Snr Associate/Associate II

We are seeking a highly skilled mid-level to senior associate to join our dynamic team and play a key role in managing trade mark litigation cases for high profile international and local clients across a variety of industries in South Africa and other African jurisdictions. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting three partners in the team in a variety of contentious trade mark matters, including oppositions, cancellations, company name objections and trade mark and copyright enforcement matters. The successful candidate will be someone with sufficient experience in the field to enable them to work largely independently but under partner supervision. The role also requires contributing to the development of junior professionals in the team and business development initiatives. This is a deadline- driven practice with an international reach, requiring adaptability and quick thinking. The successful candidate will need strong organisational skills and proven experience with practice management.

Duties include, but are not limited to: -

Analysing instructions and sets of facts and preparing legal advice and opinions

Preparing correspondence to clients and opponents

Drafting letters of demand and undertakings

Drafting affidavits, pleadings and notices for litigation purposes

Preparing marketing material, including articles for publication, and participating in speaking opportunities

Conducting research

Diarising and administering own diary files.

Dealing with urgent matters promptly and efficiently and ensuring that all tasks are completed on time

Giving instructions to, and supervising, candidate attorneys, paralegals and secretaries to complete more routine tasks such as indexing and pagination

Preparing monthly reports for clients on the status of various matters being handled on their behalf

Checking prebills to ensure that the amounts charged align with the work done and client's billing requirements are met

Coordinating with foreign counsel on international matters, filings, maintenance

Effect portfolio transfers and manage large client portfolios

Researching law and drafting opinions

Dealing with a variety of IP related litigation matters, including matters relating to trade mark infringement, cancellation and opposition, name objections and domain name disputes

Dealing with enquiries and advising clients in relation to copyright queries and dealing with litigation relating to copyright disputes especially software

Drafting IP sections of due diligence reports, analyzing IP in the context of commercial transactions