Paralegal, Consumer Products Licensing

Company Description

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:
The Legal & Business Affairs team provides legal support to Mattel’s consumer products licensing, franchise marketing, licensing acquisitions, global brand management, PR, marketing, product integrity, finance, risk management, royalty accounting, sales, and operations teams.  Job responsibilities will primarily include, but are not limited to, drafting and negotiating contracts, using a range of form-based agreements.

Job Description

The Opportunity: 
We’re seeking a talented paralegal with excellent organizational and written/oral communication skills and experience with licensing or other IP-transactional matters to join Mattel’s expanding worldwide licensing practice.  It’s an opportunity to support Mattel’s most important licensing and promotional partners who develop, manufacture, and sell Mattel-branded products all over the world.  This position is located at Mattel’s headquarters in Los Angeles.

This position may evolve to include areas beyond licensing as Mattel’s needs evolve.

What Your Impact Will Be: ​​​​​​​

• Manage outbound and inbound license agreements in support of Mattel’s consumer products business. Daily responsibilities include reviewing deal terms for completeness and accuracy, drafting/negotiating/executing license agreements for a wide range of consumer products, and preparation of related legal documents.
• Support a wide range of legal matters for the licensing practice, including with regard to compliance, audits, collections, bankruptcies, and terminations.
• Provide timely responses, proactively manage expectations of clients, and skillfully juggle constantly changing priorities.  Must function well under pressure.
• Engage in frequent and direct communications with Mattel internal stakeholders (most notably, Mattel’s Consumer Products and Franchise Marketing teams) as well as external licensee stakeholders (including CEOs, CFOs, and attorneys).
• Support an international business and accommodate meetings with clients and stakeholders in international time zones from time-to-time.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For: 

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2-4 years of experience as a paralegal, contract administrator, or licensing manager at a law firm, studio or large company strongly preferred.
• Experience reviewing, analyzing, drafting, negotiating, and managing IP licenses and other IP-transactional matters is preferred.
• A strong aptitude for administrative excellence in a process-driven practice. Excellent organizational skills, including planning, prioritization, and time management. 
• Ability to follow instructions and standard practices – and ability to adapt and improvise when instructions and practices aren’t well defined or don’t exist. 
• Strong Microsoft Word skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and document management systems required.
• Take ownership of issues and proactively manage tasks to their successful conclusion.  Skillfully  juggle changing priorities and sometimes challenging deadlines
• Work effectively both independently and with direction from attorneys and clients. 
• Be intellectually curious and eager to grow and develop.  Be humble; continue to “learn on the job” and be receptive to constructive feedback; and elevate issues that are beyond experience or comfort zone. 
• Write and present in a concise, audience-appropriate, and lucid manner – in emails, memos and contracts.  Pride and competence in attention to detail, especially in relation to contract drafting and interpretation.
• A professional work ethic.
• Maintain a professional demeanor, in writing and in person, with clients, support staff, management, outside counsel, and business partners.  A sense of humor is a plus.    

The base hourly rate for this position is between $28.00-$43.70.
**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base hourly rate will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience.

Additional Information

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

Who We Are:

Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in more than 195 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies.

Mattel is recognized as a Great Place to Work™ and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights