Associate - IP/TMT Dubai

Due to the continued growth of our Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) practice, we now have a newly created vacancy for a qualified lawyer. The ideal candidate will have an extensive commercial background, gained within a large-scale international or regional top tier firm and significant exposure to IP/TMT issues.

Job requirements

This is a non-contentious role within the broader IP/TMT team and the main responsibilities will involve:

• Advising on the protection, registration (excluding prosecution) and licensing of patents, copyright and trademarks, drafting and negotiating a range of commercial contracts including IP licences.
• Carrying out research on TMT legal issues including telecoms and media regulation, cloud computing, software development and licensing, content distribution, e-commerce, mobile payments, data protection and cybersecurity.
• Advising clients on the identification and ability to protect the full spectrum of IP rights, including knowledge of the registration process. The role will not involve any IP prosecution capability.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating stand-alone IP agreements including IP licences and franchise agreements.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating IP provisions within a wide range of other commercial agreements in the hospitality, education and projects and construction sectors.
• Supporting M&A and corporate transactions and other wider projects with specialist IP and TMT due diligence, research and ancillary contracts.
• Drafting advice to clients on IP and TMT legal issues.
• Drafting various commercial agreements covering supply, distribution, consultancy and advertising.
• Supporting the TMT team on larger-scale technology procurement, transformational IT and outsourcing projects.
• Assisting with the preparation and delivery of proposals, pitches, presentations and legal training materials.

Candidate requirements:

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PQE level of NQ or 2 years post qualification experience;
• A strong academic background, training and experience gained with a well-recognised firm or business;
• 2:1 (or higher) degree classification (or equivalent). A Science degree or previous Science background would be an advantage;
• Training and experience gained from a large-scale international or regional top tier firm, with an established presence in the IP/TMT sector;
• A genuine interest in developing their career with the leading IP/TMT practice in the Middle East;
• Good drafting skills with a keen attention to detail, preferably with experience in drafting basic commercial contracts (e.g. NDAs) and the ability to contribute to more complex agreements;
• Experience in carrying out detailed and methodical legal research using available resources;
• Experience in liaising with and co-ordinating advice from foreign correspondent counsel in the Middle East would be an advantage;
• Confidence and initiative with a keenness to assume responsibility, work independently and take a pro-active and commercial approach to solving issues;
• Strong interpersonal skills and an interest in marketing and business development;
• Clear and demonstrable commitment to developing your career in the Middle East;
• Experience in drafting pitches and proposal documents for legal work would be an advantage;
• Experience in the preparation of legal training material and/or delivery of training seminars or lectures would be an advantage; and
• Arabic language skills would be an advantage.

Description of the work group

The MENA Commercial Group, handles the specialist areas of Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Technology/Media/Telecoms as well as general Commercial matters. The Commercial Team is largely based in the Dubai office. We also conduct Commercial work in our Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh offices.

Essentially, we are commercial lawyers with expertise in a full range of general commercial contracts and arrangements. The team advises on all kinds of commercial matters including agency, distribution, franchising, marketing agreements, hotel and restaurant management and sale of goods.

Clyde & Co Overview

A pragmatic and dynamic international law firm with a focus on core sectors of infrastructure, insurance, international trade, natural resources and transportation. Clyde & Co is recognised for its work in and with fast-moving and volatile emerging markets, and for a history of managing complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions and disputes.

From a network of 47 offices and 3,300+ staff over 6 continents, we are on the front line for our clients' interests, all over the world.

Clyde & Co in the Middle East and North Africa

Clyde & Co's first Middle East office was formally established over 25 years ago, following many prior years of client involvement in and with the region. Our regional offices work as an interconnected and cohesive unit in order to provide advice to clients from all over the world, as well as to regional corporate entities and governments, on their operations and interests throughout the Middle East. Our lawyers are supported by comprehensive in-house translation, government liaison, management and information services teams as we strive to provide first class professional service levels and insight to our clients.

We are one of the major international law firms in the GCC with around 190 specialist lawyers and paralegals, and 300 staff in total, operating as one unit across our regional office network:

Dubai

Abu Dhabi

Doha in Qatar

Riyadh in Saudi Arabia

We act as the first point of call for advice across the Middle East region for many of our multinational clients. Through our work across the region over the past quarter century, our market knowledge, experience and networks are second to none. We provide in-depth coverage of the firm's core sectors, as well as strong cross-practice sector teams in place focusing on regionally important sectors such as education, healthcare and hospitality.