Senior Associate, Commercial Intellectual Property

Fieldfisher; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Dental insurance

Life assurance

Critical illness insurance

Matched pension contributions up to 7%

Holiday trading

WFH policy

Job summary

Fieldfisher seeks a technically strong and commercially minded Senior Associate to lead complex franchising, distribution, and brand-related matters for UK and international clients. You will draft and negotiate strategic agreements, advise on expansion routes to market, and mentor junior lawyers within a collaborative, high-performing IP team.

The role offers a hybrid working model in London, with opportunities to engage across Fieldfisher's international network and contribute to business

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales with strong relevant experience.
• 5+ years PQE in an international law firm or comparable environment.
• Significant franchising, distribution, licensing, or route-to-market experience.
• Experience advising brand owners or consumer-facing businesses is advantageous.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating, and transaction management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to business development.
• Commercial awareness and proactive client service.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management across global teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex franchising, distribution, commercial and brand-related matters for UK and international clients.
• Draft, negotiate and advise on franchise, licensing, distribution, sponsorship and advertising agreements.
• Advise on expansion strategies and routes-to-market.
• Support advertising and marketing compliance issues.
• Build strong collaborative client relationships and manage matters end-to-end.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to BD and thought leadership.
• Supervise trainees and support their development.
• Develop client relationships through excellent service and responsiveness.
• Contribute to pitches, publications and industry events.
• Drive matter management, budgets and timelines.
• Collaborate across international offices and practice groups.
• Support knowledge management initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards and firm policies.

Skills

5+ years PQE

Franchising experience

Distribution

Licensing

Brand protection

Commercial awareness

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder management

Mentor junior lawyers

Business development

Education

Qualified solicitor in England & Wales

Job description

We are an international law firm employing over 2,200 people globally across 28 international offices in 14 countries committed to delivering exceptional legal services to clients across global markets and industries. Our focus on quality standards drives our ambition to strengthen a high-performance culture by embedding excellence throughout our legal services practice. We foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels they 'Belong' and can contribute effectively and are empowered to grow, innovate, and deliver outstanding client outcomes. It takes everyone to make us who we are and how we are. We're a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together. Our Values and Behaviours are driven by collaboration and are central to how we work and how we support our clients and colleagues, and together we value:

• People First – We put colleagues, clients and communities at the forefront of all we do.
• Embracing ESG – We collectively leave things better than we found them and focus on representing the diversity in our communities and striving for equity for all.
• Collaboration – Is the catalyst for success. We communicate in a constructive and thoughtful way.

About the Team

Our market‑leading Commercial IP team advises an enviable and diverse range of clients, from established multinational brands to ambitious growth businesses, on some of their most important strategic and brand‑related matters.

The team has an outstanding reputation for its expertise in franchising and distribution, advertising and marketing and intellectual property licensing, helping clients achieve their strategic business priorities and develop, protect and commercialise their brands both in the UK and internationally.

Our work spans complex franchise expansion programmes, international route‑to‑market arrangements, innovative commercial agreements, brand licensing structures, sponsorships, promotions and regulatory compliance matters.

Led by market‑leading practitioners recognised by Chambers, Legal 500 and Lexology Index, the team works collaboratively with colleagues across Fieldfisher's European and international network and closely with clients across sectors including retail, hospitality, hotels and leisure, education, automotive, advanced manufacturing, hotels and leisure, life sciences, entertainment, sport and consumer‑facing industries.

Fieldfisher is recognised as a Tier 1 franchising practice and is a longstanding member of the British Franchise Association. The team advises many of the world's leading franchise systems, licensors, distributors and brand owners on domestic and international expansion projects, strategic commercial arrangements and complex brand‑related matters.

As part of a growing practice, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with household‑name brands and ambitious high‑growth businesses on high‑profile UK and cross‑border projects, while helping shape the continued growth of one of the UK's leading franchising practices.

Role Purpose

Our career development drivers set out what professionals are expected to demonstrate at each level of development. In this role, the Senior Associate will be expected to contribute across the following areas:

• Business & Financial Management e.g. Contributes to the negotiation of profitable fee levels for a variety of clients.
• Client Focus e.g. Able to work on large client matters with limited supervision.
• Working with People & Teams e.g. Delegates work to more junior colleagues and manages their performance and manages upwards effectively by making best use of partner/director time.
• Business Development e.g. Project manages BD activities and uses interaction to win new work from existing clients and contacts.
• Technical Skills e.g. Has a comprehensive knowledge of specialist areas of law and recognises where changes in law may require amendments to precedents and takes action.
• Knowledge & Innovation e.g. Successfully implements knowledge sharing initiatives within the team and client base and actively seeks publication or speaking opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on complex franchising, distribution, commercial and brand‑related matters for a diverse portfolio of UK and international clients.
• Draft, negotiate and advise on franchise, area development, licensing, distribution, sponsorship, advertising and other strategic commercial agreements.
• Advise clients on domestic and international expansion strategies, routes‑to‑market and brand commercialisation projects.
• Support clients with advertising and marketing compliance issues, including promotions, campaigns and regulatory considerations.
• Build strong collaborative client relationships and take an active role in managing matters from instruction through to completion.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to business development initiatives, thought leadership and the continued growth of the practice.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and trainees, supporting their professional development.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships through excellent service delivery and responsiveness.
• Contribute to business development initiatives including pitches, client presentations, publications, and industry events.
• Drive efficient matter management, financial discipline, and delivery against budgets and timelines.
• Collaborate effectively across international offices and practice groups.
• Support innovation, process improvement, and knowledge management initiatives within the practice.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards, firm policies, and regulatory obligations.

About You

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, technically strong and commercially minded lawyer who thrives in a collaborative, market‑facing and high‑performing environment.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills, consistent technical excellence and sound commercial judgement, along with the ability to manage complex matters while building trusted relationships with clients and colleagues within a collaborative and supportive team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales or another common law jurisdiction with strong relevant experience.
• Significant post‑qualification experience, ideally 5+ years PQE, within a leading international law firm or comparable in‑house environment.
• Significant experience advising on franchising, distribution, licensing, route‑to‑market arrangements or other strategic commercial projects.
• Experience advising brand owners or consumer‑facing businesses would be advantageous.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating documentation, managing transactions end‑to‑end, and analytical skills.
• Displays resilience and the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure with the ability to think laterally and solve complex problems.
• Delivers work efficiently while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Demonstrates ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to client service and business development.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to contribute positively to team culture, promoting inclusion and collaboration effectively across global teams.

Who are we looking for?

• We don't have a type. We believe our differences are our strengths; varied cultures, approaches and experiences can only benefit us.

What do we offer?

• You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. We’re a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
• In the office or WFH?: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.
• Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: Reward & Benefits ¦ Fieldfisher.
• Come for the WOW views: Riverbank House is in the City, just next to London Bridge with stunning views of The Shard and Tower Bridge. It's a short walk from Monument/Bank.
• Nurturing your talent: Take a 'build a career' approach to your training. You'll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you'd like to study more closely.
• Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.

Inclusion at Fieldfisher

At Fieldfisher, inclusion is central to how we work. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to succeed.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or once you join us, we will work with you to put the right support in place. Examples include extra time for assessments, accessible document formats, alternative interview formats, quiet rooms, or physical and technological accessibility support.

For accessibility information on our London office, visit: Accessing Fieldfisher London ¦ Fieldfisher ¦ Fieldfisher

We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.