Intellectual Property Litigation Partner

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A senior IP Litigator is sought to lead the IP disputes practice in Manchester for a Top 30 international firm. You will shape and grow the contentious IP offering with autonomy and long‑term partnership potential, supported by an established non-contentious base and a steady stream of referrals.

Candidates will bring a strong background across trade marks, copyright, patents and brand protection, and be well‑networked in the IP/tech market in the North West and beyond.

Qualifications

• Senior IP Litigator with strong technical background across contentious IP matters including trade marks, copyright, patents and brand protection disputes
• Well-networked across IP and technology market in the North West and beyond
• Commercially minded with existing client relationships and appetite to lead and grow
• Ambitious and motivated to build and own a litigation practice with autonomy

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the IP disputes practice from an established non-contentious base.
• Shape the contentious IP offering and establish yourself as the go-to litigator within the practice.
• Leverage existing client relationships and cross-border referrals to drive growth.
• Develop long-term partnerships rather than short-term targets.

Job description

IP Litigation Partner | Top 30 International Firm | Manchester

A rare and genuinely exciting opportunity for a senior IP Litigator to step into a lead partner role in Manchester, building out the contentious side of an already well-established and highly regarded Intellectual Property practice.

The Firm

This Top 30 international firm has a strong and well-established presence across Europe, the US and Asia. Consistently ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers across multiple disciplines, the firm is recognised for combining technical excellence with a commercially focused, modern approach to legal services.

The firm has built a genuinely strong platform across Corporate, Real Estate and Dispute Resolution in Manchester, and is now focused on bolstering and complementing that offering with senior lateral hires across key practice areas. This is not a firm building from scratch in the North West. The infrastructure is in place, the reputation is established and the focus is firmly on the next phase of growth.

For those with an interest in developing an international dimension to their practice, the firm's European network presents a genuinely compelling additional opportunity. Partners who develop cross-border instructions through the European platform receive credited referrals directly towards their business case, offering a tangible and supported route to growing beyond a purely domestic practice. It is not a requirement, but for the right person it represents a meaningful upside that few regional platforms can genuinely offer.

Manchester has recently welcomed new leadership, with a clear and ambitious vision for what the office can become. Physical capacity is already available and all growth plans have been signed off and are moving forward. The office has been identified internally as the firm's best opportunity for regional growth, placing it firmly at the forefront of the firm's wider expansion strategy.

The Role

The firm already has a strong and well-regarded commercial IP team in Manchester, with an established non-contentious practice handling trade marks, licensing, brand protection and advisory work for an impressive client base. What they now want to develop is the litigation side of that practice, and they are looking for the right senior IP Litigator to lead that from the front.

This is a genuine opportunity to step into a ready-made platform. The clients are there, the relationships exist and the commercial team provides a natural and immediate source of contentious referrals. You will be coming in as the senior litigation partner presence, with the mandate to shape and grow the IP disputes offering and establish yourself as the go-to litigator within an already thriving practice.

The firm will have a sensible and considered conversation around how your existing client relationships and litigation expertise can be structured into a realistic and achievable business case. Clients take time, relationships need to be nurtured and the first year rarely tells the full story. The expectation here is a long-term partnership, not short-term results under undue pressure.

The Ideal Candidate

• IP Litigation Partner with a strong technical background across contentious intellectual property matters spanning trade marks, copyright, patents and/or brand protection disputes
• Well-networked across the IP and technology market in the North West and beyond
• Commercially minded with existing client relationships and a genuine appetite to lead and grow
• Ambitious and motivated to build and own a litigation practice rather than join an established one
• Comfortable operating with autonomy whilst working alongside an existing and supportive commercial IP team

What's on Offer

• A genuine opportunity to lead and build the IP Litigation practice from an already strong non-contentious base
• An immediate and natural source of contentious referrals from an established commercial IP team
• Full backing and mandate from new and ambitious office leadership to grow the practice
• Access to a strong European network with credited referrals available towards your business case
• Physical space, infrastructure and business services support already in place
• A firm that takes a long-term and considered view on partner integration and business development
• Competitive remuneration in line with the quality of work and platform on offer