Associate - Patents

London, England, United Kingdom

9/15/2024

What We Will Offer

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You Can Expect

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
  
  

Team Structure

This is an exciting opportunity for an associate to join the IP practice of a prestigious international law firm to play a key role in building our patent practice, in particular our patent litigation capabilities, and to support the firm's sector focus including in technology and life sciences.

You would join a team which is ranked in Managing IP’s ‘IP STARS’, IAM Patent 1000, the World Intellectual Property Review's (WIPR) Leaders Directory and Who's Who Legal, and would work with team members who are recognised as leading individuals in the IP field.

You would be part of a team which works across transaction, advisory and litigation matters and has considerable experience advising clients on both domestic and international issues, including on cross-border matters. Within that context, the team advises on the full spectrum of IP rights: patents, copyright, database rights, trade marks, designs, domain names and confidential information (including trade secrets), and has particular strengths in life sciences and in the consumer/retail brand sector, and a growing presence in technology and decarbonisation. We have built a formidable reputation and client base and as an associate within the team you will have the opportunity to have significant client exposure and take on responsibility for your matters.

We are now seeking a candidate who has gained a broad knowledge of and experience in patent disputes, from a firm with a highly regarded patent practice. Since our clients are drawn largely from the life sciences and technology sectors, a keen interest, academic background or prior experience in one of these sectors will be an asset.

Main Responsibilities

• You will be expected to advise primarily on both contentious and non-contentious patent matters arising for the most part in the technology and life sciences sectors, although there will also be an opportunity to also advise on non-patent matters across the wider IP practice.
• The successful candidate will be comfortable being part of a team advising clients who operate in technically complex industries and will be able to apply their patent knowledge to advise clients in an efficient, effective, and commercial way. In the context of patent litigation, this will mean being able to consider the range of possibilities that might enable our clients to achieve their commercial objectives, including litigation, mediation, and arbitration.
• We are looking for a candidate who is keen to play a central role in building further the patent capabilities of our existing team, including by participating actively in the wider patent community in the London market.
  
  

Attributes/Skills Required

• Experience in a leading patent litigation team in private practice would be preferred.
• Experience in taking ownership of a matter, including in relation to technical expertise and client service.
• A keen interest in business development and a willingness to assist in securing new clients, maintaining relationships with existing clients and developing our existing network of contacts within the IP community.
• An aptitude and responsibility for all aspects of financial management on matters with a business savvy and commercial approach.
• The Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice would be an asset.
• Candidates with equivalent and/or alternative experience will be considered.
  
  

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About The Firm

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our Values

Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent

Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard

Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships

Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.

This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. It also reflects the importance of remaining independent - a clear sign that we are confident in our own future. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.