The CHANEL Brand is one of the most important assets of our House. Protecting our Intellectual Property is fundamental to preserving the brand’s equity, exclusivity, desirability and long-term competitive advantage. In the context of technological innovation, complex new digital platforms, AI and macro-economic changes which continue to transform business models, effective IP protection requires a combination of strategic vision, legal expertise, transformational leadership and critical innovative skills.
Chanel is deeply committed to protecting its intellectual property and combating counterfeits and infringements. The fight against counterfeiting goes beyond the mere protection of our brand image: it is also a matter of protecting consumers from products that may be a health hazard and who, in most cases, are deceived about their quality and authenticity.
The UK Regional Head of Intellectual Property is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s Global intellectual property strategy within their region (including UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa), including the protection, enforcement, and commercialisation of its IP assets. This encompasses balancing strategic planning with practical execution, budget management, advocacy and representation, business support, team management and leadership, and overseeing the implementation of AI and other new technology and innovation. The role also carries primary responsibility for liaison with and escalation to the UK Region General Counsel on UK Region IP and Brand Protection activity.
This role requires a strategic and forward-looking leader managing strong and decisive brand protection, and anti-counterfeiting activities. The successful candidate will bring a business-critical perspective to IP, ensuring that intellectual property protection supports and enables the House’s long-term growth, brand equity, and competitive advantage.
This role will require a leader who can balance the demands of strengthening, maintaining and enforcing a world-class IP portfolio while ensuring effective resource allocation and sound budget management. The successful candidate will leverage technology, data and innovative AI tools to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the IP function, enabling the team to focus on higher-value activities and future challenges.
This role will also require maximising and protecting the House’s brand equity, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, improve ways of working and drive AI innovation across the function. It will also contribute to elevating and developing the capabilities of the regional and global IP community, fostering a collaborative, high-performing and forward-looking team equipped to meet the evolving needs of the business.
The successful candidate will be a strong, transformational and inspiring leader, with high emotional intelligence, excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, comfortable with driving change, engaging and influencing senior business leaders, translating complex IP matters into clear, actionable insights, and providing regular updates and strategic recommendation to UK leadership. This will include expertise in the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and IP, with the ability to assess emerging legal, regulatory and litigation risks and providing strategic advice on the protection, enforcement and exploitation of IP rights in an AI-driven environment.
The Regional Head of IP will be a solicitor, barrister, trade mark attorney or equivalent and have 10+ years of experience and will work closely across divisions and functions and with the Global and other IP regional teams. As a member of the IP Steerco, the role holder will regularly input into Global IP strategies to align with the legal team’s wider collective priorities in establishing decisive brand leadership.
They will work as one team with the other members of the IP Steerco, keeping the Steerco abreast of all progress, adaptations, challenges and successes in the region to ensure the region’s IP portfolio is consistent with and supports the Global and regional business objectives.
- Develop, implement and deliver a comprehensive IP strategy aligned with the company’s business goals.
- Manage and oversee the company’s regional IP portfolio, including trade marks, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress and domain names.
- Identify and protect new intellectual property opportunities, including non-traditional forms of protection.
- Coordinate regional and global IP protection strategies in partnership with global IP leadership.
- Drive policy, process, initiatives and efficiencies that support best practice.
- Manage IP and anti-counterfeiting budgets with full accountability.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant IP laws and regulations.
- Oversee and act as the point of escalation for any contentious IP matters including:
- Cease-and-desist actions
- Trade mark oppositions and cancellations
- Online and offline enforcement
- Investigations
- Take direct responsibility for high-profile and strategic IP disputes and litigation, leading enforcement efforts from initial assessment through to resolution.
- Anticipate disputes, execute risk mitigation, and manage effective strategic litigation where necessary.
- Drive the IP related advocacy efforts in collaboration with the Public Affairs team.
- Build, manage and expand portfolios that provide value and protect innovation.
- Develop innovative solutions to mitigate brand protection risks.
- Coordinate with global anti-counterfeiting, anti-diversion and enforcement teams.
- Create and execute regional enforcement priorities.
- Engage with industry groups, regulators, law enforcement, customs authorities and external organisations on strategic IP issues.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of trade mark attorneys and paralegals.
- Foster a culture of AI adoption, innovation and continuous improvement within the IP team.
- Contribute to and maintain positive working relationships, fostering a cohesive, committed team environment which drives effective partnerships across all divisions and functions.
- Report on IP activity and strategy to the UK General Counsel, UK Region Leadership and Global IP team.
- Educate internal stakeholders on IP matters and the importance of IP protection.
- Advance the company’s IP interests by partnering with our Public Affairs team to influence policy developments, coordinate consultation responses and represent the business in industry groups and external forums.
The Global IP Priorities are currently focused on:
- Anti-counterfeiting enforcement
- Online and offline infringement actions
- Anti-diversion and grey-market controls
- Expansion of non-conventional trade mark, copyright, patent and trade dress protection
- Use of new technologies and enforcement tools
- Cross-border and platform-based enforcement strategies
- Leading a high-performing team, driving continuous improvement and change through process optimisation, innovation and tech as well as the effective development and adoption of AI.
- Thinking out of the box, proposing innovative and creative solutions.
- Taking a proactive and self-motivated approach with a strong sense of integrity.
- Detail-orientation and highly organised.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Using your strong interpersonal skills with the ability to counsel and influence on IP risks and other IP matters across all levels of the organisation.
- Working collaboratively across regions and with cross-functional teams.
- Contributing to the on-going and company-wide version of sustainability. Sustainability is one of CHANEL’s key performance drivers, embedded into our ways of working and we require continued collective action from all employees to deliver on CHANEL’s House Sustainability Ambitions across our four key areas:
- Restoring Nature and Climate
- Investing in Circularity
- Advancing dignity and prosperity
- Promoting the autonomy of women
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in intellectual property law, with significant in-house experience. Additional commercial law experience is strongly preferred.
- An English qualified solicitor, barrister or trade mark attorney or equivalent in the UK with a specialisation in IP law.
- Experienced user of IP portfolio management tech and a strong and experienced advocate of AI adoption.
- Proven track record in developing and executing IP strategies.
- Experience in managing global IP portfolios and leading IP litigation.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
- Excellent leadership towards internal and external stakeholders and team management abilities.
- Strong business acumen and understanding of the commercial aspects of IP.
- Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
- Able to advise on emerging IP issues to ensure innovative and cutting-edge approaches.
- The opportunity to play a pivotal role in protecting and strengthening one of the world’s most distinctive luxury brands, contributing to CHANEL’s long-term brand equity and reputation.
- A highly collaborative, international environment, working closely with regional and global legal, IP, brand protection and business teams.
- Meaningful leadership responsibility, with the opportunity to shape regional IP strategy, develop a high-performing team and influence global priorities.
- A culture that supports personal growth, learning and career development, encouraging you to be at your best and to create impact through your expertise.
- An inclusive working environment that values different perspectives, experiences and strengths, and recognises the uniqueness each person brings to CHANEL.
- The UK Region plays a pivotal role in delivering CHANEL’s House Sustainability Ambitions. Transforming our business and leaving a lasting positive impact on people and the planet will require the collaborative efforts of everyone across our House. As an employee of CHANEL, you will be an important part of this journey.
Benefits at CHANEL
Our employee benefits have been created to support you across your professional and personal life by offering you:
- Physical Wellbeing: private medical insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and ability to add family members, online GP App with 24/7 appointments available within 24 hours and cycle scheme participation for a tax-exempt bike and/or accessories
- Financial Wellbeing: pension, life assurance and retail discounts across multiple retailers including supermarkets, gyms, days out and 100’s more
- Mental Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programmes and other support lines
- Platforms: multiple platforms to support across Wellbeing
- Lifestyle: Arts & Culture ticket discounts across major London attractions, CHANEL product discounts and employee only sales
- Employee Recognition: Service Awards Programme offering CHANEL products, retail vouchers and additional holidays across milestones
- An allowance of 3 wellbeing days per annum in addition to your holiday allowance
- Benefits are eligibility dependent and subject to change at any time
At Chanel, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience and potential you could bring to Chanel.
