Description
The opportunity
Our specialist Intellectual Property team is a mixed contentious and non-contentious practice.
We advise on the full range of IP rights, including trade marks and passing off, copyright and database right, rights in designs, patents and rights in confidential information. Our expertise extends to wider media-related issues, including false and misleading advertising, comparative advertising, trade libel and malicious falsehood, and the removal of material from third party online forums such as social media or competitor websites.
On the non-contentious side, we advise on and negotiate agreements in which IP is the central asset in issue, such as all licensing arrangements, franchising, agreements for commercial research and development of industrial technology, licences of resulting new technology, and other licences and assignments of registered and unregistered IP rights. In addition, we advise on and negotiate IP provisions within commercial transactions of any kind, including in the context of joint ventures, partnerships and the appointment of employees and third-party consultants. We also conduct IP audits and due diligence and advise on the strengthening and protection of IP portfolios generally. Our approach is on the negotiation and drafting of IP provisions with experience and focus on where issues and disputes are most likely to arise in the future. The firm's Corporate department has a growing presence in the private equity space, in particular within the pharmaceuticals sector, and the team therefore has a growing practice in its corporate support work on a range of acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals and technology sectors, all of which involve IP as the central assets in issue and some of which entail tricky complications around ownership and licensing issues and products under development.
On the contentious side, we represent clients in all intellectual property dispute resolution tribunals, ranging from court proceedings, proceedings in the UK Intellectual Property Office, arbitration proceedings and under individual Internet Service Providers' own dispute resolution mechanisms. Whilst our contentious IP practice is a dedicated specialist practice, our team has substantial background experience in relation to commercial dispute resolution generally, which means that the team provides specialist IP advice having regard also to wider legal and commercial issues which frequently arise in IP infringement claims and the team works with other specialist teams (such as employment and commercial litigation) where appropriate.
The team works with specialists in our other departments, including corporate and commercial, other specialist litigation teams (including commercial litigation and fraud, property and construction) and employment.
What you'll be doing
This role will focus on the non-contentious side of the practice. Working as part of the intellectual property team the new recruit will assist on all types of IP transactions across a variety of sectors such as: life sciences, technology, retail and oil and gas. This will include:
Representing clients in licensing and merger and acquisition transactions;
1. Advising on ad hoc day-to-day IP queries for our diverse spectrum of clients and other specialist teams;
2. Assisting in a broad range of non-contentious matters;
3. Initiating, building and maintaining effective client relationships;
4. Ensuring files are managed in compliance with Lexcel procedures; and
5. Pro-active participation in department and firm-wide marketing initiatives;
What you'll need
The firm has a Career Development Framework which sets out the competencies we expect of those at the Associate grade. In particular for this role, the ideal candidate will have:
6. Qualified solicitor 3-5 years PQE with experience in supporting on large scale IP transactions and non-contentious Intellectual Property matters
7. Strong technical skills and client focus
8. Drive and enthusiasm
9. Commercial awareness
10. Solid academic record
11. A developing ability to manage files independently
Trowers & Hamlins is an equal opportunities employer and values equity, diversity and inclusion. All applications will be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role and will be treated equally irrespective of Ethnicity, Gender (including Trans and non-binary) Race, Disability, Religion and sexual orientation.
As part of our firm recruitment policy our candidates are subject to employment screening background checks. These checks include personal details, education and employment history, professional qualifications and credit and criminal checks as appropriate.