Senior Counsel: Intellectual Property & Advertising Litigation

Senior Counsel: Intellectual Property & Advertising Litigation New York, NY WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. We have been building the world's most valuable brands for 50 years and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise. Our people are the key to our success. We\'re committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow. For more information, visit WPP.com. We are seeking a Senior Counsel (IP & Advertising Litigation) to lead complex intellectual property disputes and provide senior‑level advertising and marketing legal support, including advertising clearance and risk review. This role combines deep litigation expertise with hands‑on advisory work at the intersection of IP, advertising, and media. The successful candidate will manage high‑stakes disputes while partnering closely with marketing, brand, media, and commercial teams to mitigate litigation risk and support compliant, effective advertising. He or she will serve as a strategic legal partner to business leadership, advising on risk, growth initiatives, and commercial strategy while leading complex, high‑value transactions and negotiations with minimal supervision. What you\'ll be doing: IP & Advertising Litigation Lead and manage complex IP and advertising‑related litigation in U.S. federal and state courts, including: Trademark, copyright, talent, and music disputes. False advertising and unfair competition claims (e.g., Lanham Act). Develop litigation strategy from pre‑litigation assessment through trial and appeal. Oversee outside counsel, including matter strategy, budgets, staffing, and performance. Advertising & Marketing Advisory / Clearance Provide advertising clearance advice across all media channels, including digital, social, print, broadcast, sponsorships, influencer marketing, and emerging platforms. Advise on IP, right of publicity, copyright, trademark, comparative advertising, substantiation, and related advertising risks. Support marketing and creative teams with fast‑paced, pragmatic guidance aligned to business objectives. Assist in pre‑launch reviews, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to disputes Cross‑Functional & Commercial Support Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including MSAs, vendor agreements, data processing agreements, and media/technology contracts. Partner with brand, marketing, media, product, PR, and commercial teams on contentious and non‑contentious matters. Support pre‑litigation negotiations, demand‑letter responses, settlements, and alternative dispute resolution. Work with internal IP teams, technical experts, and external specialists as required. Strategic Oversight & Governance Help shape IP enforcement, defense, and advertising risk strategy in the U.S. Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting IP, advertising, and media. Provide clear reporting to senior leadership on disputes, exposure, and trends. What you\'ll need: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Admitted to practice in New York, in good standing. 7+ years of experience in IP litigation, gained at a leading law firm and/or in‑house. Substantial experience managing complex IP disputes in U.S. courts. Demonstrated experience advising on advertising clearance and marketing risk. Experience working with media, marketing, technology and/ or advertising teams. Proven ability to manage outside counsel and litigation budgets. Excellent written, oral, and stakeholder‑management skills. Preferred Experience: Combination of top‑tier law firm and in‑house experience strongly preferred. Background in media, advertising, technology, entertainment, digital platforms, AI, data, and/ or emerging tech. Experience with influencer marketing, social media, or branded content disputes. Familiarity with NAD challenges or regulatory‑adjacent advertising issues (e.g. FTC, state privacy laws like CCPA/CPRA). Experience with production agreements, SAG‑AFTRA and other guild requirements in advertising and branded content context a plus. Who you are: You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open‑minded to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working. You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures for our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected. You're extraordinary: We are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day. What we'll give you: Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry. Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge? EEO / Voluntary Equal Opportunity Questions WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. #J-18808-Ljbffr Wpp