Senior IP Lawyer

BBC Group and Public Services; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 87,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC Group and Public Services is seeking a Senior IP Lawyer to provide expert advice on intellectual property across the BBC and BBC Studios, supporting business, technology and creative teams to protect world-class content and innovative products. The role spans production, technology and distribution.

You will advise on patents, copyright, contracts and licensing, mentor junior lawyers, and help shape strategic decisions in a collaborative, flexible working environment with opportunities

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or CILEX Lawyer with significant post-qualification experience in intellectual property law and a proven track record of advising on complex IP matters. A current practising certificate is required or must be obtained before commencing the role.
• Strong technical knowledge of intellectual property law, with demonstrable experience advising on a broad range of IP rights and related legal issues.
• Proven experience providing specialist legal advice to senior stakeholders and supporting key business decisions. You will possess commercial awareness and a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the media, technology and content industries.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess legal and commercial risk and develop practical solutions. You will have experience of managing a varied workload, working independently and remaining effective when balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support Senior Counsel on patent-related matters, including standard essential patents (SEPs), patent pools, licence requests and the assessment of potential patent claims.
• Work with clients and patent agents identifying potential patent opportunities, on licensing opportunities or partnership structures.
• Assist with patent applications, invention assessments and the protection of new innovations arising across the BBC.
• Lead the negotiation and drafting of complex technology and R&D agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, collaboration agreements and other commercial arrangements.
• Provide advice on intellectual property, contractual and rights-related issues across a range of business activities, including content commissioning, collective licensing arrangements, content exploitation and dispute management.
• Advise content creators on copyright matters, including the application of copyright exceptions and related disputes.
• Supervise, mentor and support the development of junior lawyers and trainees within the team.

Skills

IP law

Senior stakeholder advice

Negotiation & drafting

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Job description

JOB BAND: E
CONTRACT TYPE: Twelve month fixed-term contract, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: BBC Legal, part of the Chief Operating Officer Group
LOCATION: London. The team is typically in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with flexibility to work from home or the office on other days
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £87,000 - £99,000pa, plus London Weighting (£5,441pa), depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity to join the BBC as a Senior IP Lawyer at a time when intellectual property law is evolving rapidly, driven by advances in technology and artificial intelligence.

You'll provide expert legal advice across the BBC Group on a broad range of intellectual property issues, working closely with business, technology and creative teams to support the creation and protection of world class content and innovative products. The role spans both the BBC and BBC Studios, offering exposure to a diverse range of production, technology and distribution activities.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

As a Senior IP Lawyer, you'll work directly with clients across the organisation, providing clear, practical advice on complex legal issues and helping teams navigate new opportunities and challenges.

You'll collaborate with colleagues across television, radio, podcasts, online products, BBC News and technology teams, gaining exposure to some of the most innovative and high-profile work in the media industry. You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of your own matters, contribute to strategic decision-making and continue developing your expertise in a supportive and collaborative environment.

We're committed to delivering first-class legal advice while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. There are also opportunities to participate in pro bono initiatives and contribute to our Legal for Everyone programme, which promotes inclusion and diversity across the legal function.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND IMPACT

Your work will include a broad mix of advisory, transactional and where required, contentious IP matters. While you'll work across the full spectrum of intellectual property rights, the role has a particular focus on patents, technology, copyright and contractual rights.

You will:

• Support Senior Counsel on patent-related matters, including standard essential patents (SEPs), patent pools, licence requests and the assessment of potential patent claims.
• Work with clients and patent agents identifying potential patent opportunities, on licensing opportunities or partnership structures.
• Assist with patent applications, invention assessments and the protection of new innovations arising across the BBC.
• Lead the negotiation and drafting of complex technology and R&D agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, collaboration agreements and other commercial arrangements.
• Provide advice on intellectual property, contractual and rights-related issues across a range of business activities, including content commissioning, collective licensing arrangements, content exploitation and dispute management.
• Advise content creators on copyright matters, including the application of copyright exceptions and related disputes.
• Supervise, mentor and support the development of junior lawyers and trainees within the team.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Qualified Solicitor or CILEX Lawyer with significant post-qualification experience in intellectual property law and a proven track record of advising on complex IP matters. A current practising certificate is required or must be obtained before commencing the role.
• Strong technical knowledge of intellectual property law, with demonstrable experience advising on a broad range of IP rights and related legal issues.
• Proven experience providing specialist legal advice to senior stakeholders and supporting key business decisions. You will possess commercial awareness and a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the media, technology and content industries.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess legal and commercial risk and develop practical solutions. You will have experience of managing a varied workload, working independently and remaining effective when balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal audiences.

DESIRABLE

• Experience working in-house, particularly within a media, technology or creative organisation.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Contracts of Employment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.