Senior Associate

Duties and Responsibilities

A Senior Associate position has become available at Adams & Adams within the Anti-Counterfeiting team (in Pretoria). The suitable candidate would be an admitted attorney, ideally qualified as a Trade Marks Practitioner with the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL), with more than three years post-qualification experience of working in an Intellectual Property law firm.

We are looking for a dynamic candidate with the ability to engage with International, Regional and Local Law Enforcement Agencies to arrange and attend training and search and seizure operations, as well as being willing to travel into Africa and locally.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performing routine legal functions under minimal supervision of qualified legal professionals;
• Drafting and filing affidavits, civil summons, and pleadings or other legal processes;
• Drafting letters of demand, undertakings, settlement agreements, etc.;
• Drafting and filing default judgments Applications, other unopposed and opposed Applications;
• Briefing Counsel and attending to Court hearings;
• Management and running of litigation and administrative matters;
• Arranging search and seizure operations and attending to post-raid formalities;
• Arranging Customs and Police training workshops locally and in other African countries;
• Travelling to African countries to attend training workshops for Law Enforcement Officials, in-market sweeps, etc.;
• Preparing and drafting of monthly or quarterly clients’ reports and/or schedules;
• Liaising with local Sheriffs and other Law Enforcement Agencies (i.e. Police, Customs, Regulatory Officials, Storage facilities, transporters, etc.);
• Dealing with matters promptly and efficiently and ensuring that all urgent tasks are completed on time;
• Attending to all areas of practice and office procedures including managing deadlines, managing a diary, dealing and assisting with urgent matters and client requests, updating client standing instructions and A&A’s records, research, preparing marketing material, including articles for publication, client visits, and the ability to attract clients and build relationships.

Skills and Knowledge

• Commercial IP Knowledge
• Computer literate in Microsoft Word, Excel, and the Internet;
• Excellent language skills (good command of English, both written and verbal);
• Must understand the billing and debiting procedures;
• A meticulous, responsible person with a sense of urgency, who is able to prioritize duties;
• Display high level of initiative and being pro-active in practice;
• Attention to detail is essential;
• A conscientious, loyal, and dedicated person, with the ability to think laterally;
• Someone with a professional attitude;
• Ability to give clear instructions to a secretary;
• Prepared to work long hours where necessary;
• Ability to work independently and under supervision;
• Ability to handle the pressure of having to cope with a large workload;
• Knowledge of relevant Acts – e.g. Trade Marks, Copyright, Counterfeit Goods, and Criminal Procedures Acts.
• Willingness and eagerness to learn and develop;
• Experience of working in an IP firm (Intellectual Property) will also be an advantage;
• Flexibility with respect to time & work (will be required to do work outside office hours).

Candidate Profile:

• Ability, drive, and vigour;
• Leadership skills;
• Commitment and long-term goals;
• Academic excellence;
• Enthusiasm and creativity;
• Integrity and a zero-tolerance for negativity;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to attract and generate work.

Qualifications

• LLB and Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa;
• Trade Marks Litigation experience, Anti-Counterfeiting work experience an added advantage;
• Qualified Trade Marks Practitioner, in the process of being qualified (advantageous), or a real intention to qualify as a Trade Mark Practitioner;
• Experience of working in an IP firm (Intellectual Property) will be highly advantageous;
• 3 – 5 years post-articles experience (advantageous);
• Computer literacy.

Work Level: Senior Management

Job Type: Permanent