Nicole Bell

Purpose and Scope

• Assists in identifying, analyzing, implementing and coordinating opportunities to optimize the operational and organizational aspects of the legal department. Perform duties including department budget management, maintaining and administering the global patent and trademark portfolio, training and optimization of legal department tools and resources.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in defining and driving strategic and operational initiatives with on-time and on-budget results.
• Assist in identifying and implementing legal department tools to streamline new or existing practices, as well as assisting in the design, rollout, and training for new systems.
• Help enforce processes and policies to manage outside counsel usage and spend.
• Assist with budget matters and optimizing workflows within the legal department.
• Manage and maintain the patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright database with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Manage and maintain deadlines for patent and trademark files with input from intellectual property team and outside law firms, including new applications, examination activities, oppositions, maintenance and renewals.
• Manage patent annuities and trademark renewals with annuity service and foreign counsel.
• Work cross-functionally with relevant departments regarding international product registration, intellectual property research and other matters as requested.
• Work cross-functionally with relevant departments regarding Invention Disclosures.
• Maintain the awards for inventors for invention disclosures and plan and complete the inventor awards banquet every year.
• Ability to be successful with ever changing priorities, flexibility to adapt to changing. priorities, business drivers and organizational needs.

• Communicated with clients to understand property needs and preferences.
• Presented purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
• Advertised client properties through websites, social media, and real estate guides.
• Marketed and sold property for clients by hosting open houses and advertising online and in print.
• Negotiated, facilitated, and managed real estate transactions.
• Managed contracts, negotiations, and all aspects of sales to finalize purchases and exceed customer expectations.

During my career at Sheridan Ross, I maintained a heavy workload while being a full-time paralegal in the litigation department as well as the patent and trademark department. I supported two associate attorneys and two shareholders. I worked for Sheridan Ross for 8 years, and during that time developed a strong knowledge of intellectual property law.

• Prepared legal briefs, motions and pleadings.
• Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email and mail.
• Maintained ongoing communication with opposing parties from discovery to trial phase.
• Directed and coordinated law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
• Developed and managed up to 10 cases.
• Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation and information for discovery request.
• Created and implemented all policies, work flow processes and work assignments.
• Assisted in Trial and Trial Preparation.
• Filed all pleadings with the Federal Courts.
• Preparation of Patents and USPTO Forms.
• Filed Patents with the USPTO.
• Maintained dockets for all patent cases along with renewals and maintenance fees.