Chemistry Patent Attorney - Qualified/Part-Qualified

Carpmaels & Ransford is a leading European intellectual property law firm that advises many of the world’s most innovative and successful healthcare companies. Our award‑winning team of patent attorneys, litigators and trade‑mark experts has been recognised as EPO Prosecution Firm of the Year (IAM & WTR Global IP Awards 2024), Europe Impact Case of the Year (MIP EMEA 2025) and Patent Litigation Firm of the Year: Biologics & Biosimilars (LMG Life Sciences Awards 2025 EMEA). We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and support a healthy work/life balance through wellbeing events, clubs and community partnerships.

Our Chemistry team is commercially focussed and supports some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and chemical companies. The work spans pioneering therapeutics, batteries, nanotechnology, cleantech, consumer products and nutraceuticals. We take on contentious work from day one, representing clients in multi‑party oppositions at the European Patent Office, national litigation in the UK and Europe, and newly‑established Unified Patent Court proceedings.

Who We Are Looking For

We invite exceptional part‑qualified or qualified patent attorneys with a strong focus on pharmaceutical subject matter to join our Chemistry team. Applicants should enjoy strategic thinking, collaboration, and leveraging technical excellence to deliver first‑class service to our clients. Suitable candidates will ideally have:

• Part‑qualification in the UK and EQE exams, with up to 3 years of post‑qualification experience.
• Management of chemical and/or pharmaceutical work – a wide spectrum of subject‑matter experience is considered.
• Experience drafting, filing and prosecuting EPO and PCT applications.
• Understanding of EPO opposition and appeal procedure, and preferably some experience of contentious oral proceedings.
• Excellent academic background, ideally with an emphasis on organic chemistry or pharmaceutical subject matter.
• Sense of commerciality and understanding of IP‑focussed clients’ priorities.
• Appreciation of how IP and regulatory data protection impact the life cycle of a pharmaceutical product.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent time‑management and organisational skills.
• Innate interest in business and the IP profession.
• Passion and aptitude for problem‑solving.
• Keen eye for detail.
• Interest in coaching, guiding and mentoring trainees, as appropriate.

Successful candidates will benefit from:

• Variety of work for major international chemical and pharmaceutical clients, including EPO opposition and appeal work.
• Significant opposition, appeal and SPC matters.
• Involvement in cases that shape the law before the Technical Boards of Appeal, Enlarged Board of Appeal and Court of Justice of the European Union.
• Collaborative, sociable, team‑based environment with a healthy work/life balance.
• Meritocratic and autonomous culture – responsible for your own case‑load, working for multiple partners.
• Sophisticated knowledge‑management to keep up with case‑law developments.
• Exceptional training for UK and EQE qualifications and beyond.
• Opportunity to work across multiple practice groups, subject to project requirements and expertise.
• Excellent remuneration and benefits package.
• Sports, clubs and charity initiatives sponsored by the firm.

We are proud of our inclusive culture where individual differences are celebrated, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants. We do not tolerate discrimination either directly or indirectly on the basis of race, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, socio‑economic background or any characteristic protected by law. Our approach is embodied in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, as well as our diversity and inclusion programmes.

Please note that we do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies unless specifically requested.