Associate – Tech Litigation

Bird & Bird LLP; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - GBP 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm is looking for a junior/mid-level Associate to join their patent team in London. The role involves advising on patent issues, both contentious and non-contentious, specifically relating to technology and telecommunications. The successful candidate will have a solid background in patent law, strong data analysis skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams. The position offers competitive salary, bonuses, and a flexible working approach, supporting career and personal development.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive salary

Bonus structure

Health and wellbeing support

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience in patent law with a leading solicitor or patent attorney firm.
• Proven ability to handle complex patent matters.
• Flexibility according to client needs.

Responsibilities

• Advise on patent law, including litigation and royalty rates.
• Assist clients with patent intelligence and valuation.
• Analyze patent datasets and provide clear advice.

Skills

Patent law knowledge

Data analysis skills

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Education

Degree in a STEM subject or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title Associate – Tech Litigation / Pattern Hybrid (Junior/Mid-level)

Role Associate / Lawyer

Expertise Intellectual Property

Job Location London

Description

We are looking for a qualified solicitor or patent attorney for a junior-level or mid-level Associate position working in the patent team in our band 1 Intellectual Property department in London. You will be expected to:(i) advise on patent issues, both contentious and non-contentious, with a focus on technology & telecommunications patent litigation; and (ii) assist clients with quantitative patent intelligence, patent valuation, and royalty rate determinations (especially in relation to Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) and FRAND).

In relation to patent litigation, you will be expected to apply your patent knowledge to assist our clients, across a range of technically complex industries, to reach commercial solutions to the legal issues that they face. The firm advises in a way that supports our clients' strategic objectives and is practical and commercial.

In relation to patent intelligence, we are looking for a high‑calibre individual who has a proactive drive to innovate, learn new skills, and think outside of the box to solve a wide variety of novel and complex problems. The successful candidate will enjoy, and have an aptitude for, problem solving and critical thinking, and will be able to distil results into clear, actionable advice for clients. They will need to be organised, efficient and proactive to deal with the variety and scale of technical, commercial, and legal issues dealt with by the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on aspects of patent law, especially patent royalty rates, licensing disputes and Standard Essential Patents (SEPs)/FRAND.
• Apply your experience and technical background to provide a first‑class litigation service to our clients.
• Analyse patent datasets, drawing conclusions, to be summarised and explained to clients.
• Review patent licences and be trained to carry out economic and statistical modelling.
• Proactively take ownership of tasks and aspects of client‑facing projects, including: reporting to clients, managing deadlines and workloads, delegating tasks, generating results and delivering work product.

What you'll bring

• Experience in patent law in a leading solicitor or patent attorney firm, with proven experience of handling complex matters gained within a comparable environment and at an appropriate level.
• Experience in (or exposure to) data analysis and data processing, and strong Microsoft Excel skills (or the aptitude and enthusiasm to learn).
• Flexibility, depending on client need.
• The ability to liaise effectively with people from a diverse range of teams, including clients and those abroad, from non‑technical lawyers and senior managers to those in technical roles. Also, an enthusiasm for working in a challenging, team‑based environment.
• Excellent academic achievement with a degree in a STEM subject (or equivalent experience).

What's in it for you

• Our agile approach to office and remote working enables you to find the right balance to deliver at your best. Supporting you, our business and our clients in a flexible way.
• Progress your career and personal development with our award‑winning development programmes, from our global mentoring scheme to our bespoke coaching opportunities.
• Equip yourself with a broad range of technical and business skills as well as a deep understanding of business issues through our skills‑based curriculum.
• Competitive, market‑led salary and bonus structure.
• Family‑friendly policies as well as health schemes and wellbeing support.
• A flexible benefits package which allows you to tailor your benefits to your current needs and lifestyle.

In addition to a competitive salary and benefits package, Bird & Bird operates two discretionary bonus schemes.

We offer a performance‑related bonus that reflects the contributions you make to the firm. We know an inclusive culture, alongside a diverse workforce, makes us more innovative and agile, so whilst some of the criteria for being awarded a bonus is based on chargeable hours, we also include an allowance for hours spent contributing to Diversity & Inclusion, ESG, and Pro Bono work.

We see 'winning work' as significantly different to the day‑to‑day business development activities you carry out as part of your role as an Associate, so in addition to the Performance Bonus, Bird & Bird are keen to reward Associates for winning work. Winning Work Bonuses are paid in addition to the Performance Bonus and are intended to be a thank you for your contribution to introducing a client or generating additional work from an existing client.

To apply, click on the 'apply' button to submit your details.

Bird & Bird opens up a world of possibilities for lawyers everywhere. Here you can advise major enterprises and high‑growth businesses on matters that are often transformative in nature, and alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work with everyone at Bird & Bird. We are one international firm, where over 70% of our work involves teams from across our firm. And that is only going to increase. It is this common purpose and shared approach that makes for a more productive, collaborative place to work.

As a disability and neurodiversity inclusive employer we want to ensure that you have a barrier‑free recruitment experience at Bird & Bird. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please provide details to your recruitment contact who will be in touch to discuss any details provided and understand more about your individual adjustment needs.