Solicitor

Commercial Services Group

The Group Head for Commercial Services is Paul Kite. We aim to provide you with premium quality, cost-effective solutions tailored to your business needs. We are partner-led, accessible and responsive. Most of all, you can expect experienced and commercially aware lawyers who understand your business.

Our clients range from start-up companies to large institutions, including UK and overseas private and public companies. Our work ranges from modest to large, complex transactions. Our network of contacts also enables us to service your European needs.
 

Job Purpose

This is an expansion role. The purpose of this role is to provide an efficient commercial, IP and IT service capability for IBB working with the existing team members for new and existing clients. The post-holder will be working with the partners in the team to increase the volume of instructions on the commercial IP / IT aspect of the practice.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop the breadth of your existing commercial, IP and IT technical knowledge and skills and to work on a full range of matters whilst supporting the team to develop the breadth of its commercial offering.

There will also be the opportunity to work on corporate work from time to time.  Please see the IBB website for a full list of the services we offer and the calibre of the clients we act for.

The team currently comprises of a Partner who is the Team Leader, a Senior Consultant, two Senior Solicitors, a Solicitor and a Trainee.

1. Supporting the Commercial IP/IT team on the general IP/ IT workload and developing your knowledge and skills set in order to undertake a fullworkload including:

Commercial

General commercial work including T&Cs, reviewing a variety of commercial contacts, fundraising and outsourcing arrangements.

Intellectual Property

All forms of contentious intellectual property work including patent disputes; trademark infringement and passing off; copyright infringement claims.

There will also be some non-contentious IP / IT work, however experience of this is desirable and not essential. This will include drafting and advising contracts with focus on IP; advising on ownership and buying and selling of intellectual assets; advising on the creation of IP and how the IP can be protected; undertaking due diligence of high technology businesses; brand portfolio management and licensing agreements and IP audits.

IT and Outsourcing

Advising and drafting IT agreements, including systems procurement and integration; logistics and supply chain projects; cloud computing; managed services and outsourcing (technology and business process).

Corporate Support

 Involved in due diligence processes and drafting sales and purchase agreements

Data Protection

Work including compliance audits; advice on implementing policy and best practice.

E-business

Advising on online content; drafting and advising on contracts, disclaimers, data protection and privacy policies; consumer protection; security; jurisdiction and regulation.

2.  Utilise your technical knowledge and skills to effectively:

• analyse information and reach sound decisions;

• understand and adhere to instructions;

• communicate succinctly both orally and in writing; and

• research appropriate case law and technical and legal precedents to progress matters.

3. Utilising your organisational and interpersonal skills to ensure:

• work is prioritised and progressed as efficiently as possible to include taking responsibility for delegating work and providing guidance for more junior team members where appropriate;

• you demonstrate a balance of working on your own initiative and seeking advice or guidance;

• the partners in the Group are sufficiently aware of your workload and specific issues which arise on your matters;

• you maintain a flexible and proactive approach to work;

• you build good working relationships with external institutions including clients and any professional referrers to promote IBB’s brand in the marketplace;

• working with other IBB teams on larger cross-disciplinary projects as and when required

4. Meet the firms quality standards including:

• ensuring personal time recording and billing targets are achieved;

• ensuring that all chargeable work is properly recorded on client matters;

• adhering to the SRA’s client care directive and to the firm’s own policies as set out in the Office Manual;

• maintaining good file management as set out in the Office Manual; and

• understanding the obligations relating to client accounts and ensures preparation and delivery of bills in accordance with the Solicitors Accounts Rules.

5. Assist the team in its marketing and business development objectives, including activities such as attending client events, writing text/articles for the website and other publications, and assisting the Partners in organising marketing events.

6. Remain up to date professionally and technically as well as developing knowledge of the market place and client base.

7. Working as part of the wider commercial services team to improve process, communication and speed of service delivery.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level and a strong LPC pass or equivalent;

• Must hold a current clean practising certificate from the SRA;

• A minimum of three years of commercial, IP and IT work following admittance to the roll.

• Ability to manage commercial matters, subject to partner supervision.

Skills and Experience

• Indicatively, 3 to 6 years’ post qualification experience in this area of legal work which will be demonstrable through an awareness of relevant legislation and experience of and the ability to provide advice or consideration to relevant commercial, IP / IT issues.
• A demonstrable commitment to building and developing a career in commercial, IP/IT, evidenced by legal experience in this area of law, coupled with broad commercial experience, CPD and an awareness of the commercial issues in IP/IT in the wider market place.

• Commercially minded with the ability to operate, liaise and advise to a high standard and think laterally and commercially with and for clients.

• Experience of working to targets and time recording.

• An awareness and demonstrable experience of involvement with business development activity.

• Demonstrable commitment to customer service including providing high standards of service to clients.

• A commitment to the highest quality standards together with an eye for detail.

• A flexible approach and the ability to work to tight deadlines.

• Proven communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style to the audience.

• IT literate including proficient with Microsoft applications and self-sufficient in using document management systems including case management and the internet as business tools.

Competitive