Senior Associate: IP Litigation

Virago Recruitment; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Virago Recruitment is seeking a Senior Associate – Intellectual Property Litigation to join their Johannesburg-based litigation team. You will independently manage a portfolio of complex IP and commercial disputes, advising clients on strategy and outcomes.

The role requires a high degree of autonomy, excellent drafting and advocacy skills, and the ability to mentor junior attorneys while building strong client relationships. This is a senior, full-time position within a dynamic boutique firm.

Qualifications

• LLB degree or equivalent legal qualification.
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
• 10+ years' post-admission experience.
• Strong IP and commercial litigation experience.
• Ability to independently manage complex matters.
• Strong drafting, advocacy and legal research skills.
• High Court litigation experience.
• Knowledge of South African civil procedure.
• Experience dealing with clients, counsel and experts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Ability to work independently and contribute within a small, high-performing team.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a portfolio of complex IP and commercial litigation matters.
• Advise clients on litigation strategy, prospects and commercial outcomes.
• Draft and review pleadings, notices, applications, affidavits, heads of argument, legal opinions and other litigation documents.
• Conduct detailed legal research and provide high-level legal analysis.
• Prepare matters for hearings, trials and motion proceedings.
• Brief and liaise with counsel, experts and other external professionals.
• Attend court, arbitrations, mediations and other dispute-resolution proceedings.
• Manage matters from initial instruction through to settlement, judgment or finalisation.
• Develop litigation strategies aligned with clients' commercial objectives.
• Manage matter budgets, billing and recoveries.
• Ensure compliance with applicable professional and regulatory requirements.
• Advise clients on IP enforcement and protection strategies.
• Handle disputes relating to trademarks, copyright, designs, passing off, unlawful competition.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Act as a trusted legal adviser, providing practical and commercially focused advice.
• Attend client consultations and meetings.
• Identify opportunities for additional legal services.
• Supervise and mentor junior attorneys and candidate attorneys.
• Review work and provide constructive feedback.
• Assist with training and professional development within the litigation department.
• Contribute to the development of internal litigation processes, precedents and workflows.
• Contribute to the growth of the firm's litigation practice.
• Build and maintain professional networks and referral relationships.
• Participate in business-development initiatives and client events.

Skills

IP litigation

Commercial disputes

Independent management

Client relationship management

Mentorship

Legal drafting

Education

LLB degree

Admitted Attorney

Job description

Senior Associate – Intellectual Property Litigation

Department: Litigation

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience: 10+ years’ post-admission experience

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Associate – Intellectual Property Litigation to join their litigation department. The successful candidate will have strong experience in intellectual property and commercial litigation and must be comfortable independently managing complex matters from initial instruction through to conclusion.

This is a senior position requiring a high degree of autonomy, excellent legal drafting and advocacy skills, sound commercial judgment and the ability to develop and maintain strong client relationships.

The successful candidate will also play an active role in mentoring and developing junior attorneys and candidate attorneys within the litigation team.

Key Responsibilities

Litigation & Legal Practice

• Independently manage a portfolio of complex IP and commercial litigation matters.

• Advise clients on litigation strategy, prospects and commercial outcomes.

• Draft and review pleadings, notices, applications, affidavits, heads of argument, legal opinions and other litigation documents.

• Conduct detailed legal research and provide high-level legal analysis.

• Prepare matters for hearings, trials and motion proceedings.

• Brief and liaise with counsel, experts and other external professionals.

• Attend court, arbitrations, mediations and other dispute-resolution proceedings.

• Manage matters from initial instruction through to settlement, judgment or finalisation.

• Develop litigation strategies aligned with clients' commercial objectives.

• Manage matter budgets, billing and recoveries.

• Ensure compliance with applicable professional and regulatory requirements.

Intellectual Property

• Handle disputes relating to trademarks, copyright, designs, passing off, unlawful competition and related IP matters.

• Advise clients on IP enforcement and protection strategies.

• Manage IP infringement disputes and enforcement proceedings.

• Work closely with trade mark and IP prosecution teams on contentious matters.

• Provide strategic advice on IP disputes, risks and commercial implications.

Client Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.

• Act as a trusted legal adviser, providing practical and commercially focused advice.

• Attend client consultations and meetings.

• Identify opportunities for additional legal services.

• Take responsibility for client communication, matter progression and overall service delivery.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Supervise and mentor junior attorneys and candidate attorneys.

• Review work and provide constructive feedback.

• Assist with training and professional development within the litigation department.

• Contribute to the development of internal litigation processes, precedents and workflows.

Business Development

• Contribute to the growth of the firm's litigation practice.

• Build and maintain professional networks and referral relationships.

• Participate in business-development initiatives and client events.

• Assist with articles, presentations and other thought-leadership initiatives where appropriate.

Minimum Requirements

• LLB degree or equivalent legal qualification.

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.

• 10+ years' post-admission experience.

• Strong litigation experience, with significant exposure to intellectual property litigation and commercial disputes.

• Proven ability to independently manage complex litigation matters.

• Strong drafting, advocacy and legal research skills.

• High Court litigation experience.

• Strong knowledge of South African civil procedure.

• Experience dealing directly with clients, counsel and experts.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking.

• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively within a small, high‑performing team.

Advantageous

• Extensive IP litigation experience, particularly involving trade marks, copyright, passing off and unlawful competition.

• Experience handling commercial disputes involving intellectual property rights.

• Existing client relationships and/or a proven ability to develop a client base.

• Experience supervising and mentoring junior legal professionals.

• Strong High Court and complex motion proceedings experience.

• Mediation, arbitration and other ADR experience.

• Experience within a specialist or boutique law firm environment.