Overview
Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization seeks an experienced Senior Trademark Paralegal. In this role, you will help drive Microsoft’s worldwide trademark practice by partnering with attorneys, business stakeholders, and outside counsel to deliver clearance, prosecution, enforcement support, and portfolio operations on a global scale. A successful candidate thrives in a dynamic environment with competing deadlines, demonstrates good judgment in managing risk / deadlines / stakeholder needs, and brings operational excellence, including familiarity with, and a desire to evolve the practice through AI and digital transformation.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to team vision, strategy, and stakeholder relationships: help implement core strategies and initiatives aligned to business priorities; build trusted partnerships across CELA and with business clients; support AI & digital transformation and practice innovation.
- Trademark clearance and counseling: conduct global trademark availability searches using fee-based databases and common law resources; independently manage international clearance projects, including instructing and coordinating outside counsel and synthesizing results into actionable recommendations.
- Trademark prosecution and portfolio operations: manage worldwide prosecution for assigned product groups, including filings, office action support, registrations, renewals, and docketing; draft goods/services descriptions and support global filing strategies.
- Acquisitions and chain of title: support intake of newly acquired trademark portfolios, including coordination of assignments and timely recordal of chain-of-title documents globally.
- Dispute resolution and brand enforcement: manage offensive and defensive disputes (including watch notices), gather evidence and background research, track deadlines, and support resolution strategies, including preparation and management of coexistence agreements.
- Outside counsel coordination: partner with attorneys and team leadership to manage the global outside counsel network (including vendor onboarding/offboarding, invoice processing, and budget tracking as needed), ensuring quality, responsiveness, and on-time, on-budget delivery.
- Operational excellence: continuously improve processes, templates, and playbooks; help drive consistent intake, reporting, and metrics; identify automation opportunities and champion adoption of approved tools (including AI-enabled workflows).
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree AND 4+ years experience in Paralegal, Legal Administration, or relevant experience OR Paralegal Certification that meets the requirements for the location of work AND 5+ years experience in Paralegal work including international trademark clearance, prosecution, and enforcement experience, including knowledge of trademark docketing practices OR equivalent experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- In-house trademark experience.
- Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk against business priorities, with proactive client-service orientation.
- Growth mindset and global mindset; ability to work effectively across cultures, geographies, and functions.
- Effective organizational and analytical skills; ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment.
Paralegal IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $77,800 - $154,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $101,000 - $168,800 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about **requesting accommodations.**