In-House Attorney, Intellectual Property
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (“FMIC”) headquarters is located in Los Angeles, CA. Our brand mission is to accompany each player at every stage with products and brand experiences that fuel the pursuit of musical expression.
A true American icon, Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence extending beyond the studio and the stage.
A Fender is more than an instrument, it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally.
We are seeking an experienced In-House Attorney, Intellectual Property to join our Legal team in our Los Angeles, CA or Scottsdale, Arizona office.
As a member of the Fender IP team, you will work on a broad spectrum of IP matters including trademark protection, trademark disputes, domains, online brand protection, patent protection, and IP litigation management.
About the Job:
Oversee the company’s global trademark portfolio, including conducting trademark searches, providing trademark evaluations and recommendations, and managing the trademark registration process Work directly with and supervise outside counsel/attorneys to align intellectual property activities worldwide to support business objectives and ongoing patent/trademark litigation Prepare, draft, and negotiating a wide variety of IP-related contracts including but not limited to domestic marketing and licensing agreements, IT agreements, master service and/or product agreements and statements of work Supervise and lead all activities surrounding the IP of Fender and all its subsidiaries, while working directly with the internal legal team, multiple business units and product teams, as well as external collaborators, to provide IP advice, strategy and recommendations Research and make well-informed decisions on IP registrations, domain procurement, cease-and-desist correspondence, and co-existence agreements relative to the new product development and implementation processes Review and advise on trademark placement on product packaging and marketing creative for compliance with promotion laws, company standards and industry standards.
Conduct patent and trademark searches including patent landscape, technology area and competitor IP searches and provide evaluations and recommendations Partner with Fender’s Licensing Department to review and draft license agreements Effectively maintain the global IP budget and provide periodic reports on IP spend Routinely train business units on trademark usage and any other IP-related topics, and maintain and keep current the relevant sections on company’s intranet site Provide assistance with special projects and other duties as assigned Managing pre-litigation brand enforcement activity including cease and desist letters, notice and takedown requests, commercial correspondence, and negotiating settlements Managing criminal and civil pre-litigation activities, including overseeing investigations including advising on strategy, drafting documents, interviewing internal witnesses and experts, compiling and presenting data, and authenticating products as part of pre-litigation and litigation enforcement activities Conducting factual research of infringing activity, including orchestrating test buys, identifying illicit behavior, identifying counterfeit products, and performing or coordinating further product testing and analysis Collecting and preserving evidence of wrongdoing to maintain availability of all enforcement options Collaborating with external partners such as customs, state and federal law enforcement agencies Manage outside counsel and use internal and external digital tools to effectively manage cases, report results, and measure return on brand protection and enforcement activity
What You Need:
A juris doctorate degree or equivalent from an accredited law school and member of at least one state bar 4-6 years of experience in a law firm or corporation is required Must have prior in-house legal department experience Previous in-house experience in a consumer products company a major plus Extensive experience and proven working knowledge trademarks, copyrights, patents, and IP litigation management Ability to multi-task and effectively manage multiple on-going priorities in a fast-paced business environment Strong business acumen and communication skills coupled with the ability to provide legal and compliance advice in the context of business initiatives and goals An unwavering attention to detail, paired with excellent partnership management and interpersonal skills An independent self-starter who can co-ordinate a team working across a high volume of projects under tight timeframes Superior time management skills in order to meet the needs of an incredibly busy legal department
About Fender Musical Instruments:
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel® and Bigsby®, among others.
For more information, visit www.fender.com .
FMIC offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, 401(k), paid time off, and an equipment purchase program to help you get the band back together.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.
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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS CAREFULLY: The information I’ve provided on this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge and subject to verification.
Any misrepresentation or deliberate omission of fact in my application will be justification for refusal to employ me or for termination of my employment by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
If employed, I shall sign the non-compete/confidentiality agreement, if applicable, in which I will agree to protect Fender Musical Instruments Corporation’s confidential information.
If employed, I understand that Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an “at will” employer, in that employment is terminable at the will of the company or me at any time, with or without notice, and for any lawful reason, or no reason.
I understand that, if employed, I must at all times comply with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation’s standards of work performance and business conduct.
Failure to do so can result in my release without notice or severance pay.
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Individuals seeking employment at Fender are considered without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements.
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As a government contractor subject to Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA.
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