PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
1. Our Brands Team is recruiting, and we are seeking a Records Manager for a growing IP Portfolio Management Practice who will be responsible for overseeing the organisation, maintenance, and protection of all intellectual property (IP) records, including trade marks, designs, and copyrights.
2. The role will ensure compliance with regulatory and firm requirements, support fee earners and clients with accurate information, and manage the lifecycle of all IP documentation and data. Experience with DIAMS iQ is beneficial but not required.
THE TEAM
The Brands Group sits within our market-leading full-service Intellectual Property practice and is led by Joel McDonald, alongside Tim Carter (Managing Associate), as part of a rapidly growing specialist team that has expanded significantly with a number of high-profile hires.
The team are based primarily in London and working seamlessly across the firm's global offices, the team advises clients on the full lifecycle of brand creation, protection and commercialisation, from trademark clearance, filing and prosecution through to disputes and strategic portfolio management, including innovative and non-traditional brand protection strategies.
The team acts for some of the world's most recognised brands across sport, retail, consumer and luxury sectors, including organisations such as Liverpool Football Club, Vitality, Samworth Brothers and Travelex, as well as AG's wider retail and consumer client base, which includes Asda, Boohoo, Diageo, JD Sports, Primark, Stella McCartney and Harrods.
Recognised in both Chambers and Legal 500 for the strength of its retail and consumer practice, the team is distinguished by its combination of premium brand expertise, sector specialism and genuinely integrated international support, enabling it to deliver commercially focused, strategic advice on some of the most high-profile and complex brand matters in the market.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROLE
This role would suit an experienced IP records or portfolio management professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where precision, organisation and responsiveness are critical.
You will bring proven experience managing IP records and docketing processes within a legal or specialist IP practice, with a detailed understanding of deadline management, portfolio maintenance and records governance, alongside confidence using IP management systems and supporting process improvements across large datasets.
Success in the role will be demonstrated through the delivery of accurate and reliable portfolio administration, proactive identification and resolution of discrepancies or risks, and the ability to work closely with fee earners, paralegals and clients to ensure records and instructions remain current and commercially aligned.
Experience supporting audits, due diligence exercises or large-scale records projects would be advantageous, as would exposure to international portfolios and multi-jurisdictional filing programmes. Experience with DIAMS as an IP Management System would also be advantageous, but not essential.
The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing the integrity and accessibility of portfolio data, and supporting the continued growth of the Brands Group through the delivery of a dependable and scalable records management function.
As the team continues to expand, the role offers significant scope for development, including opportunities to take ownership of processes, contribute to best practice initiatives and broaden expertise across wider IP portfolio and brand management activities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
3. Develop, implement, and maintain records management policies and procedures specific to IP portfolio management in conjunction with Head of Brands.
4. Ensure accurate and timely recording, updating, and retrieval of IP records, including docketing key dates and deadlines.
5. Oversee the digitisation and secure storage of physical and electronic IP files.
6. Liaise with fee earners, paralegals, and clients to ensure records reflect current status and instructions.
7. Manage access controls and authorisation levels for IP records for clients.
8. Coordinate audits of IP records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
9. Train staff on records management systems and best practices relevant to IP.
10. Support responses to due diligence, audits, and regulatory or client enquiries regarding IP portfolios.
11. Maintain and update records within the firms IP management software.
12. Assist with running of docket to ensure all deadlines are timely met.
OUR FIRM
Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition.
We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets.
Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.
Culture shapes how we treat each other, our clients and our communities. Addleshaw Goddard is driven to consistently deliver the highest quality experiences and outcomes for everyone we support. Our clients and AG people past and present tell us that we're ambitious, supportive, and innovative. And when asked what makes us uniquely AG, they tell us we deliver excellence through true collaboration and by doing the right things in the right ways.
OUR APPROACH: IMAGINE THE BEST YOU CAN BE
Everything we've accomplished can be traced back to our people and the way we work. Our reputation is something we are proud of, and constantly invest in.
Here, you'll do high calibre work, with high-character colleagues who care for one another and our clients.
Are you up for the challenge?