Legal Counsel – IP & Brand Protection (Anti-Counterfeiting)

PAX is seeking a UK-based Legal Counsel to support its UK business with intellectual property enforcement, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting matters, commercial contracts and day-to-day legal compliance.

This role will act as PAX’s primary legal point of contact in the UK, working closely with internal stakeholders, external UK law firms, specialist advisers and, where appropriate, relevant enforcement bodies. The successful candidate will provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice to support PAX’s lawful and effective operation in the UK market.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as PAX’s primary UK legal point of contact for intellectual property enforcement, brand protection and anti-counterfeiting matters.
• Instruct, coordinate and manage external UK law firms and other specialist advisers, including monitoring case progress, timelines, budgets, deliverables and follow-up actions.
• Support anti-counterfeiting investigations and enforcement actions led by external counsel and relevant authorities, including evidence gathering, product authentication, preparation of case materials, internal approvals and post-enforcement follow-up.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts and legal documents with UK customers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and other business partners.
• Advise internal teams on legal and compliance issues arising from commercial operations, IP enforcement, brand protection, contractual arrangements and business partnerships.
• Identify potential legal and compliance risks and provide clear, pragmatic recommendations to management and business teams.
• Maintain accurate records of legal matters, contracts, enforcement actions, external counsel correspondence and key legal documentation.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external counsel, business partners, internal stakeholders and relevant third parties involved in IP enforcement and brand protection matters.
• This role may involve UK-wide travel for anti-counterfeiting enforcement matters, meetings with external counsel, and business partner engagement.

Requirements

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales, holding or eligible to hold a current practising certificate.
• Demonstrable experience in commercial law, intellectual property, trade marks, brand protection and/or anti-counterfeiting matters.
• Strong experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts and legal documents.
• Experience managing external counsel and coordinating legal matters across internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the UK legal system, business practices and relevant regulatory environment, gained through UK-based legal experience.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to draft professional legal and commercial documents to a high standard.
• Strong analytical thinking, communication, negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple matters and provide practical, commercially aware legal advice.
• Full right to work in the UK.
• Experience handling trade mark infringement, counterfeit goods, test purchases, evidence packs, seizure/destruction processes, online marketplace takedowns or related IP enforcement workflows.
• Experience working with or alongside Trading Standards, Border Force, the police, private investigators, external law firms or specialist anti-counterfeiting organisations.
• Experience in consumer goods, electronics, retail, FMCG, vaping/e‑cigarettes, tobacco alternatives or other regulated product sectors.
• Experience working in an in‑house legal role within an international business.

Other Attributes

• Practical, commercially minded and able to balance legal risk with business needs.
• Confident communicator who can explain legal issues clearly to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented and able to manage sensitive legal matters with discretion.
• Proactive, responsible and comfortable working in a fast‑moving international business environment.