PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION: Responsible to enhance the patent portfolio of adidas and for counseling the adidas business on patent and related matters. KEY RESPONSABILITIES: • Supporting the management of the Company’s patent portfolios, including the management of the external law firms responsible for the filing and prosecution. • Developing close positive relationships through daily contact with Company technical groups with respect to patent matters. • Patent clearance. • Development of prior art resources. • Patent watching, in particular competitor patents. • Supporting marketing and design departments with respect to patent matters. • Counseling with respect to patent matters. • Assisting management of outside counsel. • Assisting management of patent-related litigation including oversight of outside counsel. KEY RELATIONSHIPS: • Internally – Research and Development groups, Marketing and Design groups, Intellectual Property department. • Externally – outside counsel (US and international) KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Preference for mechanical engineering background and experience in patent matters. • Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact with clients at all levels from most senior to most junior, but especially with Company technical groups. • Strong written and verbal communications skills required. • Ability to work independently in area of expertise. • Strong team player. • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally. REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: • Partially/Fully qualified European Patent Attorney • 5 years law firm or in-house experience practicing in patents, including patent prosecution. • Preferably experience with multinational companies.