Mewburn Ellis is the forward-looking IP firm. 150 years old, but very much with a focus on the future, we are at the top of our profession. We are ‘Top Tier’ in Legal 500, ‘Band 1’ in Chambers & Partners UK, ‘Gold Ranked’ for EPO work and ‘Top Tier’ in IAM Patent 1000 as well as being ‘Recommended’ in MIP IP Stars and WTR. We are proud to have been awarded the prestigious EcoVadis Platinum Medal in 2024. Mewburn Ellis is the world’s first Intellectual Property firm to receive this medal, which is the highest rating you can earn in sustainable business practices.
We provide commercially focused, creative advice about obtaining, enforcing, and exploiting intellectual property rights including patents, trade marks and designs to a wide range of clients who enjoy our straightforward approach and flexible working practices. Our attorneys, and lawyers assist our clients across the entire range of IP services. We have experience working in numerous diverse industry sectors.
There has never been a more exciting time to work for a firm like Mewburn Ellis. We are an ambitious and growing firm that put our people at the heart of our culture. We are over 350 strong across five offices in Bristol, Cambridge, London, Manchester and Munich. The culture and personality of the firm is ambitious but also relaxed and friendly.
Role
The Risk & Compliance Lead is a newly created position, working with and supporting our lead Compliance Partner, it has an expanding scope and will help our firm step up as we seek accreditation and ongoing retention of ISO27001. We expect the remit associated with the position to grow over time but focus on ISO progress (specifically 27001) will be the key purpose of the initial phase. Indeed, this is the main driver for the position and will form the majority of the work profile, certainly for the initial 12-18 months.
As our Risk & Compliance Lead, you will own risk management and regulatory compliance across the firm. Currently, several different aspects linked to this position sit in different parts of the business so strategically bringing them all ‘under one roof’ by building trust and confidence with your key stakeholders will be critical. The way this will be achieved will be driven by you, with your expertise and experience guiding your approach but your aim will be to streamline, drive efficiency, minimise duplication, implement best practice and ultimately free up those currently leading the various workstreams.
The role can be based at any of our UK offices and whilst you will work closely with a Cambridge-based partner, you will need to build close working relationships with various stakeholders based elsewhere too so there’ll be regular travel. As an experienced practitioner in this field, you will ultimately take full responsibility for the following:
- ISO 270001 certification and retention
- Maintenance of Business Continuity planning
- Money Laundering compliance
- Client onboarding – Letters of Engagement, T&Cs, conflict checking, due diligence
- IPReg compliance
- GDPR and data protection compliance – information/records storage and access across the firm
- Political sanctions compliance
- Professional Indemnity Insurance (& input into PAMIA committee)
- Maintaining various ESG accreditations (inc. EcoVadis) and seeking to improve current ratings
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive remuneration package
- A friendly, inclusive and team-based working culture
- A hybrid office and home working approach
- Flexible working hours
- 30 days leave (exc. Bank Holidays)
- Health scheme including Health Assurance
- Generous pension scheme, enhanced family leave
- Cycle to work scheme, interest-free season travel ticket loan
- Firmwide discretionary bonus scheme
- Paid day off for charitable endeavours
- Discount Voucher Scheme, Electric Car Scheme
- Workplace ISA, Medicash, Care concierge
- Access to managers bonus scheme
Our successful growth story is down to our people. And we take the wellbeing of our people seriously offering a 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. Your career is important to us, and as a people-focussed firm we will invest in you to allow you to develop and grow.
About you
You are passionate about your specialist area and keen to further build your expertise in a firm that thrives on excellence. Experienced in risk and compliance you will be a self-starting, customer-centric professional who deeply understands the impact of this role on people, clients and reputation. You will own your work, taking proactive responsibility for shaping this newly created role (and are excited by the prospect!) You will be comfortable working at different levels with a flexible and adaptable approach, hands-on when needed and with a need to switch between conflicting priorities and demands. To land well and grow into the role quickly, you will:
- Have taken responsibility for driving through the accreditation of ISO27001 in other organisations
- Ideally have knowledge and experience of other relevant ISOs
- Ideally have experience of SRA or IPReg compliance and understand risk in a legal setting
- Preferably have a background in an IP Firm or Law firm, or professional services background
- Possess the gravitas and influencing skills to build productive relationships with senior people quickly
- Be able to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Naturally be highly organized, analytical and ‘into the detail’
- Have the ability to travel and work to our 50/50 home/office blended working policy
You can be based at any UK office. If the prospect of this new role appeals, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV to Andy Whitlock at recruitment@mewburn.com
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome a broad diversity of talent to apply.
Your privacy
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Note for agencies:
Mewburn Ellis are currently working with one chosen provider for this position, any speculative CVs sent in will be treated as gifts.