Mgr-Trademark Clearance

About the Role & Team:

This person will be an integral team member of the Disney Experiences Business Affairs Department.  The person will have day-to-day responsibilities for managing the trademark clearance process across the Disney Experiences (DX) businesses.  This person is expected to work in a highly collaborative fashion with other Business Affairs and Legal members of The Walt Disney Company and members of the DX creative, product development, licensing, finance and franchise management groups to gain an understanding of business objectives to make decisions regarding legal strategies.

What You Will Do 

• Manages trademark clearances and trademark filing strategies by reviewing, evaluating and communicating available information to make appropriate recommendations about trademarks to business clients and internal partners. 
• Reviews and summarizes legal opinions for all franchise teams to manage and minimize risks to the Company and licensees.
• Consults with Intellectual Property Legal team and provides business plans with recommendations for trademark filing strategies.
• Collaborates with business clients when necessary to ensure budgetary compliance.
• Meets regularly with franchise teams to determine business strategy in order to analyze best practices for trademark clearances and filing strategies as necessary for new properties, logos, brands, taglines, character names, locations, and elements.
• Provides Business Affairs support for consumer product clearances and branding guidelines for Walt Disney Studios franchises.
• Reviews and approves packaging, product development and branding style guides for trademark, contract and other intellectual property issues.
• Prepares and gives trademark clearance presentations to internal clients on trademark principles and Business Affairs operations.
• Collaborates with IP Legal to gather evidence such as proof of use, business plans, licensee information, and financial information to support trademark claims, oppositions, and cancellations.
• Collaborates with IP Legal on trademark filing, maintenance, and enforcement strategies.
• Work with business clients to report possible pirated products to the Antipiracy team.
• Supervises Trademark Associate who manages, tracks and summarizes legal opinions.
• Works on other projects as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years experience handling intellectual property issues and related matters, particularly with respect to trademark clearances, prosecution, and maintenance. 
• At least 3 years of leadership/managing experience.
• Experience using U.S. Patent and Trademark Office programs and commercial trademark clearance programs.
• Experience managing trademark filings and office actions with the USPTO, preparing identification and classification of goods and services, and collecting use and specimen evidence.
• High energy and enthusiasm, self-motivated, able to work independently.
• Advanced working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to a rapidly-changing environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills (collaborative ways of working within team, cross-functionally and with business clients); analytical skills; and verbal and writing skills (discussion, analysis, succinctly summarizing key issues)
• Ability to communicate effectively with business counterparts, understand business/ marketing strategies, assess risks and counsel appropriate action.
• Superb organizational strength, capability to manage a large workload and juggle many competing priorities.
• Operationally driven and comfortable applying technological solutions to drive efficiencies.
• Consumer product experience a plus.

Education

• B.A./ B.S., or equivalent; and/or
• Qualifications to be a paralegal by certification or education and work experience as set forth by the American Bar Association and/or any applicable state codes.

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The hiring range for this position in Burbank/Glendale, CA is $102,000 to $136,700 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.