Senior Associate, Commercial Intellectual Property

About Us

We are an international law firm employing over 2200 people globally across 28 international offices in 14 countries committed to delivering exceptional legal services to clients across global markets and industries. Our focus on quality standards drives our ambition to strengthen a high-performance culture by embedding excellence throughout our legal services practice. We foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels they Belong and can contribute effectively and are empowered to grow innovate and deliver outstanding client outcomes. It takes everyone to make us who we are and how we are. Were a culture of diverse perspectives with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together. Our Values and Behaviours are driven by collaboration and are central to how we work and how we support our clients and colleagues and together we value:

People First We put colleagues clients and communities at the forefront of all we do.
Embracing ESG We collectively leave things better than we found them and focus on representing the diversity in our communities and striving for equity for all.
Collaboration Is the catalyst for success. We communicate in a constructive and thoughtful way.

About the Team

Our market-leading Commercial IP team advises an enviable and diverse range of clients from established multinational brands to ambitious growth businesses on some of their most important strategic and brand-related matters.

The team has an outstanding reputation for its expertise in franchising and distributionadvertising and marketing and intellectual property licensinghelping clients achieve their strategic business priorities and develop protect and commercialise their brands both in the UK and internationally.

Our work spans complex franchise expansion programmes international route-to-market arrangements innovative commercial agreements brand licensing structures sponsorships promotions and regulatory compliance matters.

Led by market-leading practitioners recognised by Chambers Legal 500 and Lexology Index the team works collaboratively with colleagues across Fieldfishers European and international network and closely with clients across sectors including retail hospitality hotels and leisure education automotive advanced manufacturing hotels and leisure life sciences entertainment sport and consumer-facing industries.

Fieldfisher is recognised as a Tier 1 franchising practice and is a longstanding member of the British Franchise Association. The team advises many of the worlds leading franchise systems licensors distributors and brand owners on domestic and international expansion projects strategic commercial arrangements and complex brand-related matters.

As part of a growing practice the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with household-name brands and ambitious high-growth businesses on high-profile UK and cross-border projects while helping shape the continued growth of one of the UKs leading franchising practices.

Role Purpose
Our career development driversset out what professionals are expected to demonstrate at each level of this role the Senior Associate will be expected to contribute across the following areas:

• Business & Financial Management e.g. Contributes to the negotiation of profitable fee levels for a variety of clients.
• Client Focus e.g. Able to work on large client matters with limited supervision.
• Working with People & Teams e.g. Delegates work to more junior colleagues and manages their performance and manages upwards effectively by making best use of partner/director time.
• Business Development e.g. Project manages BD activities and uses interaction to win new work from existing clients and contacts.
• Technical Skills e.g. Has a comprehensive knowledge of specialist areas of law and recognises where changes in law may require amendments to precedents and takes action.
• Knowledge & Innovation e.g. Successfully implements knowledge sharing initiatives within the team and client base and actively seeks publication or speaking opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on complex franchising distribution commercial and brand-related matters for a diverse portfolio of UK and international clients.
• Draft negotiate and advise on franchise area development licensing distribution sponsorship advertising and other strategic commercial agreements.
• Advise clients on domestic and international expansion strategies routes-to-market and brand commercialisation projects.
• Support clients with advertising and marketing compliance issues including promotions campaigns and regulatory considerations.
• Build strong collaborative client relationships and take an active role in managing matters from instruction through to completion.
• Mentor junior lawyers and contribute to business development initiatives thought leadership and the continued growth of the practice.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and trainees supporting their professional development.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships through excellent service delivery and responsiveness.
• Contribute to business development initiatives including pitches client presentations publications and industry events.
• Drive efficient matter management financial discipline and delivery against budgets and timelines.
• Collaborate effectively across international offices and practice groups.
• Support innovation process improvement and knowledge management initiatives within the practice.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards firm policies and regulatory obligations.

About You

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious technically strong and commercially minded lawyer who thrives in a collaborative market-facing and high-performing environment.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills consistent technical excellence and sound commercial judgement along with the ability to manage complex matters while building trusted relationships with clients and colleagues within a collaborative and supportive team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales or another common law jurisdiction with strong relevant experience.
• Significant post-qualification experience ideally 5 years PQE within a leading international law firm or comparable in-house environment.
• Significant experience advising on franchising distribution licensing route-to-market arrangements or other strategic commercial projects.
• Experience advising brand owners or consumer-facing businesses would be advantageous.
• Excellent drafting negotiating documentation managing transactions end-to-end and analytical skills.
• Displays resilience and the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure with the ability to think laterally and solve complex problems.
• Delivers work efficiently while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Demonstrates ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to team development.
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to client service and business development.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to contribute positively to team culture promoting inclusion and collaboration effectively across global teams.

Who are we looking for

• We dont have a type. We believe our differences are our strengths; varied cultures approaches and experiences can only benefit us.

What do we offer

• You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. Were a culture of diverse perspectives with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
• In the office or WFH: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home so we operate a 60:40 rule.
• Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance health cash plan dental insurance life assurance critical illness insurance matched pension contributions up to 7% holiday trading plus many more. Visit:Reward & Benefits Fieldfisher.
• Come for the WOW views: Riverbank House is in the City just next to London Bridge with stunning views of The Shard and Tower a short walk from Monument/Bank.
• Nurturing your talent:Take a build a career approach to your training. Youll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something youd like to study more closely.
• Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs affinity networks inclusive events and pro bono/charity initiatives.

Inclusion at Fieldfisher

At Fieldfisher inclusion is central to how we work. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected supported and able to succeed.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or once you join us we will work with you to put the right support in place. Examples include extra time for assessments accessible document formats alternative interview formats quiet rooms or physical and technological accessibility support.

For accessibility information on our London office visit:Accessing Fieldfisher London Fieldfisher Fieldfisher

What to do next:

• Click Apply Now complete an online application and upload a CV.
• Successful applications will be invited to a 2030-minute introductory call with a recruiter.
• Every role recruits differently. But well always let you know what to expect from the process so you get no surprises.
• For hybrid opportunities youll be invited to visit our offices for a face-to-face meeting.
• We try to make sure the process takes around 2-3 weeks only but we cant always promise that. We will work around everyones availability. You can contact us at.

We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.

We are not a UK firm with offices in Europe. We are a European law firm at our core. While our HQ is London we are spreading across addition to UK China and Silicon Valley we have offices in Austria Belgium France Germany Ireland Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands Poland Portugal and Spain.

With 28 offices across 14 countries we work collaboratively with each of our offices to ensure our clients receive the best advice and support. You might expect an impersonal office culture but you will find a homely family feel even in the largest offices.

Quality on both sides
Across all our offices and jurisdictions are market-leading practices in corporate/M&A finance real estate energy and natural resources technology and life sciences.

We count as clients large corporations including major technology firms pharmaceutical and life sciences companies energy suppliers infrastructure companies global banks and financial institutions.

We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. Applications will be considered on merit and the applicants suitability to meet the requirements of the role.