About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with a history spanning almost 200 years, and clear strategy for our future growth. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing exceptional standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit here .

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.

Team overview:

Our Intellectual Property team advises on a wide range of contentious and transactional matters. Its work spans 'classic' IP litigation (patents, trade marks and copyright); 'tech disputes' with technology at their core, frequently involving breach of confidence and software copyright infringement as well as other causes of action such as breach of contract and conspiracy; transactional IP, both stand-alone IP licences/assignments as well as corporate and finance deals where IP is an important component; reputation and brand management, defamation, privacy and advertising regulation; trade mark portfolio management and associated opposition and invalidity disputes.

The team was established in 2018 and has grown rapidly in both headcount and turnover. It currently consists of a partner, one counsel, two associates, a trade mark attorney, a trainee and a paralegal.

The IP team works closely with a number of other teams across the firm, including Digital Economy, corporate transactions, finance, competition, FinReg and employment.

Recent independent testimonials for Ashurst's IP team include:

Legal 500 2021

As a full-service firm, Ashurst brings a wealth of experience to any commercial dispute. In TMT and IP disputes the firm benefits from having strong commercial support teams readily at hand to assist with complex but important peripheral issues. The firm as a whole is very commercially aware, experienced and offers excellent cost efficiency and makes appropriate use of experienced senior associates and other teaming decisions to ensure diligent yet cost effective management of every case.'

'Ashurst is a top-flight City firm with clients to match. They always put in a first-rate performance in whatever they do and are always very pleasant to deal with.'

'High-quality, experienced team. Good at managing and earning the trust of difficult clients, while managing their expectations. I have found the advice provided by Ashurst to be clear, straightforward and importantly, practical taking into account the circumstances of the cases we have worked on together. This includes an inherent cost/benefit assessment of the situation measured against the scale of the problem which is appreciated by attorneys and clients alike.'

World Trademark Review 2021

"The dynamic IP group at Ashurst has grown exponentially in bandwidth and output since the arrival of David Wilkinson in 2018. Under his leadership, the team has been involved in a stack of diverse instructions, including high-profile work advising on the IP aspects of the Thomas Cook liquidation and litigation on behalf of McLaren Racing Ltd. Meanwhile, it continues to diligently manage the portfolios of companies such as Agilitas and Teach First."

Recent work highlights include:

• Representing FinTech company Crypton Digital Assets in ongoing litigation against Blockchain Luxembourg SA relating to a cryptocurrency trading platform. The claims include copyright infringement, breach of confidence, interference with contract and conspiracy. See here for a recent interim decision: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2021/1172.html
• Advising United Company Rusal in defending an ongoing claim before the Jersey courts where the causes of action are breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy, with the unlawful means said to be patent infringement and breach of confidence. See here for a recent interim decision: https://www.jerseylaw.je/judgments/unreported/Pages/[2021]JRC083.aspx
• Representing General Nuclear System Limited in an ongoing trade mark infringement dispute in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court against GNS Gesellschaft fur Nuclear-Service mBH
• Representing McLaren Racing on IP aspects of a major investment by MSP Sports Capital: see https://www.mclaren.com/group/news/articles/mclaren-group-announces-new-investment-mclaren-racing/
• Representing Barclays in relation to the licensing of its brand name to a joint venture with Barrenjoey Capital Partners: see https://home.barclays/news/press-releases/2020/09/barclays-makes-strategic-investment-in-australia/
• Advising Goldman Sachs on advertising and marketing regulatory issues around the launch of its digital-first online savings bank, Marcus. See https://www.ashurst.com/en/news-and-insights/news-deals-and-awards/ashurst-advises-on-the-launch-of-marcus-by-goldman-sachs/
• Advising a financial institution on defamation issues in relation to allegations contained in a Sunday Times article and a related Channel 4 'Dispatches' programme.

Representative Clients:

• McLaren
• NCR
• BlackRock Innovation Capital
• Goldman Sachs
• United Company Rusal
• Clinigen Group
• AVEVA Group
• NEX International

Job overview:

The IP team seeks to recruit an associate with post-qualification experience of contentious and/or transactional IP. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to work across a number of the workstreams discussed above (patents, trade mark and copyright litigation; tech disputes; transactional IP; reputation and brand management; trade mark portfolio management) and will in due course have an opportunity to focus on the areas of most interest to them.

Essential skills and experience:

• You will already have acquired experience in intellectual property disputes and/or transactional work and will ideally have completed the Oxford Diploma in IP law and practice.
• You will be effective in communicating with clients in order to understand their needs and how best to meet them. You will also have the ability to assist clients in arriving at practical and cost effective solutions.
• You will be ready to become involved with business development, including client seminars, article writing and cross-selling.
• You will have a strong academic background and excellent communication and organisational skills.
• You will have excellent attention to detail, identifying inconsistencies that indicate problems with quality of work or a misunderstanding of clients' needs.
• You will gather information from a variety of sources to identify your own strengths and weaknesses.
• You will be ambitious and highly motivated and be willing to go the extra mile in your contribution to the IP team and the firm as a whole.
• You will have excellent matter management skills including in relation to client and court deadlines, and billing.
• You will be a team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• You will have a commercial approach.

Career advancement:

An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.

Secondment opportunities:

Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm.

Salary: Competitive