Commercial IP Associate

Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexibility

Job summary

Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment is seeking a Commercial/IP Associate for a growth-minded IP platform. The role emphasizes non-contentious commercial and transactional IP matters, including licensing, technology agreements, and data protection.

You will work with an experienced Partner and have opportunities to engage in business development. The ideal candidate has 1-4 years' PQE with strong drafting and negotiation skills, exposure to IP licensing or transactional IP, and a genuine interest in

Qualifications

• Strong drafting and negotiation experience in non-contentious commercial/IP matters.
• 1-4 years' PQE with relevant IP/technology exposure.
• Experience in commercial, IP, technology or related practice.
• Ability to manage matters with a reasonable degree of autonomy.
• Strong communication and client-facing skills.
• Open to candidates from broader Commercial or Technology backgrounds with IP experience.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate IP licensing and assignment agreements.
• Draft commercial contracts and technology/SaaS agreements.
• Draft collaboration and R&D agreements.
• Handle data protection-related agreements.
• Draft terms and conditions and supply/distribution agreements.
• Collaborate with IP practice and contribute to business development.

Skills

Commercial contracts

IP licensing

Negotiation

Client-facing

Autonomy

Job description

An established specialist intellectual property firm is looking to appoint a Commercial/IP Associate as part of the continued growth of its legal offering.

This is an opportunity for a commercial lawyer with experience across intellectual property, technology or IP-rich commercial contracts to join a platform where IP sits at the heart of the business.

The opportunity

You will work closely with a highly regarded Partner with more than 25 years' experience advising clients on complex commercial and intellectual property transactions.

The practice advises a diverse client base ranging from start-ups and SMEs through to major corporates, plcs and universities.

The role will focus predominantly on non-contentious commercial and transactional IP matters, including:

• IP licensing and assignment agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Technology and SaaS agreements
• Collaboration and R&D agreements
• Data protection-related agreements
• Terms and conditions
• Supply, distribution and agency agreements
• Other IP-rich commercial arrangements

While previous technology experience would be advantageous, the firm is not looking exclusively for a Technology lawyer. The priority is strong commercial drafting and transactional experience combined with an understanding of, or genuine interest in, intellectual property.

The team

The successful lawyer will join a growing legal practice sitting within a wider specialist IP platform encompassing patent, trade mark and contentious IP expertise.

The commercial legal offering is an area of strategic growth for the firm, creating an opportunity to join at an important stage in its development and work closely with senior lawyers as the team continues to expand.

The structure also provides opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the firm's wider IP practices, develop internal referral relationships and become involved in business development, seminars and webinars.

The candidate

The firm is ideally looking for a solicitor with approximately 1-4 years' PQE, although there is flexibility according to the strength and relevance of an individual's experience.

You are likely to have:

• Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience
• Exposure to IP licensing or other transactional IP matters
• Experience within commercial, IP, technology or a related practice
• The ability to manage matters with a reasonable degree of autonomy
• A genuine interest in developing a career around commercial/IP transactions
• Strong communication and client-facing skills

Candidates do not need to come from a dedicated IP boutique. Lawyers within broader Commercial or Technology practices who have developed meaningful IP experience are encouraged to apply.

Why consider the opportunity?

Unlike a traditional full-service environment where IP may form one component of a broader commercial practice, this role sits within a business built around intellectual property.

The successful candidate will benefit from:

• A specialist and highly regarded IP platform
• Direct access to an experienced and recognised Commercial/IP Partner
• High-quality transactional IP and commercial work
• An established patent and trade mark client network
• A legal practice identified as a strategic growth area
• Early responsibility and autonomy
• Cross-practice business development opportunities
• A transparent internal career progression framework
• Clear routes through Senior Associate and ultimately Partner
• Hybrid working and flexibility

The firm operates a hybrid model with a minimum of approximately two days per week in the office.

Salary is competitive and dependent upon experience and location, with flexibility for London-based candidates.