Position Summary:

 Join NAR's Legal team as Senior Counsel, Trademark Attorney, you'll manage all aspects of NAR's trademark portfolio, from prosecuting applications and conducting clearance searches to enforcing brand rights and educating stakeholders. You'll provide practical legal counsel across the organization on intellectual property matters, negotiate licensing agreements, and develop risk mitigation strategies that protect NAR's brand assets. This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of trademark law and the dynamic real estate industry, supporting NAR's mission while safeguarding its valuable intellectual property.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

Trademark Protection Program Execution  

• Investigate infringement reports and draft cease-and-desist letters. 

• Prepare and file UDRP complaints and pursue to resolution. 

• Conduct clearance searches and provide risk assessments by analyzing those results to relay level of risk in adopting a proposed trademark to the appropriate business group. 

• File and prosecute trademark applications and registrations with the United States Patent & Trademark Office 

• Manage trademark filings and oppositions. 

• Pursue NAR objections to third party applications adverse to NAR. 

• Identify and implement efforts to promote NAR’s marks. 

• Draft educational materials and deliver training sessions. 

• Draft and take appropriate responses to misuses of the REALTOR® trademark  

• Recommend appropriate action involving NAR’s trademark portfolio, brand protection efforts, and enforcement actions.  

Day-to-Day Legal Counsel  

• Provide legal advice to NAR divisions and affiliates on organizational legal matters including but not limited to IP-related matters. 

• Review marketing materials for IP compliance and other legal issues. 

• Advise NAR and its stakeholders on timely and relevant risk mitigation matters impacting the organization and the real estate industry. 

• Draft guidance to address recurring organizational legal and IP-related issues 

• Bring concerns to the attention of internal clients and suggest actions.  

Contract Review and Negotiation 

• Draft, review, and negotiate licenses, settlement agreements, contracts, NDAs and RFPs to which NAR or its affiliates or subsidiaries are parties. 

• Advise staff and draft guidance to address recurring contract related issues. 

• Recommend revisions to reduce liability exposure. 

Legal Research and Education  

• Research and identify laws and regulations affecting NAR operations. 

• Draft legal memoranda, articles, and risk management materials. 

• Present educational programs to members and association executives. 

• Draft legal memoranda, white papers, and briefs to support decisions or activities of NAR (or affiliate or subsidiary). 

• Suggest course of action to be taken; identify options and legal ramifications. 

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor; 

• Must be currently admitted and maintain a license to practice law in good standing in the District of Columbia, or be eligible for admission as in-house counsel; 

• At least 4- 7+ years of related legal experience as in-house counsel, or practicing at a law firm or government agency; 

• Demonstrated experience with trademark prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio management; proficiency in conducting and analyzing trademark clearance searches  

• Deep understanding of U.S. trademark law and USPTO filing systems and procedures, familiarity with international trademark systems, search databases and tools 

• Demonstrated experience with digital/online brand protection and enforcement strategies, including familiarity with UDRP proceedings and domain name disputes 

• Experience drafting and negotiating intellectual property licenses and settlement agreements 

• Proficiency with trademark docketing systems, Microsoft Office Suite and legal research platforms (Westlaw, LexisNexis) 

• Familiarity with real estate industry and association governance structures a plus 

• Hands-on experience managing litigation and related tasks;  

• Significant experience and ability to draft, negotiate and review a wide variety of commercial agreements;  

• Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, and presentation to groups of varying sizes and seniority; 

• Capable of successfully working on and completing multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision;  

• Ability to influence, gain credibility and develop strong working relationships across the team, with business partners, and leaders and decision-makers across the organization;  

• Highly organized, and excellent follow-up and follow-through skills; 

• Results-oriented with high attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced team environment; 

• Ability to think in innovative ways, solve problems and develop strategies that cut across multiple issue areas; 

• A team player with a positive, collaborative approach, while able to work independently and take ownership of projects;  

• Strong customer relations and interpersonal skills with a high level of response to all inquiries; 

• A curious mindset, ability to learn new skills and “can-do” attitude;  

• Experience in antitrust, data privacy or employment law a plus; and 

• Ability to travel up to 10-20%. 

NAR provides comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance.

Organizational Overview:

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is a team of professionals dedicated to providing world-class service to approximately 1.5 million REALTORS® working in the United States and around the world. The real estate industry is fast-paced and fast-changing--each year, our members participate in the sale, lease, and management of real estate. As in every industry, our members’ value proposition is constantly being challenged by innovation.

It is our mission to empower REALTORS® as they preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all. We cannot do that without the ideas, passion, and commitment from our talented employees. As our greatest assets, employees are offered their pick of competitive benefits/perks and flexible work options.