Sr. Corporate Counsel, IP Enforcement

Get to know The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. 

Learn more online at corporate.pokemon.com and pokemon.com.

Get to know the role

• Job Title: Senior Corporate Counsel, IP Enforcement
• Job Summary: The Legal department of The Pokémon Company International, Inc. (TPCi) is seeking a senior intellectual property (IP) lawyer to drive The Pokémon Company International's IP enforcement work. Working closely with legal colleagues and internal and external stakeholders, both domestic and international, this role leverages multidisciplinary knowledge to strategically guide and execute IP enforcement and anticounterfeiting activities in an evolving global landscape.
• FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
• People Manager: No

What you’ll do 

• Apply legal, industry, and brand knowledge to counsel internal and external partners on IP enforcement matters, including proactive IP protection strategies, with a deep understanding of the Pokémon brand, products, business objectives and operations, and stakeholder needs.
• Develop and deliver on IP enforcement program goals through short and medium- to longer-term prioritization and planning, including annual strategy reviews and updates.
• Execute on IP enforcement and anticounterfeiting initiatives in cooperation with internal teams as well as outside counsel, vendors, and external partners.
• Identify and drive development of collaborative enforcement partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, platforms, and other relevant entities.

• Demonstrate brand and subject matter expertise in delivery of prompt, accurate verification and legal assessment of questioned products and content. Provide formal review and documentation of infringing products for internal and external evidentiary purposes.
• Nominate targets and develop and execute practical case strategies to achieve positive legal action and litigation outcomes with efficient deployment of outside counsel and resources. Liaise with and support internal and external stakeholders while handling each stage of the legal process.
• Develop tools and processes to help scale TPCi's IP enforcement program and drive operational and cost efficiency.
• Develop and refine internal data collection and anti-counterfeiting program performance metrics. Prepare and deliver meaningful program reporting and presentations to stakeholder groups on a regular cadence.
• Provide training and guidance to stakeholders, vendors, and enforcement team colleagues on IP enforcement and counterfeit detection.
• Oversee enforcement vendor performance and handle vendor contract review and negotiation.
• Draft relevant legal templates, letters, agreements, training documents, and policy language.
• Other tasks related to the legal management and support of the IP enforcement program as needed.
• Stay up to date and advise on relevant developments and trends in law and policy as well as anticounterfeiting measures, practices, and consumer behavior.

What you’ll bring

• Attorney with 8-10 years of practice with a focus on IP enforcement and litigation.
• J.D. from an accredited law school or equivalent legal education.
• Bar license in good standing in Washington state or another jurisdiction. If not currently admitted to practice in Washington, must successfully register with the Washington State Bar upon hire.
• Knowledge and experience in advising on U.S. IP law, particularly copyright and trademarks.
• Exceptional commitment to confidentiality and discretion.  
• Strategic analytical skills with the ability to translate detailed analysis into practical advice.
• Proven experience in developing and driving projects and initiatives involving multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal; able to effectively share advice and information with legal and non-legal audiences while collaborating across international business cultures.
• While in-depth knowledge of the Pokémon brand is a plus it is not required at time of hire, however passion and willingness to learn more about the brand is a must.
• Ability to engage in domestic or international business travel as required. 
• Knowledge and experience in related legal practice areas, such as licensing transactions, is a plus. IP knowledge and experience in non-U.S. jurisdictions is a plus.
• Other professional experience or knowledge in relevant areas, such as entertainment, gaming, law enforcement, or consumer products licensing, is a plus.
• Written and spoken business or legal fluency in Japanese, Spanish, or other languages is a plus.

Base Salary Range: For this role, new hires generally start between $141,000.00 - $187,000.00 per year. The full range is $141,000.00 - $254,000.00 per year. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. The final base salary is directly related to the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience uniquely.

#LI-MK1 #LI-Hybrid

How you’ll be successful

• Passion for Pokémon: Develops an understanding of the Pokémon brand, the impact it has on our people, culture, business, fans, and communities, and applying that knowledge and passion to everything you do.
• Challenging the Expected: Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, embracing the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn something new, develop innovative ideas, solve complex problems and identify unique opportunities.  
• Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates integrity and respect by leading with empathy, listening to others, seeking out different perspectives, and taking personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and results.
• Dedicated to Quality: Takes ownership to maintain and promote high standards, looks for new ways to learn and improve, and embraces a growth mindset to seek and apply feedback from others in an effort to continuously improve. 
• Building Relationships: Develops and strengthens relationships, adopting a “team first” mentality and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet shared goals.  
• Delighting Customers: Listens and understands the interests and needs of our customers and stakeholders, making them feel heard and important, and embracing these learnings to continue delivering a unique Pokémon experience.

What to expect

• An innovative culture driven by impact, delivering meaningful outcomes.
• Company events that celebrate the spirit of Pokémon.
• Competitive cash-based compensation programs.
• 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you.
• Generous paid family leave.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Employer-paid long and short-term income protection insurance.
• US Employees: 401k Employer Matching.
• UK/IRE/MX Employees: Pension Employer Contributions.
• Fitness reimbursement.
• Commuter benefit.
• LinkedIn learning.
• Comprehensive relocation package for certain roles.
• Hybrid work environment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. For roles in the United Kingdom, candidates will need the right to work. In some cases, and for some roles, the Company may be able to arrange a visa. For roles in Ireland, this role requires candidates to have the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland. However, we welcome applications from all nationalities and may consider supporting an employment permit application, in appropriate and suitable cases.

The Pokémon Company International is committed to the inclusion of all qualified applicants for consideration in our job application process. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at accommodationrequest_ta@pokemon.com.