IP Assistant

The opportunityWe are looking for a talented and experienced IP Assistant to support our UAE offices.The successful candidate will be an integral member of the Intellectual Property team, providing support across a broad range of IP matters and reporting to the Head of the Intellectual Property Group for the Middle East.You will be part of a supportive team that will provide training to build your skills, along with guidance on your career development.The firmBird & Bird opens a world of possible for lawyers and professionals everywhere. Working for a leading international law firm like Bird & Bird means working alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work with everyone. We work as one global team, with over 70% of work involving people from across the firm. And that’s only increasing! It is this common purpose and shared approach that make it a more productive and collaborative place to work.Your firm. Your future.The teamYou’ll be joining our Intellectual Property team in the UAE, working closely with lawyers and senior stakeholders across the firm to support the delivery of excellent client service, strengthen client relationships and contribute to the growth of the practice.The team operates in a fast-paced and supportive environment, where collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement are highly valued. You will work alongside experienced IP professionals and have the opportunity to build strong relationships across the firm while contributing to the success and continued growth of the Middle East practice.What you'll doThe main duties and responsibilities for the role are as follows:Provide paralegal support to the IP team in relation to trade marks and other intellectual property matters, including assisting with a wide range of brand-related issues, both contentious and non-contentious.Assist in the management of worldwide trade mark and design portfolios, including conducting clearance searches, drafting trade mark specifications, implementing and managing worldwide filing programmes and strategies, and preparing initial correspondence and documentation to support the filing of trade mark, design, patent and copyright applications, renewals, assignments, licences, changes of name and other recordals, under the supervision of senior team members.Assist with the initial review of prosecution issues, draft arguments and prepare evidence in response to Trade Mark Office objections, third party oppositions, invalidity and appeal actions, under the direction and supervision of senior team members.Monitor and manage status updates for trade mark disputes, oppositions, cancellation actions, enforcement cases and domain name disputes, including the status of settlement negotiations, responses to cease and desist letters, undertakings and other related correspondence.Prepare agreements relating to IP rights, including letters of consent, assignments, licences and co-existence agreements, in accordance with approved templates.Conduct in-use (online) investigations and research, assist with the preparation of trade mark search reports, filing reports, status reports and spreadsheets for review by lawyers and senior paralegals, and support the conduct of due diligence in relation to trade mark and IPR portfolios, including the auditing of data from national IPO and other commercial databases.Monitor incoming emails, correspondence, and shared inboxes, routing and following up on items as required.Maintain client, matter, and filing information within the firm's IP database, matter management systems and document management systems in line with established filing and record-keeping procedures.Maintain a docketing diary, issue timely reminders to fee earners, and manage deadlines and administrative follow-up to ensure all activity is accurately docketed and records are available for audit at all times.Prepare reports, spreadsheets, and matter updates for internal and client reporting purposes, including reporting on the status of cases, timetables of events and upcoming deadlines, and assist with client quotations and filing-related queries.Communicate and follow up with clients, Ministry officials, foreign associates, local agents and internal lawyers in a professional manner, providing timely status updates, responding promptly to requests for information, proactively requesting information where required, and escalating matters to senior team members as appropriate.Build new and develop existing client relationships, and supervise and train interns.Provide general paralegal support to the IP team and carry out other ad hoc tasks as required.About youThe successful candidate will have the following:At least two years' experience managing international trade mark and intellectual property portfolios within an international law firm or other professional services environment.Proactive, adaptable and commercially minded, with a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn, develop new skills, and contribute to continuous improvement.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a high standard of professional written and spoken Arabic and English.Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.Strong technical document management skills, including proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with the ability to handle complex documents and present information clearly and concisely.A forward-thinking mindset with the ability to use initiative, anticipate the needs of the team, and remain calm and composed in demanding situations.Strong team player, capable of building effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels and across diverse cultural backgrounds.The main responsibilities of this role are outlined above; however, this description is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time to ensure the smooth running of the department. The role may require some working outside our normal working hours of 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.In the event that we make an offer to you, and you accept, we will conduct pre-engagement background checks, where permitted by local legislation and according to the nature of the role that may include right to work, professional and academic qualifications, criminal records and references from previous employers.