IP Associate

Company Description

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Job Description

The Role

Job Overview

Our IP group in London has nearly doubled in size in the last 2 years and is one of the firm's priorities for further growth, both in the UK and internationally. 

As part of those growth objectives we are seeking an experienced and confident mid-level IP associate, ideally with experience both in litigation and non-contentious advisory IP work, to join our London office. 

Our IP group undertakes a diverse range of IP work for an equally diverse client base; from trade mark prosecution to enforcement, freedom to operate analysis to patent strategies, tech based disputes through to complex settlements or multi-jurisdictional licensing transactions, our group deals with the full variety of IP rights on a global basis and across multiple sectors. This role is therefore ideal for any candidate who seeks variety, challenge and interesting work that hits the headlines.

Who you will work with

Our IP group is growing, both in the UK and internationally. It sits at the heart of and is integral to the firm's priority focus to support its clients across all sectors but with a focus in the healthcare, digital, technology, consumer groups and financial market sectors.

We provide our global clients with a broad range of specialist and dedicated IP services comprising litigation, transactional, strategy and prosecution services. The London IP Group is part of our global IP practice which comprises over 100 lawyers internationally, and is mandated to grow substantially over the next few years.

We work in a dedicated IP group on global assignments often involving the firm's IP lawyers from across our international offices.  In additional to standalone IP advisory, transactional and litigation matters, our IP lawyers also support other groups around the firm on IP aspects of their mandates, including our Tech/Digital group, corporate/M&A, our anti-trust teams and commercial litigators

What you will be responsible for

You will be responsible for a wide variety of work in IP-rich sectors and clients including technology, life sciences and fast-moving consumer goods.

Standalone IP advice on licensing, transaction structuring, infringement, clearance and prosecution strategy, and validity issues.

Current examples of work includes:

• Cases before the UK IPO and CJEU
• IP Strategy and counselling;
• High Court proceedings in the fields of trade marks and life sciences.
• Complex cross-border IP licensing across multiple sectors including life sciences, FMCG, and technology;
• Parallel imports and IP settlements;

Patent and trade mark freedom to operate opinions

Qualifications

Your Experience

We are looking for an outstanding Mid-Level IP lawyer, with both contentious and transactional experience, as well as advisory work across a range of industry sectors, including life sciences, Tech and FMCG. In all cases, candidates should have first class legal ability having practised in the IP field, coupled with a practical commercial approach, excellent drafting and communication skills and enjoy being part of a friendly outgoing and collaborative team which is strong in originating its own mandates. 

In order to provide outstanding client service, we need to understand, anticipate and fulfil the unique needs and expectations of each client. We call this "Client Focus" and to help deliver this core part of our business strategy, we want to recruit lawyers who are not only technically excellent but who are also client focused.

We are looking for lawyers who can demonstrate a keen interest and enthusiasm to learn about our clients' business, work in teams, motivating and coaching their juniors and contributing to overall success. Lawyers who are empathetic, self-motivated, collaborative, responsive and reliable, who are also commercial and innovative in the solutions they deliver to clients and are good at fostering relationships with clients. In short, we are looking for lawyers who are, or have the potential to be, excellent client managers.

Whilst not a requirement, we are especially interested in applicants who are taking or have taken practical post qualification IP courses such as the courses offered by Oxford University and UCL IBIL.

We are looking for lawyers who:

• can demonstrate a keen interest and enthusiasm to learn about our clients' business;
• can work in teams, sharing knowledge and motivating and coaching their juniors and contributing to overall success;
• are empathetic, responsive and reliable;
• are commercial and innovative in the solutions they deliver to clients; and
• are good at fostering relationships with clients;

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Our partners are approachable, have a genuine interest in you, and in your career. We operate on a non-hierarchical, collegiate and mutual respect basis.

Our goal is to nurture the talent of our firm, encourage our team to grow and broaden their expertise and experience (rather than narrow and pigeonhole their career), and transform themselves into the trusted professional advisor sought by our Clients.

Additional Information

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. Find out more here.