Richemont Senior Intellectual Property Counsel

About Richemont

Richemont is a Switzerland-based luxury goods conglomerate that houses a portfolio of high-end maisons across watches, jewellery, writing instruments and accessories. As an employer, Richemont emphasizes heritage craftsmanship, international brand stewardship and cross-border legal and commercial collaboration across its maisons.

Role & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global intellectual property strategy across Richemont maisons, prioritizing brand protection for trademarks, designs and select patent assets.
• Manage prosecution and maintenance of trademark, design and patent portfolios through internal counsel and external agents across multiple jurisdictions.
• Lead enforcement and anti-counterfeiting activities, coordinating with outside counsel, customs authorities and local teams to pursue administrative and judicial remedies.
• Direct and oversee IP litigation and dispute resolution, including selection and supervision of outside counsel, budgeting and strategic decision-making.
• Advise commercial, product, marketing and creative teams on clearance (FTO) analyses, branding launches, collaborations, licensing and promotional campaigns.
• Conduct IP-related due diligence for commercial transactions, partnerships and M&A initiatives; draft and negotiate IP provisions in commercial agreements and licenses.
• Establish and implement IP policies, training programs and governance processes for internal stakeholders and regional legal teams.
• Coordinate cross-border enforcement and rights protection with regional legal teams and external advisors to ensure consistent brand protection.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree and active admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience focused on intellectual property law, with a combination of in-house and/or law firm experience representing luxury or consumer brands.
• Proven track record managing trademark and design portfolios, and directing IP litigation and enforcement actions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience drafting and negotiating IP-sensitive commercial agreements, licenses and coexistence arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with commercial, product and enforcement teams and to manage outside counsel effectively.

Skills

Experience

Seven or more years of substantive IP experience, including oversight of trademark/design prosecution, enforcement and litigation. Prefer candidates with prior exposure to luxury or premium consumer goods and demonstrated experience managing cross-border matters and outside counsel.

Education

Juris Doctor (or equivalent) and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; technical degree (engineering/science) or additional IP qualifications are advantageous but not required.

Workplace

Culture

Richemont fosters a culture of stewardship for artisanal craftsmanship and heritage brands, combining rigorous commercial discipline with respect for creative excellence. Legal teams operate in a collaborative, international environment interfacing closely with product, marketing and regional business leaders.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.