Swatch Group Senior Legal Counsel, Brand Protection (Online IP Enforcement)

Overview

Swatch Group is the preeminent Swiss watchmaking group headquartered in Biel/Bienne, encompassing a portfolio of internationally recognised maisons across all price segments. The group integrates design, manufacture and global distribution across multiple brands and production sites, and places emphasis on innovation, precision craftsmanship and sustainable practices. As an employer, Swatch Group offers a technically sophisticated, export‑oriented environment with extensive international operations and cross‑brand collaboration.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the company’s global online brand protection and IP enforcement program, focusing on marketplaces, social platforms, websites and apps.
• Manage takedown operations and repeat‑infringer procedures with major online marketplaces and social networks; design scalable enforcement workflows and playbooks.
• Coordinate cross‑border investigations and evidence preservation, liaising with internal teams (brand, retail, e‑commerce, security) and external investigators or counsel.
• Draft, review and issue cease‑and‑desist letters, settlement agreements and takedown notices; prepare legal memoranda and risk assessments relating to online infringement.
• Supervise litigation strategy and instruct external counsel in trademark, unfair competition and anti‑counterfeiting actions when necessary.
• Develop metrics, reporting and dashboards to measure enforcement effectiveness and propose process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Advise on domain name disputes, social media impersonation, counterfeit logistics and parallel import issues; support product seizure and customs interventions where applicable.
• Provide training and guidance to regional legal teams, brand managers and commercial stakeholders on IP best practices and infringement prevention.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with a law degree (LL.M. or equivalent) and admission to the bar in Switzerland or another recognised jurisdiction.
• Proven expertise in intellectual property law, trademarks and online enforcement with demonstrable hands‑on experience in marketplace takedowns and anti‑counterfeiting operations.
• Minimum 6+ years of post‑qualification experience in IP enforcement, in‑house legal counsel or a leading law firm; experience in luxury goods, consumer goods or e‑commerce is strongly preferred.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills; proven capacity to manage external counsel and complex cross‑border disputes.
• Ability to translate legal analysis into pragmatic commercial solutions and enforcement playbooks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and project leadership skills; comfort working with operational teams across multiple jurisdictions.
• Fluency in English required; working knowledge of French and/or German is advantageous given the Biel/Bienne location.

Skills

Experience

At least six years of post‑qualification experience with substantive IP enforcement responsibilities, including hands‑on online marketplace takedowns and cross‑border anti‑counterfeiting work; prior in‑house experience within luxury or consumer brands is preferred.

Education

Degree in law (LL.B., J.D., LL.M. or equivalent) and membership in a recognised bar association; postgraduate IP specialization is an advantage.

Workplace

Culture

Swatch Group combines Swiss technical excellence with an entrepreneurial, innovation‑driven culture across its brands. The organisation values precision, cross‑disciplinary collaboration and pragmatic problem‑solving, offering exposure to global enforcement challenges within a heritage‑minded but forward‑looking workplace.

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.