Intellectual property law

Intellectual property (IP) law deals with the development, exploitation, protection and enforcement of IP rights (including patents, trade marks, brands, designs and copyright).

Graduate careers in intellectual property law

The scale and type of work is varied and ranges from large infringement cases (which may involve a number of team members over many months) to one-off advice to an individual on how they might protect and exploit their idea (something a single lawyer would deal with relatively quickly). Typical transactions can include: sports sponsorship agreements; research and development arrangements; technology licensing and manufacturing agreements; advertising clearance and new product launches; advising on IP strategy; and securing injunctions for infringements of IP rights. 

All businesses have IP and clients range from individuals and charities to large multinational organisations. IP is often central to a client's business so IP lawyers have a good deal of client contact, both on the phone and one-to-one, and many meetings take place at clients’ premises so that the lawyers can see and understand the business environment a client operates in.

Clients are aware of their IP and increasingly wish to realise more value from it, making this area of law relatively buoyant. The workload is not as susceptible to the very great peaks and troughs that other areas experience so while all-night stints are not unheard of, they are not the norm. Things do get busy though, particularly with approaching deadlines and hearings.

The international nature of IP means that practising lawyers are likely to be dealing with matters outside of the UK, which involves working with foreign lawyers and getting to know the way in which different legal systems work.

Is intellectual property law recession-proof?

While IP is not over-vulnerable, it is also not immune to economic downturns. Many businesses take protection of their IP more seriously in such times because while they can replace people and property when the economy is strong, they cannot restore their IP once it is lost.

What skills does an intellectual property law solicitor need to do the job? 

• An enquiring and analytical mind.
• Commercial judgment.
• Commitment.
• Flexibility.

What is it like doing a trainee solicitor job in intellectual property law? 

Trainees can expect to be given a wide range of responsibilities. Typical tasks include researching legal precedents and legislations, searching international registers to identify IP rights, and drafting basic assignments, licensing documentation and litigation documents such as witness statements.

Types of law practised

• Commercial.
• Intellectual property.
• Litigation.

About the author

JEREMY DICKERSON is a partner in the intellectual property and technology group at BURGES SALMON LLP. He graduated with a degree in law from Middlesex University in 1989.