Senior Paralegal - Intellectual Property
Description Avient, Avon Lake, Ohio, United States, 44012
Description
Avient is seeking a Senior Paralegal, Intellectual Property to perform a range of activities in support of the company’s legal and intellectual property (IP) global operations including:
providing paralegal support for global patent and trademark activities; and
assisting with confidentiality agreements (NDAs / CDAs) and similar contracts for Avient’s businesses worldwide.
Working with minimal direct supervision both independently and collaboratively with other team members, internal stakeholders, and external service providers, this position requires a self-confident and knowledgeable IP legal professional who is well-organized, responsive, flexible, resourceful, and enthusiastic. Ideal candidates will have strong experience with both patents and trademarks, and at least some experience (or willingness to learn) assisting with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts.
This position is based at Avient’s global headquarters located in Avon Lake, Ohio.
Essential Functions
Supports global patent and trademark activities in coordination with Avient’s in-house IP attorneys, outside counsel, and/or external service providers
Assists with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts in coordination with other legal team members; activities may include preparing new agreements based on approved templates, responding to inquiries about status and applicability of prior agreements, reviewing proposed agreements and making proposed revisions, and coordinating with counterparties to obtain signatures, etc.
Manages incoming correspondence from USPTO, WIPO, law firms / local agents worldwide, external service providers, internal stakeholders, etc., and determines appropriate actions
Dockets deadlines for patent and/or trademark activities worldwide using Avient’s IP database and docketing system (IPfolio)
Creates and updates records in relevant databases and systems (e.g., IPfolio, SharePoint, network folders, etc.)
Prepares forms and other documents (e.g., powers of attorney, assignments, application data sheets, PCT requests, information disclosure statements, etc.)
Coordinates with IP attorneys to take appropriate actions by deadlines
Corresponds with law firms / local agents worldwide to provide instructions, etc.
Manages internal processes including invention record submissions, patent filing and country selection decisions, patent maintenance decisions, trademark renewal decisions, etc.
Communicates with internal stakeholders to request input or decisions, obtain signatures, provide matter updates, etc.
Manages payment of patent annuities and trademark renewals through external service providers
Administers Avient’s USPTO deposit account
Helps to create vendor profiles, process invoices, and track costs using vendor payment platforms such as Coupa, etc.
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications Education and Experience
High school diploma or GED; paralegal certificate and/or associate’s degree and/or bachelor’s degree is advantageous
Required patent and trademark experience: 10+ years of experience in a law firm or corporate in-house setting involving both patent and trademark support responsibilities
Preferred contracts experience: 3+ years of experience in a law firm or corporate in-house setting involving support for confidentiality agreements and similar contracts
Additional Qualifications
Notary public is strongly preferred
Solid working knowledge of forms, documentation, requirements, and procedures for patent and trademark filings in USPTO and worldwide
Ability to administer and use IP database and docketing systems (familiarity with IPfolio is advantageous)
Capable of using patent and trademark office websites such as uspto.gov to find forms, research rules and procedures, check status of applications, record assignments, pay maintenance fees, etc., and publicly available patent databases such as Espacenet to search for and obtain copies of patent publications, confirm family details, etc.
Familiar with corporate entity concepts, signature authority, etc.
Familiar with requesting apostilles, authentications, legalizations, etc.
Experience with (or willingness to learn) collaboration platforms such as SharePoint; electronic signature platforms such as Adobe Sign and DocuSign; and vendor payment platforms such as Coupa
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Exceptional professionalism and ownership of responsibilities reflected in consistency and quality of work product, outstanding attention to detail, and proactive approach to issue spotting and problem solving
High levels of responsiveness and independent judgment to plan and prioritize daily activities and take appropriate actions with minimal supervision
Flexible, resourceful, well-organized, and able to work in a fast-paced organization where multitasking is essential
Good interpersonal skills to build and maintain trusted relationships with colleagues and diverse stakeholders and confidently navigate a complex global organization
Positive, enthusiastic, growth mindset, proactive, and collegial
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providing paralegal support for global patent and trademark activities; and
assisting with confidentiality agreements (NDAs / CDAs) and similar contracts for Avient’s businesses worldwide.
Working with minimal direct supervision both independently and collaboratively with other team members, internal stakeholders, and external service providers, this position requires a self-confident and knowledgeable IP legal professional who is well-organized, responsive, flexible, resourceful, and enthusiastic. Ideal candidates will have strong experience with both patents and trademarks, and at least some experience (or willingness to learn) assisting with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts.
This position is based at Avient’s global headquarters located in Avon Lake, Ohio.
Essential Functions
Supports global patent and trademark activities in coordination with Avient’s in-house IP attorneys, outside counsel, and/or external service providers
Assists with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts in coordination with other legal team members; activities may include preparing new agreements based on approved templates, responding to inquiries about status and applicability of prior agreements, reviewing proposed agreements and making proposed revisions, and coordinating with counterparties to obtain signatures, etc.
Manages incoming correspondence from USPTO, WIPO, law firms / local agents worldwide, external service providers, internal stakeholders, etc., and determines appropriate actions
Dockets deadlines for patent and/or trademark activities worldwide using Avient’s IP database and docketing system (IPfolio)
Creates and updates records in relevant databases and systems (e.g., IPfolio, SharePoint, network folders, etc.)
Prepares forms and other documents (e.g., powers of attorney, assignments, application data sheets, PCT requests, information disclosure statements, etc.)
Coordinates with IP attorneys to take appropriate actions by deadlines
Corresponds with law firms / local agents worldwide to provide instructions, etc.
Manages internal processes including invention record submissions, patent filing and country selection decisions, patent maintenance decisions, trademark renewal decisions, etc.
Communicates with internal stakeholders to request input or decisions, obtain signatures, provide matter updates, etc.
Manages payment of patent annuities and trademark renewals through external service providers
Administers Avient’s USPTO deposit account
Helps to create vendor profiles, process invoices, and track costs using vendor payment platforms such as Coupa, etc.
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications Education and Experience
High school diploma or GED; paralegal certificate and/or associate’s degree and/or bachelor’s degree is advantageous
Required patent and trademark experience: 10+ years of experience in a law firm or corporate in-house setting involving both patent and trademark support responsibilities
Preferred contracts experience: 3+ years of experience in a law firm or corporate in-house setting involving support for confidentiality agreements and similar contracts
Additional Qualifications
Notary public is strongly preferred
Solid working knowledge of forms, documentation, requirements, and procedures for patent and trademark filings in USPTO and worldwide
Ability to administer and use IP database and docketing systems (familiarity with IPfolio is advantageous)
Capable of using patent and trademark office websites such as uspto.gov to find forms, research rules and procedures, check status of applications, record assignments, pay maintenance fees, etc., and publicly available patent databases such as Espacenet to search for and obtain copies of patent publications, confirm family details, etc.
Familiar with corporate entity concepts, signature authority, etc.
Familiar with requesting apostilles, authentications, legalizations, etc.
Experience with (or willingness to learn) collaboration platforms such as SharePoint; electronic signature platforms such as Adobe Sign and DocuSign; and vendor payment platforms such as Coupa
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Exceptional professionalism and ownership of responsibilities reflected in consistency and quality of work product, outstanding attention to detail, and proactive approach to issue spotting and problem solving
High levels of responsiveness and independent judgment to plan and prioritize daily activities and take appropriate actions with minimal supervision
Flexible, resourceful, well-organized, and able to work in a fast-paced organization where multitasking is essential
Good interpersonal skills to build and maintain trusted relationships with colleagues and diverse stakeholders and confidently navigate a complex global organization
Positive, enthusiastic, growth mindset, proactive, and collegial
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