Chartered Trade Mark Attorney

Birketts is an ambitious full service, top 50 UK law firm, operating in East Anglia, Essex, London and the surrounding areas.  With a rich heritage spanning over 150 years we have built an enviable track record advising businesses, institutions and individuals in the UK and internationally.

Throughout our history our ethos has remained simple: we provide clear legal advice and value and insight to our clients.

We believe that through this approach and a combination of technical excellence and high quality service we can develop long-lasting partnerships and become our clients' solicitor of choice.

The Trade Mark & Brands team sits within the Commercial and Technology division providing diverse opportunities on a day-to-day basis. We advise individuals and businesses, from SMEs to major corporate entities, on their global brand requirements and formulating strategies to meet these. 

This role will be primarily directed at overseeing brand protection and enforcement matters for the firm’s clients but will include an aspect of due diligence in relation to mergers and acquisitions and assessing relavant IP assets.  

Due to growth, we have an exciting opportunity for a confident Chartered Trade Mark Attorney (CTMA) to join our highly regarded team advising on a full range of IP issues, both contentious and non-contentious.  There is an existing workload and candidates will need to be used to handling high-volume workloads, working directly with clients, handling cases at the UKIPO and liaising with overseas associates but also be willing to develop new business and client relationships.  This is a great opportunity for someone looking to move forward with their career.

Key responsibilities of the role:

• Running a busy portfolio of trade marks and designs for various clients and providing a pro-active and responsive service to those clients.
• Advising on trade mark and registered design applications.
• Managing trade mark and design portfolios.
• Advising on oppositions, invalidations and other issues typical to managing trade mark and design portfolios.
• Advising on related IP rights such as UK and Community designs and copyright.
• Assisting with IP-related litigations, the vast majority of which will be brands-related.
• Taking client instructions and advising on legal issues, typically under the supervision of team leaders.
• Assisting supervisors where required but with the ability to personally manage a varied caseload.
• Drafting correspondence tailored to the client’s individual needs and requirements.
• Corresponding with clients and opposing solicitors / attorneys, attending meetings and negotiating with opposing parties.
• Carrying out related administrative tasks.
• Keeping up to date with changes and developments in the law.
• Business development and marketing both of the team and individually.

We are looking to recruit a dynamic, proactive and well-organised individual with sufficient in-role experience to meet the requirements as set out in the responibilities for the role above, and who has:

• A broader knowledge of intellectual property law is also desirable.
• Strong communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Strong client relationship skills.
• Able to prioritise a busy workload and delegate where appropriate.
• Positive can-do and pragmatic approach.
• Very good IT skills.

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Benefits

One of the best things about working for Birketts is our substantial benefits package. You can expect to receive:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising to 30 with service
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed and ability to add immediate fmily members)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance   - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG/ charity day (Environmental, Social and Governance)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership via Gym flex
• Electric car scheme
• Eye Care Voucher
• Agile Working Policy
• Dress for your Day Policy.