Associate/Managing Associate (3-6 PQE) – IP Disputes in London

IP Litigation at Mishcon sits at the heart of the Innovation Department. Our IP team works with the owners of some of the world's best-known IP rights to create value by protecting, enforcing, and exploiting their valuable IP. Ranked in Tier 1 in Legal 500, our IP team has won a number of major industry awards in recent years including UK Trade Mark Litigation Team of the Year (MIP, 2025 and 2022), UK Trade Mark Prosecution Team of the Year (MIP, 2024), and UK Trade Mark Contentious Firm of the Year (Global IP Awards, 2022 and 2023).

Our IP disputes group operates across the broadest possible spectrum of IP rights, and our lawyers have acted in some of the most significant and influential IP disputes of recent years, being one of a select group of firms to have taken both patent (supplementary protection certificates) and trade mark cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Our experience is wide and varied, ranging from trade marks, designs, and copyright litigation involving household brands, famous designs, and celebrated artistic works, films, and broadcasts through to cross-border patent revocation and infringement actions. Example cases in recent years include: Sky v SkyKick (CJEU and Supreme Court), Nintendo v Sky (first ever blocking injunction based upon technological protection measures), Iceland v Iceland (EU General Court), Thom Browne v adidas (High Court), Dr Reddy's v Warner-Lambert (Patents Court), and DISH v Aylo (multi-jurisdictional dispute including Unified Patents Court and Patents Court).

Mishcon's IP disputes group is particularly well known for our expertise in the field of enforcement. Our lawyers have secured and enforced countless search and seizure orders; we advise on and secure blocking injunctions for our rights holder clients; our anti-counterfeiting and grey market credentials run deep - we routinely secure customs seizures and civil injunctions to cut off infringing imports at source; and, as one of the very few IP teams with in-house criminal prosecutors, we have successfully undertaken private prosecutions where our clients have been the victims of IP crime.

As part of Mishcon's Innovation Department, the IP Group serves a diverse clientele across the innovation economy. We work with multinational technology and life sciences companies, rapidly growing venture-backed businesses, and entrepreneurial individuals who are driven by transformative ideas dedicated to building a better world.

Duties and Responsibilities

The role will involve advising on a varied range of disputes and related advisory work concerning both soft IP (trade marks, designs, copyright, and confidential information) and patents (including in relation to SPCs, FRAND disputes, and freedom to operate). The team's work also involves advising on IP-related commercial disputes typically related to the licensing of IP or the supply or sale of IP protected goods and services. There will also be a range of general IP advisory work (such as advertising clearance/ASA disputes and related matters) and opposition, revocation, and invalidity disputes before the UKIPO and other registries. You will have every opportunity to engage in all aspects of the life and business of the IP Group, the wider Innovation Department, and the Firm, ranging from business development, client care, training and learning through to social impact, health, and well-being projects. Our Associates and Managing Associates are never "too junior" to take on leadership roles.

Skills/Experience

The ideal candidate will have 3-6 years' PQE gained within private practice and will be a subject matter specialist - both substantive across the IP disciplines and also procedural (with strong "White Book" experience). A passion for IP, with a solid grounding in its basics, and a commitment to building a career in IP. At all times exercise excellent client care skills by advocating for clients from both a technical and commercial perspective ensuring their best interests are prioritised while understanding the current and future landscape. Excellent written and interpersonal skills. Able to manage a diverse portfolio of client work allocated by the Partners and other fee-earners. Able to work independently and manage a varied workload, ensuring excellent communication lines with Matter Partners and other fee-earners in the team. Excellent team working skills. Strong organisational and prioritising skills to meet the demands of challenging and commercial internal and external clients and competing priorities. Personable and confident, able to ensure good working relationships with colleagues, clients, and external organisations. Resilient and calm under pressure. Able to work independently and as part of a team. Demonstrates a hunger to undertake business development activities, both internally amongst colleagues across the firm, and externally to existing and potential new clients. Takes responsibility for and attends to self-development. Undertaken the Oxford IP Diploma or an interest in doing so.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon de Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone. With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong, and UAE, the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional, and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.