Job Summary
This role will provide both paralegal and administrative support. The position primarily provides professional and administrative support to the Managing Senior Counsel Intellectual Property for preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent and trademark cases originating in the US, including correspondence with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) and foreign patent Agents for non-US patent filings. The position will also provide administrative support to other Legal & Compliance attorneys and staff members as directed by the CLO & VP Americas.
Why Messer?
Messer is the world's largest privately held industrial gases company and what we do matters because it is woven into every part of life, from the medical gases that patients rely on to the essential elements needed to safely and sustainably produce the goods our communities depend on.
The true strength of Messer is our people-at every level and in every role.
Join us and take pride in the impact you will make by providing solutions essential to our world and lives. Reach your highest potential at our stable, inclusive company with diverse opportunities in a growing industry, supported by people who care.
Messer stands apart because we put what matters first, and you matter.
Principal Responsibilities
Paralegal/Professional Responsibilities:

• Preparing, assembling, transmitting to inventors the necessary formal papers, declarations and assignment documents for patent cases.
• Filing of patent, PCT and trademark applications via EFS-web portal as well as prosecution, Maintenance Fees, and Appeal related papers.
• Using the USPTO website and official patent/trademark Forms for patent, PCT and trademark cases.
• Using (and establishing where needed) the USPTO EFS-web filing system and Deposit Account for patent, PCT and trademark filings and charges.
• Managing, reconciling and monitoring USPTO Deposit Account
• Overseeing USPTO and foreign patent office/Agent deadlines for docketing and action.
• Correspondence with foreign patent Agents for new and existing patent and PCT applications
• Liaise with company technology clients

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Process external vendor and Agent invoices; prepare monthly external legal spend reports to Head of Legal-RAS.
• Manage attorney bar license renewals and CLE registrations for New Jersey Bar (including In-House Counsel Iicenses) and other state Iicensing and bar associations.
• Organize and maintain records on Legal shared drives and SharePoint files.
• Maintain online team calendar, and proper records filing (paper and digital).
• Coordinate scheduling and meetings for Managing Senior Counsel Intellectual Property, and other attorneys as needed.
• Make travel arrangements (domestic and international) for attorneys per company travel and entertainment policies.
• Process expense reports.
• Create presentations with minimal direction, as requested by attorneys.
• Interface with IS department and others as needed to ensure attorneys and other Legal Services employees have necessary technology hardware and computer access to perform their jobs.
• Maintain department organization charts and familiarity with HR, IS and Procurement policies.
• Manage purchasing card accounts for necessary departmental purchases.
• Assist with onboarding new departmental hires, including IS access and company orientation.
• Provide occasional backup support to reception desk as requested.
• General administrative duties, including but not limited to commercial- IP mail processing, ensuring proper inventory levels for departmental supplies, updating treatises- legal publications with advance sheets where applicable, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate degree (or equivalent)
• Minimum 3 Years - Experience with Principal Responsibilities set forth above.
• Minimum 3 Years - Corporate law department (or comparable setting).
• Minimum 1 Year - Familiarity with patent and trademark database and docketing systems, and familiarity with standard office equipment.

Required Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Software Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access).
• Excellent communication and organization skills, including attention to detaiI and ability to work independently on complex tasks.
• Confident and comfortable working with attorneys, other legal staff, and business clients.
• Coupa proficiency preferred.

About Messer:
Messer's safety culture, commitment to providing dependable supply and innovative gas technology solutions help customers unlock opportunities to be safer, more sustainable, more productive and more efficient, so their business thrives. We nurture lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, our communities, and with one another.
We offer comprehensive benefits and appreciable pay, with steady schedules and opportunities for ongoing training and career progression. We prioritize and invest in our people at every level of our organization - the dedication, knowledge, customer focus and entrepreneurial spirit of our employees is what make Messer refreshingly different.
If you need assistance with the application or would like to request accommodation, call (877) 243-1030.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)