Legal Counsel Intellectual Property (m/w/d)

Our client is the group holding of one of Europe's leading entertainment groups and is a household name in German and French-speaking countries.

The group headquarters currently employs more than 70 people from at least a dozen countries. The culture is highly international and commercially pragmatic. This role is based in Cologne.

Tasks

A robust comprehension of the function of Intellectual Property (IP) in a business context is imperative. The successful candidate will assume responsibility within the legal team and function as a proactive proponent on all matters on AI. This role is distinguished from simialr in-house legal roles by its emphasis on advocating for AI within the legal department and promoting its commercial application across the Group.

Reporting to the Group General Counsel, the successful candidate will contribute to ensuring that the business maintains a competitive edge in both traditional and digital content markets and understands the commercial risks (legal, regulatory, IT security, etc.) that IP in general and AI in particular pose to the Group:

• AI-generated content and commercial applications: Addressing the legal challenges of AI-generated content, including ownership, copyright eligibility, licensing and monetisation strategies. Together with other specialists in business units and other group departments, you will assess, analyse and discuss the impact of AI on the group from a risk and opportunity perspective, resulting in formulating practical solutions
• Trademark management: Overseeing filings, renewals, and enforcement strategies to protect innovation and brand identity in relation to the group trademark. Other operational trademarks are managed at business unit level
• IP litigation and dispute resolution: Monitoring, occasionally handling, trademark and patent infringement matters, ensuring a commercial approach is taken to protect the company's interests

Requirements

• You will be a fully-qualified lawyer in your home jurisdiction with at least 4 years of relevant post-qualification experience.
• This role is also open to non-German qualified lawyers.
• You will be well versed in general commercial legal issues and will be a skilled project manager and comfortable instructing and managing external counsel.
• You may be called upon from time to time to support your HQ and business unit legal colleagues on other commercial and contractual matters.
• Working knowledge of English (C2), additional knowledge of German and/or French of an advantage

Benefits

• An attractive fixed salary that reflects the importance and seniority of the role, plus a generous bonus package and other benefits.
• „Syndikus“ status avilable to German-qualified lawyers
• International, English-speaking, dynamic working environment
• Hybrid Home/Office
• Flat hierarchies