Trade Mark Prosecution Manager (Senior Paralegal)

BrandLaw | South Africa (Remote) | Full-time

IMPORTANT – please only apply if you:

• have worked primarily as a TRADE MARK secretary or paralegal for 8+ years at a specialist, ideally top tier, South African IP firm (exceptional candidates with less experience considered), AND
• have independently managed a trade mark portfolio (docket, deadlines, CIPC filings and client reporting) in the last two years.

Company description

BrandLaw is a remote-first trade mark and IP practice. We combine top-tier legal standards with practical, plain-language advice and our own technology, including a free public trade mark search, AI-assisted reports and automated register tools. We act for South African and international clients, including foreign IP firms, at largely fixed fees.

Role description

This is a full-time (part time optional), fully remote ownership role. You will run our South African prosecution portfolio: every matter from instruction to registration and renewal is yours. Attorneys provide input and sign-off on substantive responses.

Responsibilities

• Owning the docket: deadlines, reminders, follow-ups and outstanding instructions
• Filing applications, renewals, assignments, changes of ownership and other standard prosecution
• Monitoring matters through examination, acceptance, advertisement and registration, and reporting to clients
• Preparing routine office action responses for attorney sign-off
• Preliminary searches, shortlisting results and drafting search reports for attorney review
• Client and foreign-associate correspondence, quotations and invoicing
• Helping refine our CRM, docketing and AI-assisted workflows

Qualifications

• SAIIPL Group 1 exam pass (strongly preferred)
• 8+ years’ trade mark experience at a specialist SA IP firm, with hands-on CIPC filing in the last two years
• Thorough knowledge of CIPC Trade Mark Office procedures, the Trade Marks Act and the Regulations (CIPC contacts a plus)
• Proven experience with trade mark searches and reports
• A track record of managing matters independently, without reminders
• Exceptional attention to detail, organisation and writing
• Highly tech-savvy: cloud tools, AI and improving processes

How to apply
Send your CV to careers@brandlaw.co.za with the subject “Prosecution Manager”, including:

• a short note on your trade mark experience and the portfolio you currently manage
• a 3–5 line answer to: Which classes would you file in for an app that connects consumers with removal companies, and why?
• anonymised examples of search reports, if available

Applications without the classification answer will not be considered.

Compensation: competitive full-time package, depending on experience - with part-time optional.

Selection process: shortlisted candidates complete a short skills questionnaire, a call and practical task.