Job Description

Credited in tier 1 of the Legal 500 as handling significant international IP cases, our established intellectual property team works with a broad spectrum of national and international clients. Quoted in Chambers Directory as offering a "refreshing ability to blend expert advice with human empathy and people skills across all levels" we deal with the full range of IP rights, handling disputes, transactional matters, trade mark and design prosecution, and general strategic advice within a single integrated unit.



The team supports 8 UK locations and works with our wider team of more than 250 IP specialist professionals in our 29 US offices.



We now have an opportunity for a Partner to join the growing team, working closely in conjunction with our Head of IP (and recent Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year) James Love.

What we're looking for?



We're looking for a committed Partner to bring expertise to the team and further enhance and develop our impressive IP practice. You'll need experience in IP disputes across IP rights, as well as with drafting and negotiating IP agreements (such as assignments, licences, confidentiality agreements and research and development agreements). The role will also see you working with our colleagues in the USA. As well as driving our business forward, you'll have an equally important role to play in the development of our people, coaching and mentoring and taking responsibility for their career development. Click to read more about our IP offering here.



To be successful in this role, you'll need as a minimum:


Experience of building and sustaining a UK IP law practice. An in-depth sector/market understanding and the impact of trends on clients. The ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of revenue prioritisation. An effective coach and sounding board for team members giving a clear sense of direction and purpose. The ability to actively seek out opportunities for innovation and create process improvements. A role model with a commercial mind-set who ensures efficiency. An external profile as a leader in this field. An understanding of how the provision of legal services should be delivered at a top 20 UK law firm. To be qualified as a Solicitor in the UK.

What's in it for you?



We have a strong, collaborative culture where success is rewarded and our people are supported and encouraged to achieve their potential, whatever their role in the business. That means you'll benefit from a hugely talented group of business professionals all of whom are enthusiastic and committed to the success of our business and ready to support your practice development whether that's through sector or business development advice and support, learning and development opportunities or technology and innovation.



We have a range of innovative solutions for our clients and the IP team are fully embracing those technologies and practices, all designed to make your life, and those of your clients, that much easier. You can read more about WBD Advance, and what it can do to support you, here.



We recognise that just because you're a senior lawyer, your need for career development doesn't end there. Our Learning and Development team have worked with best-in-class providers, to design a number of masterclasses for partners intended to enhance your leadership and business skills.

What makes it great to work here?



We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!



As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.



Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody). Find out more about ED&I at WBD here. We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.



We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format.



We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form. Your response to this question is only used for this purpose, is only visible to the recruitment team and is not used for data monitoring.



We are an in-house recruitment team and will always aim to fill our roles directly in the first instance. If you're an agency, please click here for ways that you can work with us.