assignee

An assignee is a person or organization to whom another party transfers a right, duty, or property. The transfer, or assignment, is typically effected by a written agreement and can apply in several domains, including contracts, intellectual property, and task or project responsibilities.

In project management and operations, the assignee is the individual responsible for completing a task, deliverable, or work item. The assignee is listed in plans or issue trackers and is expected to progress work, raise blockers, and meet deadlines. The term helps distinguish responsibility from the initiator or approver.

In law and intellectual property, the assignee holds the rights or interests that were transferred from an assignor. Examples include the assignment of patent, copyright, trademark rights, or contractual rights. An assignment typically requires a written agreement and may be subject to conditions, consent, or regulatory restrictions; some rights may be non-assignable by statute or contract.

The assignee concept therefore sits alongside related roles such as assignor (the party transferring rights) and beneficiary or successor (who may receive benefits or future interests). Understanding the role helps clarify who possesses and can exercise the transferred rights or responsibilities.