Patent Attorney - Experienced Pharma / Life Sciences Specialist

The role

At Mewburn Ellis we have a specialist team known as ‘Speciality Pharma’ that works collaboratively with our patent prosecution attorneys and patent litigation lawyers to provide sophisticated and comprehensive IP support for drug products for their entire lifecycle. This new role offers a combination of regular pharma / life science patent work while also being a significant new addition to ‘Speciality Pharma’. It will involve working closely with existing partners, IP directors, associates and litigators.

Recently, the Speciality Pharma team has expanded in response to strong demand. The team focuses on SPCs, PTEs, Patent-Regulatory Listings, regulatory exclusivity and broader regulatory matters, providing strategic / commercial advice to understand and maximise the exclusivity for pharma / life science assets. More detail on the team and our work can be found here.

As part of our team, you’ll access a diverse client base from the get-go but with the scope and requirement to help grow the client base further. We support pharma and life sciences clients from all over the world, from well-known global companies to small companies with only one drug product in development.

Joining us, you’ll enjoy transparency when it comes to defining your career path and operate in an environment that is friendly, collaborative and developmental. You will work independently or collaboratively, depending on the work being undertaken. You will benefit from business support colleagues and IP specialists and due to our structure and approach you’ll be freed up to concentrate on what you do best!

To perform well in the role and succeed, you will need a deep understanding of the ‘Speciality Pharma’ team’s technical areas. We know that you may not be an expert in every single aspect and recognise the need to invest in you and support your personal and professional growth.

What’s in it for you? 

• Competitive remuneration package and bonus scheme
• Hybrid office and home working (50/50)
• Flexible working hours and 30 days leave (exc. Bank Holidays)
• Health scheme including Health Assurance
• Generous pension scheme, enhanced family leave
• Paid day off for charitable endeavours
• Discount Voucher Scheme, Electric Car Scheme
• Workplace ISA, Medicash, Care concierge

You’ll hone your skills as a Patent Attorney through development reviews, internal and external tutorials, and regular input from experienced partners. And because we are merit-based, joining us means your career progression is in your own hands.

Our successful growth story is down to our people. And we take the wellbeing of our people seriously - offering a huge suite of initiatives to de-stress, engage and enthuse. We care about wider society too, and the communities in which we operate - read about our Forward Community Programme to find out more about how we're giving back.

About you

You’ll have experience in most or all of the following:

• A strong knowledge of relevant law, case law, historical precedents in the areas of SPCs & PTEs for Europe and major countries ex-Europe
• Good working knowledge of relevant law, case law, historical precedents and EU law change proposals relating to regulatory exclusivity within Europe, and ideally a good working knowledge relating to regulatory exclusivity and patent-regulatory Linkage systems for medicinal products in major countries ex-Europe
• Capability to distil what may be a complex exclusivity situation around a drug asset into client-friendly output without unnecessary legalese, with good strategic and commercial insights and an ability to address novel situations with confidence
• Ability to manage fluctuating workload in the ‘Speciality Pharma’ team, the role would also involve handling regular pharma / life-science patent work

You’ll have at least seven years’ post-EQE experience. You’ll be quality-driven, highly organised and with a decent level of business development acumen. You may have built up relevant experience working in-house, and/or may have focused significantly in the relevant specialist areas within private practice.

We are a collaborative firm so being personable, approachable, with a willingness to continuously learn will also help! If you are excited by the prospect of this role and where a career with Mewburn Ellis could take you and can work from any of our five offices (Bristol, Cambridge, London, Manchester or Munich), we’d love to hear from you.

Please send a CV to our Resourcing and Talent Manager at andy.whitlock@mewburn.com or drop a line to set up a confidential chat.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome a broad diversity of talent to apply. We reserve the right to cease advertising should we receive a high number of applicants.

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