Law Clerk, Intellectual Property

position Title: law Clerk, Intellectual Property

Position Type: Regular – Full-Time

Position Location: Toronto HQ

Grade: Grade 04

Requisition ID: 38141

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences – together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

The Law Clerk, Intellectual Property & Innovation will provide support to our Sr. legal Counsel, Intellectual Property in a number of critical areas.

What you’ll be doing.

1. Intellectual Property and Innovation

• Conduct trademark searches and related research; investigations of trademark use.
• Review packaging and promotional materials for compliance with McCain’s Trademarks Policy; and the proper identification of trademarks and other IP rights.
• Prepare and coordinate the execution of IP related documents (e.g. POAs, assignments, NDAs, etc.).
• Communicate/coordinate with company stakeholders and with external legal counsel on trademark matters, including, for example, trademark filings, renewals, prosecution, and oppositions; and other IP (e.g. industrial design and/or patent) matters.
• Monitor and manage due dates related to trademarks and other IP matters.
• Attend and participate in trademark/IP meetings and legal team meetings.
• Develop (with the IP team) and maintain training calendar for IP topics, including collecting feedback to such training from the business.
• Develop (with the IP team) trademark / IP training materials.
• Assist in the delivery of trademark / IP training.
• Manage unsolicited submissions procedure – coordinate and intake unsolicited submissions to internal stakeholders for review; track submissions; and respond to submitters.
• Initiate and support the revision, management, maintenance and further development of McCain’s trademarks and innovation portfolio/databases, together with the IP Hub sharepoint site.
• Establish and manage a database of IP documents, e.g. registration certificates, assignments, POAs, license agreements, etc.
• Establish and manage a database of McCain’s innovations.
• Review, develop (with applicable teams) and implement tools and workflow automation solutions (subject to available opportunities and resources) to improve processes in invoicing, training, trademark/innovation intake forms and tools, company stakeholder communications, deadlines/docketing, and other processes related to intellectual property and innovation.
• experience and/or Interest and willingness to explore, learn, use and be proficient in AI-based tools (e.g. copilot, etc.) or other digital tools (e.g. LawVu, Sharepoint, etc.) related to the practice of law/IP or in the provision of legal/IP services to the McCain business.

2. Miscellaneous

• Prepare and process invoices related to trademarks and other IP matters.
• Develop and implement reports for monitoring outside legal spending.
• Prepare and file expense reports, book travel, book meetings, and manage other routine administrative support tasks for manager and others on the IP team.
• Undertake other ad hoc projects in support of the McCain legal team.
• Manage special projects outsourced to consultants or outside counsel.
• Other projects/duties as assigned or needed.
• Global role – work hours may be inconsistent to accommodate the business and other legal team members outside of Canada.

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Paralegal or Law Clerk Certificate or Diploma from an accredited program.
• At least five (5) years’ related experience in a mid/large law firm or in-house legal department.
• Efficient time management, prioritization and multitasking skills.
• Strong team player, with excellent communication skills and an ability to work independently and proactively.
• Excellent drafting and proofreading skills, and attention to detail.
• Experience with public IP databases, including TmView, DesignView and others.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); and Sharepoint
• Experience and/or interest in the development and delivery of IP training materials.
• Experience and/or interest in working with legal technology software, such as LawVu and Spellbook, and with AI tools, such as CoPilot.

Competencies:

Critical TECHNICAL (Function-Specific) Competencies:

• Broad experience and strong interest in intellectual property and innovation.
• Experience in the development of materials for, and the delivery of, IP training.
• Demonstrated experience or interest to learn and use digital tools related to IP and legal innovation.

Critical CORE (General Behavioural and Business) Competencies:

• Driven and self-motivated with a strong desire for learning and continuous self-improvement.
• Extremely organized with a strong sense of priority, urgency and commitment to deadlines.
• Exceptional writing skills, and detail oriented.
• Ability to manage a diverse workload and prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently while functioning well in a team environment.
• Ability to understand general business operations, issues and dynamics beyond the scope of basic legal issues.
• Ability to communicate effectively with members of other departments in order to support their functions as well as to assist them in supporting the legal staff.
• fluency in English, communication in French or other languages is beneficial but not required.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint & Excel).

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

Compensation Package: $65,500.00 – $87,400.00 . CAD annually + Bonus Eligibility

The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education and training, and other organizational needs.

Benefits: At McCain, we’re on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and well-being at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person’s needs are unique and ensure our benefits & well-being programs reflect that. Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement. Well-being programs include vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources. Coverages are aligned with country, provincial and state governing plans and can vary by work level, location and nature of the role. Additional benefit detail available during the Application process.

Your well-being matters to us, and we’re here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work — and at home.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know, and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree that this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here.

Job Family: General & Administration

Location(s): CA – Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Company: McCain Foods (Canada)

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