INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COUNSEL

Intellectual Property Counsel (HG18)

Main purpose of the job

Ensure effective IP strategy aligned with Group Legal Director to meet and deliver the Company’s business strategy on Portfolio to manage our brand portfolio and integrated within the business planning cycles/ M&A/Tax plans.  Working in cooperation with integrated supply chain, marketing, finance, tax and trading organizations, the role of the IP Counsel is to manage AEI's IP portfolio (copyright, trademarks, designs and patents), build an IP management program, to set grounds for cooperation between the trading organizations, marketing (brands) and finance teams in the TM working group in order to manage the AEI’s International Business Model (IBM) of license, supply and brewing agreements, to review the current portfolio of such agreements, create their database and to work with the template sin order to draft new agreements for IBM.

IP Counsel will manage and instruct the external IP agents, and in cooperation with them it will create the guide for the AEI for handling registrations and renewals of the IP rights in the group. The IP counsel must be specialist in this area, offering advice and guidance to other managers, staff and specialists, and helping to optimize the value to the organization.

More specifically, you will be trusted to:  

Governance

• Further develop and maintain AEI's IP management programme, procedures and documentation for registration of the trademarks, patents, industrial designs representing the core assets for further development of the AEI’s portfolio as well as of Asahi IP portfolio in general. Value of the assets under program (including TM’s, patents, brewing rights) - hundreds of items in value of tens to hundreds millions of EUR.
• Support AEI’s International Business Model from an IP perspective to cover more than 90 countries around the world (IBM) with license, supply and brewing agreements as the tool enabling the trading organisations to generate revenues reaching to EUR 110milion in support of the Corporate Governance Counsel
• Play active role as may be required by the Legal Director in the Trademark Working Group as platform for setting strategy for the IBM, helping the tax and finance department maintain the transfer pricing policies within the AEI.
• Create the strategy of cooperation with the external IP agents around the world in order to support the maintenance and expansion of the IBM.
• Cooperation with the marketing and trade marketing teams on preparation of the annual plans in order to understand the development of the brands and in order to be able to support the use of the IP assets across AEI Group.
• Identify saving in IP maintenance budget of the AEI.

Daily Tasks

• Manage the registration process of the AEI’s IP from invention disclosure to final grant and maintenance.
• TM clearance.
• Maintain the records of the IP assets in paper and electronic form.
• Communicating with the Intellectual Property Authorities in around the world.
• Instructing the IP agents, monitoring their work and performance.
• Tracking and management of trade secrets and confidential disclosures,
• Advocating of the importance of intellectual property and its effective management within the technical team.
• Contributing to IP strategy and the high-level business plan.
• Active management of the IP related litigations, setting strategy for the litigations and management of the external counsels representing AEI’s entities in the litigations.
• Settlement of trademark conflicts.
• Draft and negotiate a broad range of cease-and-desist letters, licenses, and related IP agreements.

Compliance Monitoring

• Conduct frequent compliance report monitoring activities on collaborating partners, third-party service providers'.
• Report findings in a structural, transparent and business-relevant manner to the members of the Board, allowing the business to decide and instruct on adequate and appropriate mitigating measures.
• Awareness, Training, and Other Communications
• Conduct or oversee IP awareness campaigns, training and orientation for all employees - in particular, marketing, trade marketing and trading organizations. .
• Identify trends in IP regulatory requirements and compliance enforcement, and account for the necessary changes in the IP management program, updating information only to the stakeholder audiences affected in their respective activities.
• Develop new and innovative strategies to address IP and regulatory standards.
• Work with third-party stakeholders (including business partners, suppliers, service providers and IT product vendors) to ensure that they clearly understand and comply with AEI's IP requirements.
• Liaise and communicate effectively with external entities, such as supervisory and regulatory authorities and the public, on relevant occasions.

Do you have what it takes?

• Bachelor's degree or higher in law.
• Trademark Qualified Attorney or degree studies or Masters in IP law and practice is an advantage.

• Legal experience in a law firm and multinational corporation preferred, with at least 4 years focus on IP.
• Detailed knowledge of the EU and international IP environment.
• Experience with dealing with WIPO, national Intellectual property Offices.
• Technical and Business Experience
• Experience implementing IP policies in an international business.
• Ability to understand business process flows and to provide recommendations for operationalising compliance requirements.

• Analytical and problem resolution skills. Sound business judgment, with the ability to think strategically and give practical advice by balancing business needs with legal risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to work well with diverse and international stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain proper documentation, relevant records and archives ensuring clarity in process and organisation
• English and one or more European languages.

Enjoy a little extra with our benefits (These benefits apply to the Czech Republic, benefits for other markets may differ)  

• Annual bonus and salary review  
• Flexible working  
• 28 days off  
• Contribution to pension scheme  
• Lunch contribution  
• Budget to enjoy our products  
• Flexible benefits package  
• Online medical service  
• Paid volunteering time  

Join our team and uncover even more exciting perks that make Asahi Europe &International an exceptional place to work

We are committed to nurturing a workplace where we celebrate and respect differences, and support everyone to be true to who they are! At Asahi Europe and International, we believe you can SHINE AS YOU ARE - no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We want to support you to be courageous in your individuality and to know that whoever you are and whatever your circumstances, you can belong with us without having to conform.

Contact:

Please contact Jana Gregorová if you have any questions