Intellectual Property Paralegal

Position Overview:

Weber Blackstone is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property Paralegal to join our in-house legal department. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, this role will support the management and administration of the company’s global intellectual property portfolio, including patents and trademarks.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with utility patents, design patents, and trademarks across multiple jurisdictions and will be comfortable coordinating with outside counsel worldwide to support prosecution, maintenance, and portfolio management. In addition to intellectual property responsibilities, this role will assist with broader legal department operations and product liability matters. Training will be provided for these additional functions.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated paralegal to play a key role in protecting and managing a growing global IP portfolio within a collaborative in-house legal team.

This is a hybrid role at our office in Palatine, IL. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Intellectual Property Portfolio Management
  • Manage and maintain the company’s global IP portfolio, including utility patents, design patents, and trademarks.
  • Track and manage critical deadlines, including patent maintenance fees, annuities, and trademark renewals.
  • Maintain accurate records in the company’s IP portfolio management system.
  • Prepare preliminary clearance searches for trademarks.
  • Coordinate with global outside counsel to support patent and trademark prosecution activities.
  • Assist with preparation, review, and filing of patent and trademark documentation.
  • Monitor and report on IP portfolio status and deadlines to internal stakeholders.
• Legal Operations & Additional Support
  • Assist the legal department with general legal operations and administrative matters.
  • Provide support on product liability matters, including document management and coordination with outside counsel.
  • Support internal teams with legal documentation and recordkeeping.
  • Organize and file documents
  • Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, modify, prepare and transmit legal documents, including routine agreements, letters and others
  • Maintain docket of IP and other legal matters, including due dates, expiration dates, reminders and the like
  • Maintain contract lifecycle management system
  • Organize and handle billing and invoices
  • Assist in management of corporate entities
  • Other administrative support for the Legal and Regulatory Department on an as needed basis
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word processing software, Power Point, Excel, knowledge of and/or ability to quickly learn legal software systems, including IP docketing, contract/matter management, and other software.
• Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. 
• Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. 

The duties and responsibilities above are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and may be adjusted from time to time.

Qualifications to perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required: 

• 5-7 years of experience as an IP paralegal, preferably within an in-house legal department or IP law firm.
• Demonstrated experience managing global patent and trademark portfolios.
• Experience with IP portfolio management software used to track deadlines, annuities, and maintenance fees.
• Familiarity with utility patents, design patents, and trademarks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience coordinating with international outside counsel on patent and trademark prosecution.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly in managing time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate or equivalent legal training.
• Experience supporting product liability matters.
• Experience working in an in-house corporate legal department.
• Familiarity with global IP filing and prosecution processes.

Benefits:

Weber Blackstone offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for full-time U.S. non-union employees, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Eligible for paid time off (vacation, sick, personal, holiday)

Salary Range: $90,475- 102,025

* This salary range represents Weber Blackstone's good faith belief of what we reasonably expect to pay the top candidate