Legal Counsel — Intellectual Property & Creative

Overview

Chanel is a privately held Parisian maison renowned for couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, fragrances and beauty. As an employer, the brand emphasizes creativity, artisanal craft and rigorous protection of its aesthetic heritage, operating globally with cross‑functional teams that support design, marketing and commercial activities.

Role & Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day legal advice to Creative, Product and Marketing teams on intellectual property matters including copyright, design rights, trademarks and image rights.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial and creative agreements: licensing, collaboration, commission, influencer, photographer and agency contracts.
• Manage prosecution and maintenance of trademark, design and copyright portfolios in coordination with local and international counsel; oversee filings and oppositions where required.
• Develop and implement brand protection and anti‑counterfeiting strategies; coordinate enforcement actions and litigation with external counsel.
• Conduct rights clearance and due diligence for campaigns, collaborations and product launches; advise on moral rights, attribution and privacy/image releases.
• Provide pragmatic risk assessments for product design, advertising and third‑party collaborations; deliver clear legal guidance to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Train and coach internal teams on IP best practices, contract essentials and brand compliance; prepare playbooks and template agreements where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in law with specialization in intellectual property (e.g., Master 2, LLM or equivalent).
• Admission to the French bar or equivalent professional qualification is preferred but not mandatory for in‑house counsel roles.
• Deep knowledge of French and EU intellectual property law, including copyright, design and trademark practice.
• Proven ability to draft and negotiate commercial and creative contracts with precision and commercial awareness.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain legal risk succinctly to creative teams.
• Discretion, sound judgment and an aptitude for working in a fast‑paced, design‑led environment.

Skills

Experience

Several years of professional experience in intellectual property and commercial contract work, preferably gained in a law firm and/or in‑house within the fashion, luxury goods or creative industries (typical profile: 3–6 years). Experience managing international IP portfolios and coordinating external counsel is highly desirable.

Education

Master's degree in law with a specialization in intellectual property or equivalent legal qualification.

Culture

The workplace culture blends haute couture creativity with rigorous brand stewardship. Teams operate with discretion and cross‑disciplinary collaboration, valuing craftsmanship, excellence and a proactive approach to protecting the maison’s creative assets.