Job Description
At our Company, we are committed to making a difference in people's lives through our innovative products and solutions. As a member of our Trademark & Copyright team, you will contribute to protecting our valuable trademarks and copyrights, strengthening brand equity, and ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws and regulations.
The position provides IP legal support to teams across the company and across the globe, focusing on the corporate, Human Health and Animal Health functions. The role provides exposure to and interaction with all areas of the business including communications, clinical development, manufacturing and supply, regulatory, business development, marketing, and commercial groups.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Managing a large worldwide trademark portfolio, including counseling, clearance, filing, and prosecution.
- Reviewing and analyzing trademark clearance search reports.
- Supervising foreign outside counsel in trademark and copyright matters.
- Counseling internal clients through the trademark process and partnering with the business in developing brand strategy.
- Providing advice to regulatory and research teams to develop, clear and submit suitable generic and brand names as a part of drug approval processes by FDA, EMEA and other regulatory bodies.
- Negotiating, drafting, reviewing, and managing a wide range of agreements including coexistences, settlements, licenses, joint ventures, collaborations, acquisitions, and divestitures; and conducting due diligence in connection therewith.
- Managing and supporting a broad range of worldwide trademark and copyright conflict and enforcement matters, including cease and desist letters, oppositions, cancellations, domain name proceedings, and internet take-downs; and supporting and assisting in litigation matters.
- Supporting anti-counterfeiting and parallel trade issues.
- Advising on product specific and enterprise level copyright matters.
Position Qualifications:
Education Minimum Requirement:
- Law degree from an internationally or nationally recognized university, along with active registration, in good standing, with a state bar.
Required Experience and Skills:
- A minimum of seven (7) years of experience at a law firm or in-house legal department of a multinational corporation.
- Experience in clearing, filing, managing, prosecuting, defending, and enforcing worldwide trademark portfolios.
- Experience with trademark and copyright due diligences and transactions, including trademark assignments and change of name recordal projects.
- Experience in copyright counseling, registration, and licensing.
- Excellent communication and legal drafting skills; strong work ethic; attention to detail; creative problem-solving skills and an ability to work well independently and with cross-functional teams.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
- Experience with IP-related issues in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
- Experience developing and delivering education and training materials to various levels of business clients and partners.
NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS
In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.
If you have been offered a separation benefits package but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.
Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".
Under New York State, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate's relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected salary range:
$200,200.00 - $315,100.00
Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed here .
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
Yes
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
05/29/2024
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Job Posting End Date:06/07/2024
A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID:R294975
What We Do
For 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, we continue to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.
We hire the most brilliant minds because inventing for life depends on our work. Here, you'll find rewarding opportunities, diverse experiences, and an unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. You'll collaborate with talented colleagues who share your sense of purpose. Our company will empower you to innovate, explore, and develop your full potential in our possibility-rich environment. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.
Why Work With Us
Our Invention is driven by our People, who are empowered by our company to bring their authentic selves to work. We celebrate individuality and foster a culture of inclusion while maintaining an environment crafted to aid innovation. We encourage the growth of our employees, confident that their contributions will lead to a better world.