Assistant Legal Counsel
Tokyo, Japan
Are you our “TYPE”?
Named "One of the Most Innovative Companies in Design'' by Fast Company, Monotype brings brands to life through type and technology that consumers engage with every day. The company's rich legacy includes a library that can be traced back hundreds of years, featuring famed typefaces like Helvetica, Futura, Times New Roman and more. Monotype also provides a first-of-its-kind service that makes fonts more accessible for creative professionals to discover, license, and use in our increasingly digital world. We work with the biggest global brands, and with individual creatives, offering a wide set of solutions that make it easier for them to do what they do best: design beautiful brand experiences. Want to learn more about who we are and how you can become part of our team? Visit us at www.monotype.com.
The Assistant Legal Counsel will primarily negotiate and interpret inbound and outbound font license agreements and support the Japanese and global sales and foundry teams. In addition, you will assist in the preparation of enforcement files (research, factual and legal assessment of infringements, preservation of evidence, filing), support the sales outreach to and communication with possible infringers and, if necessary, coordinate further legal enforcement.
What you’ll be doing:
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Provision of legal support to the company’s sales team by drafting, negotiating and interpreting contracts and licensing agreements in Japanese and English, in coordination with the worldwide legal, finance and sales support team.
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Communicating with sales, sales ops, legal, finance and other business units on open topics and their further processing.
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Drafting and supervising inquiries on the entitlement to use company IP, notice and takedown procedures, correspondence with customer in-house and external legal counsel, and drafting and/or supervising other communications regarding enforcement activities with assistance from IP counsels.
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Monitor approval procedures to ensure compliance with Monotype’s contracts processing policy .
What we’re looking for:
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Degree in law or equivalent work experience / certification.
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3 years of experience with a law firm or in the legal department of a company (preferably a software related company).
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Knowledge of IP law and international contract/licensing law with a primary focus on copyright and trademark.
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Strong demonstrable negotiation and problem-solving skills without a zero-sum mentality.
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Flexibility to take on different roles depending on current business needs
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Economic and entrepreneurial understanding as well as the ability and willingness to quickly familiarize oneself with new and complex issues independently
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Team player with excellent communication and negotiation skills
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Excellent English skills (written and oral) required.
This role will require occasional travel to our office location and/or attend in-person meetings with other employees up to three days per week. Monotype is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
What We Do
Monotype brings brands to life through type and technology that consumers engage with every day.
The company's rich legacy includes a library that can be traced back hundreds of years, featuring famed typefaces like Helvetica, Futura, Times New Roman and more.
Monotype also provides a first-of-its-kind service that makes fonts more accessible for creative professionals to discover, license, and use in our increasingly digital world. We work with the biggest global brands, and with individual creatives, offering a wide set of solutions that make it easier for them to do what they do best: design beautiful brand experiences.
