Job Description

What we will offer

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

Team Structure

This is an exciting opportunity for one or more patent litigation associate(s) to join the IP practice of a prestigious international law firm. You will play an integral part in the continued growth of the firm’s patent litigation capabilities, with an opportunity to work across the firm’s key areas of focus, including in the life sciences and technology sectors.

You would join a team which is ranked in the Legal 500, Chambers UK and IAM Patent 1000 legal guides and which includes individuals ranked as ‘outstanding’ in the WIPR 2025 Patent Rankings and are recognised as leading individuals in the IP and patent litigation field.

You would be part of a wider IP team which works across transaction, advisory and litigation matters and has considerable experience advising clients on both domestic and international issues, including on cross-border litigation. The team advises on the full spectrum of IP rights: patents, copyright, database rights, trade marks, designs, domain names and confidential information (including trade secrets). We have particular strengths in life sciences, technology and consumer/retail brand sector, but work across all sectors in which the firm is active. We have built a formidable reputation and client base and the continued growth of our patent litigation offering to that client base and beyond is a strategic objective for the firm.

We are now seeking one or more candidates with significant experience in patent litigation, from a recognised patent litigation practice. This is likely to include experience of complex multi-jurisdictional disputes involving proceedings in multiple forums, including the Patents Court, European Patent Office and before the Unified Patents Court. Ideally the candidate would have experience advising on patent matters across the life sciences and technology sectors.

For the right candidate, there would also be the opportunity to work on patent/know-how licence transactions, particularly complex examples of those transactions in the life sciences sector.

You can expect to work with leading life sciences and technology clients, and can see examples of our work in those sectors on the firm’s website.

Main Responsibilities

• You will have a passion for patent litigation and will be comfortable being part of a team advising clients who operate in technically complex industries.
• You will be able to apply your patent knowledge to advise clients in an efficient, effective, and commercial way. In the context of patent litigation, this will mean being able to consider the range of possibilities that might enable our clients to achieve their commercial objectives, including litigation, mediation, and arbitration, as well as considering wider global enforcement strategies and liaising with local counsel to achieve these.
• You will be expected to advise on patent disputes (arising for the most part in the technology and life sciences sectors), although there will also be an opportunity to advise on non-contentious matters (including in relation to complex patent transactions in the life sciences and technology sectors) for the right candidate.
• You will be expected to work collaboratively with the wider patent community, including with Patent Attorneys, Counsel and international firms with whom we regularly collaborate.
• You will be keen to play a central role in continuing to build upon the patent litigation capabilities and experience of our existing very capable team, including by participating actively in the wider IP and patent community in the London and international markets.

Attributes/Skills Required

• The successful candidate will be a patent litigation specialist, have a solid foundational knowledge across the spectrum of IP rights, and substantive experience of procedural matters before the UK Patents Court with an understanding of how that fits into a wider global enforcement strategy.
• Experience in complex licensing transactions in the life sciences/technology sectors would be useful but is not necessary.
• You will have experience in taking ownership of matters, including in relation to technical aspects of a matter and on aspects of client service. This will include strong organisational and prioritisation skills, and an ability to put the client first in the delivery of your advice.
• You will have a keen interest in business development and a willingness to assist in securing new clients, maintaining relationships with existing clients and developing our existing network of contacts within the IP and patent community.
• The successful candidate will have an aptitude for all aspects of financial management on matters with a business savvy and commercial approach.
• The successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice, or an interest in undertaking the same would be an asset.

About the Firm

Stephenson Harwood is an international law firm, and we're committed to creating 'positive partnerships' with our clients. We represent listed and private companies, institutions and individuals, building lasting relationships to help them succeed in a complex and ever-changing world. Our focus is on five core sectors: Energy Transition, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Capital and Funds, Technology, and Transportation and Trade. With more than 1,500 people, including 220+ partners, across ten offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we combine deep legal capabilities and broad commercial expertise. We have also forged close ties with high quality law firms around the world, blending local knowledge with global savvy for clients in over 100 countries. We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

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