Patent Operations Specialist

Epiq Counsel; Normanton on Trent; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Long-term secondment

Bracknell onsite access

Job summary

Epiq Counsel is seeking an European Patent Operations Specialist to support a complex European patent portfolio. You will work within the IP Operations team alongside patent attorneys and external European counsel, managing EP filings, deadlines, and EPO proceedings.

The role requires experience in EP prosecution support, familiarity with EPC rules, and collaboration with law firms. Hybrid arrangement with onsite work in Bracknell, UK, is offered for a 12+ month secondment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience as EP patent paralegal or equivalent IP support role.
• Experience in EP patent prosecution support and familiarity with EPO rules under the EPC.
• Understanding of global patent landscape (US, PCT, National phase).
• Experience working with European patent attorneys and external law firms.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical/biotech/life sciences portfolios preferred.
• CIPA/EPAC or similar IP credential preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review and docket European correspondence in Anaqua with deadlines and actions.
• Monitor EPO deadlines across EP lifecycle from prosecution to grant, opposition, and validation.
• Liaise with patent attorneys and law firms to progress EP filings and actions.
• Prepare and file documents via EPO Online Filing 2.0 and MyEPO.
• Support oppositions and other EPO proceedings, incl. procedural documentation.
• Assist with SPC/PTE tracking and lifecycle management.

Skills

EP patent paralegal

EP prosecution support

Anaqua

Patent attorneys liaison

Pharma/Life sciences

CIPA/EPAC qualification

Tools

Anaqua IP docketing

Job description

Join our global pharmaceutical client as a European Patent Operations Specialist, supporting a sophisticated international patent portfolio through the full European patent lifecycle. This role sits within the client's IP Operations team and offers the opportunity to work closely with patent attorneys, external European counsel, and the European Patent Office (EPO) on high-impact intellectual property matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and docket incoming European correspondence, ensuring deadlines and required actions are accurately captured in Anaqua.
• Monitor EPO and internal deadlines across the EP patent lifecycle, from prosecution through to grant, opposition, and validation.
• Liaise with internal patent attorneys and external European law firms to progress EP filings and actions.
• Prepare and file documents via EPO Online Filing 2.0 and MyEPO.
• Support oppositions and other EPO proceedings, including preparation of procedural documentation.
• Assist with SPC/PTE tracking and lifecycle management, where relevant.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as an EP patent paralegal or equivalent front-line IP support role.
• Demonstrable experience in EP patent prosecution support and familiarity with EPO procedural rules under the EPC. An understanding and awareness of the global patent landscape (United States, PCT and National phase filings).
• Experience using IP docketing systems; Anaqua experience is an advantage.
• Experience working directly with European patent attorneys, external European law firms, and the European Patent Office.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences patent portfolios, preferred.
• CIPA qualification, EPAC Paralegal qualification, or similar intellectual property credential, preferred.
• Epiq Counsel partners with industry-leading clients in support of their sophisticated interim talent needs. Candidates must be interested in practicing within an alternative, fixed-term legal services model.

Working Arrangement

• Secondment Engagement
• Expected 12+ months, with potential for long-term extension.
• Hybrid role with a minimum of two days per week onsite in Bracknell.
• Convenient location approximately 10 minutes' walk from the Bracknell train station, offering an easy commute from London.

Benfits

• Join a global pharmaceutical industry leader.
• Work alongside experienced patent attorneys and IP professionals.
• Gain exposure to complex international patent portfolios.
• Long-term engagement stability with potential for extension.
• Hybrid flexibility with a collaborative and supportive team.

Should your experience meet the role requirements, the Epiq Counsel team will contact you. The Epiq Counsel team strives to respond to all applications; however due to the volume of applicants, we cannot always respond to every application.

About Epiq Counsel

Epiq Counsel is an innovative legal services talent provider that offers meaningful in-house legal secondment work and flexibility to sophisticated and credentialed lawyers and legal professionals. Our lawyers and legal professionals work on a wide variety of legal matters for Fortune 500 clients. Epiq works hard to provide our diverse legal talent with challenging work for sophisticated clients that does not require sacrificing flexibility or control.

Our team takes the time and attention to understand each legal professionals practice areas, experience, and preferences to ensure they are presented with sophisticated interim in-house opportunities with leading law departments across the globe. Leverage our network to work for organisations in need of top-tier legal services. Take the next step in your legal career and join a vibrant community of Epiq legal professionals!