The Paralegal/Legal Assistant is responsible for providing specialized legal support under the direction of the relevant lawyer, and for performing legal research, preparing legal documents, and reviewing and negotiating contracts and other documents.
Roles and Responsabilities:
- Prepare and negotiate terms and conditions for legal documents including vendor contracts, consulting agreements, and nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. Research specialized requests and present results and recommendations to management for approval. Manage due diligence requests. Maintain or oversee databases and files for contracts, consultants, real estate and subpoenas.
- Prepare, modify and docket IP-related contracts. Help negotiate contracts such as confidentiality agreements and consulting agreements. Create and maintain content for IP pages on company intranet. Prepare drafts of patent prosecution forms and filings, and handle related correspondence with inventors. Prepare drafts of trademark and copyright registration applications and filings. Docket deadlines for patent prosecution, fees and annuities, and handle related correspondence. Docket the pre-application process. Prepare activity reports for the department. Maintain the patent office deposit account. Obtain copies of patents, file histories, and conduct patent and trademark searches. Provide notary services. Maintain databases and files for contracts, consultants, publications and IP. Maintain files of correspondence and confidential records. Organize meetings, arrange conferences and social gatherings.
- Receive, review and log contract submission requests from Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering and other groups. Prepare initial contract drafts, route for approval and track agreements in obtaining property signatures. Input contract information, and scan and link executed agreements and documents into contract database. Maintain attorney docket for actions due and expiring contracts. Support online request system for technology centers. Support training efforts regarding general contract procedures and concepts. Log and track legal disputes and litigation involving the technology center. Log, review and forward invoices from vendors.
- Conduct preliminary investigation into new enforcement assertions and lawsuits. Manage files, including correspondence, memos, pleadings and client documents, and maintain calendars of key dates. Coordinate with outside counsel in locating documents and information for litigation discovery responses and assist in drafting discovery responses. Assist outside counsel in drafting affidavits in support of motions, briefs and subpoenas. Coordinate witness attendance at meetings, depositions, hearings and trials. Interview potential witnesses. Handle discovery aspects of approximately 40-50 cases. Assist in the preparation of quarterly litigation reports for management. Work with counsel to develop a robust licensing database for monitoring obligations and revenues owed and paid to Schlumberger. Attend litigation-related proceedings.
- Help initiate and monitor internal incident reviews. Under direction of Compliance Counsel, liaise with Product Line and other personnel to review allegations and ensure updates on timely progress. Participate in incident reviews as needed. Coordinate with outside contractors concerning the Ethics Line service and reporting. Participate in compliance training. Support Compliance Counsel and Director of Compliance in providing reports to management. Work with Compliance Counsel to coordinate with internal Incident Review Managers on investigating and reporting incidents.
- Manage correspondence, invoices, orders and other documents related to sites with ongoing environmental remediation issues. Draft internal notices regarding such sites for operational, legal and accounting managers as necessary. Coordinate with outside consultants on legal responses related to such sites. Locate and maintain relevant site documents and information from the field. Handle all aspects of approximately 10 to 30 sites. Help prepare quarterly reports regarding these sites.
- Conduct preliminary investigation into new lawsuits including direct contact with managers, Field Service Engineers, Human Resources managers, Quality and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) function personnel, and outside parties. Draft internal notices regarding new cases and prepare initial litigation database report. Coordinate with outside counsel in locating documents and information from the field and help draft discovery responses. Assist outside counsel in drafting affidavits in support of motions and briefs. Coordinate witness attendance at meetings, depositions, hearings and trials. Handle discovery aspects of approximately 35-50 cases. Help prepare quarterly litigation reports. Assist in responding to subpoenas. Maintain list of new cases and track their assignments.
- 5 + years in IP Administration required.
- Some university course work is preferred. Paralegal certification is a plus.
- Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as PDF editing software. Experience with working with non-specific IPMS software is preferred.
- Prior experience in filing and prosecution of patent applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. International patent filing and prosecution experience is a plus.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently and manage multiple simultaneous projects and deadlines effectively
- Business communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
