The Group

Our highly regarded tier 1 IP disputes group operates across the broadest possible spectrum. Set up over 20 years ago, lawyers in the group have acted in some of the most significant and influential IP disputes of recent years. We are one of a select group of firms to have taken both patent (supplementary protection certificates) and trade mark cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union, with successful outcomes for our clients on each occasion. Our experience is wide and varied, ranging from cross-border patent revocation and infringement actions through to trade marks, designs and copyright litigation involving household brands, famous designs and celebrated artistic works, films and broadcasts.

Our IP disputes group is especially well known for its range of expertise in the field of enforcement. Our lawyers have secured and enforced countless search and seizure orders; we advise on and secure blocking injunctions for our rights holder clients (our team secured the first ever blocking injunction based upon rights in technical protection measures in Nintendo v. BT and others); our anti-counterfeiting and grey market credentials run deep - we routinely secure customs seizures and civil injunctions to cut off infringing imports at source; and, as one of the very few IP teams with in-house criminal prosecutors, we have successfully undertaken private prosecutions where our clients have been the victims of IP crime.

We have been in the vanguard when it comes to affirmative recovery and litigation funding. We have market-leading experience in identifying and investigating infringing supply chains, shutting them down and securing significant damages payment through settlement or court orders. Our affirmative recovery solution, Mishcon Tulip®, has helped us to recover millions of pounds for our clients over recent years. We have considerable experience of procuring and securing litigation funding for both claimants and defendants through our established relationships with the funding community, allowing our clients to pursue or defend claims off balance sheet.

Duties and Responsibilities

The role will involve advising on a varied range of disputes and related advisory work concerning both patents (including in relation to SPCs, FRAND disputes and freedom to operate) and soft IP (trade marks, designs, copyright and confidential information).

The team's work also involves advising on some more commercial disputes, to which there will be an IP angle, although the actual claim may be in contract, fraud or tort, such as licensing disputes. There will also be a range of general IP advisory work (such as advertising clearance/ASA disputes and related matters) and opposition, revocation and invalidity disputes before the UKIPO and other registries.

You will have every opportunity to engage in all aspects of the life and business of the IP Disputes team, the wider Innovation Department, Mishcon Future and the Firm, ranging from business development, client care, training and learning, social impact, health and well-being projects. Our associates are never "too junior" to take on leadership roles. For example, the co-chair of our Blockchain team is a Managing Associate, and our Sports Law Academy is led by an Associate in the Innovation Department.

Skills/Experience

• The ideal candidate will have c.3-6 years PQE gained within contentious IP, within private practice.
• Experience of patent litigation would be beneficial but is not essential.
• A passion for IP, with a solid grounding in its basics, and a commitment to building a career in IP.
• A science background would be helpful but is not a prerequisite.
• Undertaken the Oxford IP Diploma or an interest in doing so.
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills.
• Able to manage a diverse portfolio of client work allocated by the Group partners.
• Able to work independently and manage a varied workload, ensuring excellent communication lines with Matter Partners.
• Excellent team working skills.
• At all times, to exercise high standards of client care and service in a professional and pleasant manner.
• Strong organisational and prioritising skills, in order to meet the demands of challenging and commercial internal and external clients and competing priorities.
• Personable and confident, able to ensure good working relationships with colleagues, clients and external organisations.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrates a hunger to undertake business development activities, both internally amongst colleagues across the firm, and externally to existing and potential new clients.
• Takes responsibility for and attends to self-development.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

TheMishcon de ReyaGroup is an independent international professional service business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with close to 670 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services. We have grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.

Based in London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Singapore, with an association with Karas So LLPin Hong Kong, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work we undertake is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas: Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Innovation; Private; and Real Estate.

As of 1 January 2023, Mishcon de Reya and Taylor Vinters merged. The merger delivers on both firms' strategies to support the innovation economy and accelerate our growing share of the technology, media and life-sciences legal and consultancy services market in the UK and in key international innovation hubs globally.

In times of such far-reaching and profound change we want to be the law firm that enables our clients - and our own people - to shape the world's possibilities. We are here to help our clients benefit from new economies, new geographic centres of wealth, the new global movement of people and capital, and the impact of new technologies and new knowledge.

Our purpose remains rooted in our founding values. We take pride in the diverse range of people who make up the firm and are proactive in driving change and continuous improvement across the spectrum of equality, diversity and inclusion. Mishcon Academy , our in-house place of learning, development and new thinking for our people, clients and contacts and our innovative impact strategy, including a commitment to be a net zero carbon business , also play a central strategic role in the direction of the firm. In 2020 we launched Mishcon Purpose , a first-of-its-kind sustainability practice providing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) advice and purpose-driven insight to clients.

The Mishcon de Reya Group comprises standalone businesses MDR Brand Management , MDR Cyber , MDR Discover , MDR One , MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai) and MDRx . Complementary to Mishcon de Reya's core areas of work, each is led by best in class professionals recruited from a variety of non-legal industries and sectors.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

No agencies, please.