Intellectual Property Paralegal (Patents and Trademarks)- Tampa- B11

The Legal Support Specialist 3 is a non-attorney role, responsible for providing legal support to the Citi Legal team. This role requires a pragmatic, proactive professional with thorough understanding of the Citi Legal Team. The overall objective of this role is to provide support to the Legal Team.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for legal support activities related to legal operations, litigation, discovery or settlements.

• Executes, reviews, processes and tracks legal documentation, executes transactions and completes varied work requests from multiple sources that may be complex in character and have tight deadlines.

• Prepares reports and conducts administrative legal work; may contribute to the processing of billing and/or legal settlements.

• Maintains detailed records, creates, prepares and processes legal documentation under direction of general counsel.

• Conducts research on legal precedent while staying abreast of new and changing regulatory and legal issues and industry initiatives.

• May be responsible for legislative/regulatory tracking and distribution of tracking results to legal and business colleagues.

• Works closely with team’s manager and legal peers to complete tasks assigned; investigations, research, communications, classification/routing of documentation.

• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.

• Maintain, update and edit records in patent database, AltLegal. 

• Records need to be complete and accurate on an ongoing basis. 

• Records are to be updated within one week of receiving reporting emails from external patent counsel.

• Use patent database, Altlegal, to create agendas of ongoing, upcoming, and recently completed patent filings.  The agendas are specific to the external patent law firms and need to be accurate, complete, and distributed before meetings between Citi patent personnel and the individual external patent law firms.

• Create and coordinate the flow of administrative paperwork (e.g., Powers of Attorney, patent filing receipts, Inventor Declarations & Assignments, draft summaries of inventions, draft patent applications) between inventors, Citi patent program personnel, and external patent counsel.  The administrative paperwork needs to be timely, complete and accurate.

• Coordinate and assist in the billing process between Citi Global Legal Solutions and external IP counsel (e.g., obtain billing codes, facilitate resolution of billing issues, follow up on unpaid invoices).  This includes patents, trademarks and copyrights.

• Communicate frequently and accurately with other members of the IP Legal team regarding ongoing tasks and status of work in progress. 

• Inform lawyers and others in the IP Legal team about the work being performed.

• Volunteer to help other members of the IP Legal team and help them upon request to assist in all ongoing IP work, including patents, trademarks and copyrights. 

• As needed and requested, prepare, coordinate and file trademark application, maintenance, and related forms at the USPTO. 

• Instruct, manage, and work closely with local counsel and vendors on filing trademark application, maintenance, and related forms outside the U.S. 

• Handle all other aspects of domestic and international trademark prosecution and portfolio management, including preparing various trademark filings including specimens and supporting documents, updating trademark office records, tracking and managing docket deadlines and routine business partner reporting.

• Communicate directly with local counsel regarding filings, status updates and developments, deadlines, inquiries and action items.

• Create and maintain various charts and reports.

• Coordinate and report watch notices, monitor third party filings and investigate potential enforcement targets.

• Provide support for IP aspects of transactions, including supporting due diligence efforts, preparing agreement schedules and recording chain of title updates.

• Ensure integrity of data in docket and files, and maintain records in an organized manner.

• Assist with special projects and take on additional IP related responsibilities as requested.

Qualifications:

• 2-5 years of relevant industry experience, preferably with some experience working in a corporate legal department or law firm.
• Ability to manage complex documentation with organization and detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as project management skills.
• Knowledge of legal customs and practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry.
• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 1 year work experience as an IP paralegal.
• Preferred experience is a minimum 3+ years of prior experience focusing on patent prosecution, docketing and portfolio management.
• Comfortable using IP docketing platforms, knowledge management systems and Microsoft Office programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, timeliness, efficiency, responsiveness, and workload management.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast paced and high volume practice, prioritize competing demands, and problem solve creatively.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and collaborate with colleagues at all levels in a professional manner.

Education:

• Bachelors/University degree or equivalent experience

------------------------------------------------------

Job Family Group:

------------------------------------------------------

Job Family:

------------------------------------------------------

Time Type:

------------------------------------------------------

Primary Location:

------------------------------------------------------

Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:

In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

------------------------------------------------------

Most Relevant Skills

------------------------------------------------------

Other Relevant Skills

------------------------------------------------------

Anticipated Posting Close Date:

------------------------------------------------------

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.