Patent Attorney - Chemical Engineering or Chemical

Sheffield (preferred), Bristol, London or Warwick

About Us

Withers & Rogers is one of Europe's largest dedicated intellectual property law firms, with offices across the UK, Paris, and Munich. Established more than 140 years ago, we remain as passionate as ever about making intellectual property work to our clients' best advantage. Today, our clients include many renowned, innovative organisations from across Europe, North America, and Asia. We believe that our patent and trade mark attorneys, support, and operations staff have a breadth of expertise and a depth of specialist sector knowledge that is second to none. Our purpose is building trusting relationships and our vision is to be an independent, responsible, sustainably profitable, and globally focused firm.

The contractual base for this role will be in one of our UK locations: Sheffield (preferred), Bristol, London or Warwick. However, we are embracing hybrid working, and therefore you will have the opportunity to mix days in the office and home, as agreed with your line manager but there is an expectation that employees will attend the office as needed for their role.

The Role

This exciting opportunity has arisen because of increasing work volume and client expansion within the chemical engineering/chemical space. This is a full time, permanent position. In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Drafting specifications in the chemical engineering/chemical space
• Managing patent prosecution globally, including researching prior art and working directly with clients to develop creative and persuasive arguments against patent office objections
• Advising clients on securing appropriate IP protection
• Corresponding with clients, Patent Offices and overseas Attorneys
• Attending hearings at the European Patent Office
• Researching and advising on the status, scope and validity of third-party intellectual property rights
• Giving direction and sharing knowledge with operations staff
• Building a network of contacts, with a view to converting contacts to clients
• Developing the relationship with our current clients and bringing in new business

About You

To join us, you'll need:

• A qualified or finals level (UK/DE/FR or European) Patent Attorney
• A strong academic or industry record in chemical engineering or chemistry, ideally with experience in hydrocarbon processing and/or polyester production
• Ability to communicate effectively about technical concepts clearly and accurately with the research and development teams of our clients
• Skilled in analysing and identifying the novel features and commercial potential of an invention with plenty of experience in drafting claims and responses to office actions for prosecution
• Impeccable written English, attention to detail and first-rate communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly and accurately. Proficiency in German or French would be considered an advantage
• A track record of interacting effectively with staff and clients at all levels and an enthusiastic team-player with a proactive approach
• The ability to prioritise workload, manage high volumes of work and meet deadlines
• A track record of building rapport with clients and developing new business

Your Rewards

• Competitive salary
• Benefits such as a healthcare cash plan and additional holiday purchase scheme
• Flexible working options
• Enhanced Parental Leave options
• Positive and welcoming work environment

Applications will be reviewed as they are received so early applications are encouraged. We foster a supportive and inclusive culture where employees are encouraged to broaden their knowledge, challenge themselves and share their ideas. If you think you have the skills to succeed, we would love to hear from you.