Head of Intellectual Property

Head of Intellectual Property

Department: Intellectual Property

Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time

Location: Leeds

Description

As the head of the intellectual property department, you will lead a team of specialist IP Lawyers, providing direction, oversight, technical guidance and direct supervision on all aspects of the team’s work and development as well as conducting a full range of your own matters.

You will work on a full range of intellectual property matters, both contentious and non-contentious, including matters relating to patents, trade marks, passing off, copyright, design rights, database rights and confidential information.

You will provide assistance to and work collaboratively with other departments around the firm, including supporting corporate finance transactions, dispute resolution matters and corporate recovery matters with expert technical advice on intellectual property issues that arise.

You will build the profile of the intellectual property team within the firm and outside, including training of colleagues and business development activities. The role is based at our Leeds offices and reports to the Chief Executive.

Key Responsibilities

• The direction and management of the intellectual property team, including formulating in collaboration with the firm’s management its direction, profile and its development and marketing strategies
• The management and direction of the team’s work and supervision of its fee earners in their day to day handling of matters
• The conduct of your own matters across the full range of the team’s work to the highest professional standards
• The provision of intellectual property support across the full range of the firm’s departments and services wherever required

Management Responsibilities

• Setting & presenting annual strategic plan for the Intellectual Property department – work closely with the CEO & CFO to construct team targets in relation to fees, time recording & business development;
• Assist with annual budget review process;
• Hold a monthly departmental meeting to report on team performance – follow up with one-to-ones as and when required;
• Attend quarterly HOD meetings to represent the Intellectual Property department;
• Attend monthly one-to-ones with the CEO & CFO – report on departmental priorities and financial performance;
• Provide supervision of matters for more junior fee-earners, sign off work as and when required;
• Oversee the Personal Development Plans for each team member, ensure individual goals are met throughout the year through mentoring and technical guidance;
• Ensure appropriate allocation of fee-earning matters within the team – regularly assess capacity of fee-earners and delegate work effectively;
• Proactively drive performance of the team – achieve continued financial growth YOY;
• Assist with the recruitment process for Intellectual Property vacancies – including proactive head hunting and drafting job specifications/adverts.

Business Development

• Work alongside the Business Development & Marketing teams to ensure there is a cohesive and proactive strategy to managing current & prospective clients.
• Take an active lead in managing the client experience. Attend client meetings where necessary.
• Report regularly on business development initiatives and figures to the CEO.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• You will have not less than 5 years’ experience in a recognised specialist intellectual property practice or team
• You will have broad experience of intellectual Property matters across their full range (excluding patent agency, which the team does not conduct) including:
• contentious work before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and in other Courts non-contentious advice in relation to the identification, ownership, management and securing of intellectual property rights
• assignment, licensing and other intellectual property transactions and commercial agreements
• corporate support in the context of corporate finance transactions
• trade mark applications and portfolio management, and the conduct and resolution of proceedings at the UK intellectual property Office

Benefits

What we offer?

• Competitive salary
• Bonus potential
• Great working environment at our Leeds offices
• Career development opportunities
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Options to buy & sell 1 week’s holiday
• 1 week’s holiday carry over
• Extra day off for your birthday
• Staff card discount scheme for local shops
• Social days and evenings on the firm
• Staff discounts on legal services