Two people sit in blue chairs working on laptops beneath a concrete staircase while a third person descends the stairs beside windows with horizontal blinds.

Back to jobs

Senior Lead - Legal Counsel, Trademarks and Brand Protection

Location:New York City

A woman in a white tank top gestures while speaking to a man across a table with a laptop in front of her, with a frosted glass panel and plants visible behind them.

Legal

In short

On is looking for a pragmatic, business-minded lawyer to join our Intellectual Property Team as Senior Lead - Legal Counsel, Trademarks and Brand Protection. In this role, you will play a critical role in proactively protecting On’s trademarks, designs, and innovations. You will thrive here if you can independently manage complex matters, anticipate issues before they escalate, and provide clear, practical advice in a fast-moving global business.

Your Mission

Advise global and regional teams on a broad range of intellectual property matters, including trademark, trade dress, copyright, and brand protection matters.
Conduct comprehensive clearance searches and provide risk assessments for new products and marketing campaigns.
Develop and implement strategies around protection and enforcement of trademark, trade dress, copyright, and designs.
Collaborate with external counsel on enforcement and contested proceedings.
Lead brand protection and anti-counterfeiting investigations and actions.
Draft and negotiate IP-related agreements, including co-existence, settlement, licensing, and collaboration agreements.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholder and industry groups, conduct trainings, and raise awareness around IP topics.
Build scalable processes, playbooks, and guidelines and drive practical solutions that reflect both global priorities and regional requirements.
Support strategic IP projects, including litigations, as needed.

Two women in athletic clothing sit on a bench with takeaway coffee cups, smiling and chatting after a workout.

Your story

Law degree and 8+ years of legal experience, including in-house experience. Experience at a global consumer-facing brand is preferred.
Strong commercial judgment, with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
Excellent negotiation, communication and analytical skills.
Ability to provide clear, practical advice in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
Collaborative style and strong relationship-building skills across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Process-minded and curious, with a track record of improving how legal work gets done.
Comfortable operating independently, prioritizing effectively and working across unfamiliar legal or business issues.

Two women in activewear run outdoors, smiling, surrounded by greenery and other runners.

About the Team

Being part of the On Legal Team means working as an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented partner to the business. We move quickly, think commercially, and work closely across regions and functions to help On grow responsibly. You will have autonomy, visibility, and the opportunity to shape intellectual property at On.

Four people work on laptops around a high table in a glass meeting room, while another person walks by outside holding a drink.

Sara

Head of Data Privacy & Strategic Collaborations

We are always rooting for each other. When celebrating our successes, we make sure to spend some extra time with one another outside the offices, whether it be for a run, a workout session or after work drinks.

Group of people sit and talk at curved concrete benches on a rooftop garden with a city skyline in the background.

What we offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

For a role based in our New York City office: Typical cash compensation range for this position inclusive of base + bonus + equity = $255,000-$275,000. Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate including experience, industry knowledge, qualifications, skill set, and location.

At On we understand cash compensation is just one piece of your total rewards package. In addition to cash compensation, On offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with an industry leading PTO package, and competitive 401k program. Additional perks and benefits include: 11 paid US holidays, corporate office closure between Christmas and New Year, and a plethora of product perks!

Build the better you

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.