• Member of at least one state bar and admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Responsibilities

• Exhibits a strong cross functional mindset
• Manage outside counsel and align with Business Area leader to develop and manage an external budget for outside counsel
• Manage internal IP paralegal(s)
• Timely communication of legal risks to the business and within the law department

Years of Related Professional Experience: 10+ years
Educational/ Position Requirements:

• At least ten years of experience as attorney at reputable law firm or combination of reputable law firm and in-house, with at least five years of experience in people management
• Juris Doctor degree from a highly reputable, ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted to practice law and in good standing in at least one state/jurisdiction
• Strong Intellectual Property background, across patent, trademark and copyright matters
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints
• Strong analytical skills, and superior judgment and decision-making skills
• Must be a self-starter, able to work independently with a proactive working style
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to lead, influence, and advise at all levels of the VF organization
• Ability to convey a positive, can-do attitude
• Ability to work well under pressure

Special Physical and/or Mental Requirements:

• Travel by air and overnight, as required 20% amount of time.
• Lifting and/or bending, lifting 10 lbs of weight.

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Hiring Range:
$192,672.00 USD - $240,840.00 USD annually
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.