Senior Associate – Commercial and Intellectual Property Lawyer

Corporate, Commercial and Finance

We are one of the leading firms in the South and our dedicated Commercial team is one of the largest teams in the region.

The Role

We are looking to build the team by hiring a Senior Associate to join our Commercial team in order to undertake:

• IP work, including overseeing our in-house international trade mark practice; and

• Commercial work, including IP based commercial agreements.

• The role will be based at either of our Southampton, Winchester or Bournemouth offices.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Dealing with trade mark prosecution work – from preparing and drafting applications, through the examination and publication process to registration, including experience of oppositions (as both opponent and applicant) and appeals.

• Dealing with the foibles of the UK and EU IPOs, navigating their websites.

• Supervising our CITMA qualified trademark paralegal in connection with our in-house trademark practice.

• Negotiating and drafting a range of IP agreements, from licensing to assignment, ownership issues and advising start-ups on the importance of recognising and protecting their valuable rights.

• Drafting and reviewing of IT and Commercial agreements, including software licencing (both traditional and as a service), IT support and maintenance agreements, IT integration agreements, distribution agreements, agency agreements, franchise agreements and services agreements.

• Advise on and have detailed knowledge of all aspects of trademarks, designs and copyrights, and a knowledge of patents.

• IP dispute work – advising on likelihood of success and assisting our dispute resolution team in relation to drafting pleadings, liaising with counsel and drafting settlement agreements.

• Business development and winning new work.

• Participate in training and supporting the junior members of the team as their careers develop.

The Candidate

• A minimum of 5 yrs PQE for an Associate level role. There is some scope for flexibility for the right candidate. However, to regularly undertake IP work will be essential.

• International experience (pre-Brexit) would be of benefit, to demonstrate an ability to manage multiple deadlines in multiple jurisdictions.

• Knowledge of all areas of Commercial law.

• Expertise in IP dispute work.

• Excellent Commercial thinking.

• Detailed knowledge and experience of trade mark prosecution work

• Expertise in negotiating and drafting a range of IP agreements

• Knowledge of all areas of Commercial law

• A willingness to undertake BD work, write blogs, give seminars and training are essential.

We offer a competitive salary, a comprehensive range of benefits and a first-class team working environment within a leading regional law practice.