We are one of the UK’s leading intellectual property firms and we are looking for an ambitious, commercially focused graduate to train as a trade mark attorney in our London office.

At GJE we make sure our clients’ brand protection strategies enhance their business plans and that their trade marks are secure: we help protect their businesses with tailor-made solutions that reflect and support their commercial aims. We believe firmly that one size does not fit all. Our clients include Pfizer Inc, UnderArnour, Birkenstock, WWE and Hasbro.

The trade mark team is commercially focused, motivated and proactive. It handles all aspects of trade mark work worldwide including trade mark assessment and clearance, prosecution, oppositions, revocation and invalidity actions, infringement and anti-counterfeiting. The team is headed by Alasdair MacQuarrie, a qualified trade mark attorney, solicitor and litigator.

The role

You will be provided with training and coaching so that by the time you are fully qualified you will have an enviable breadth and depth of experience, skills and knowledge in key areas including: searches; drafting and filing of applications including pre-filing advice on issues of registrability and drafting specifications; prosecution; contentious issues, including opposition and cancellation actions, infringement and anti-counterfeiting matters; IP audits; and portfolio management and advice.

Being able to manage numerous deadlines at any given time, keeping up to date with legal developments, producing accurate work within tight timescales and providing clear and practical advice to clients are all key elements of the role.

Training and career development

In addition to providing full training support for professional examinations, GJE runs a training programme which aims to equip trainees with the skills required to progress their careers. You will be allocated a supervising partner to oversee your professional development and work closely with several of our experienced and talented team members.

We encourage our trainees to develop their business and leadership skills. In addition to training, we do this by providing opportunities to get involved with different aspects of business management including business development initiatives, the delivery of technical seminars, participation in working groups and the review of internal procedures.

There is a defined career structure for those who are ambitious and eager to demonstrate their potential for partnership.

Person Specification

• Strong academics including a 2.1 or a first class degree
• Analytical skills
• Commercial awareness
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility as appropriate
• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills, including the ability to work in a fast-paced working environment to short deadlines
• Effective and confident verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to structure concise, coherent and persuasive arguments
• Willingness to learn and take constructive feedback
• Self-motivated and pro-active
• An understanding of what good client service is and how to deliver that
• Excellent attention to detail

About GJE LLP

GJE LLP is one of the UK’s leading intellectual property firms and is consistently recognised by the leading UK legal directories. We are based in modern offices in London’s Broadgate Tower and Munich. Our culture is friendly, supportive, and collaborative. We offer a competitive salary, hybrid working, excellent benefits, and a whole host of regular social events and wellbeing initiatives. We think it’s a great place to work and we have been recognised by Best Companies as a top 20 law firm to work for!

There are three core practice groups: 1. trade marks, 2. chemistry & life sciences (patents) and 3. IT & engineering (patents). We have built a strong and diverse client base working closely with entrepreneurs, universities, SMEs, multi-nationals and legal firms worldwide.

Our success is down to the people we employ

Our firm has a clearly defined strategic vision for where we are heading and an impressive track record to match. There are around 120 of us in our London office, so we’re small and friendly enough for you to get to know everyone – but big enough to offer you great career prospects.

Equal opportunities and diversity are important values of GJE. If you have any special requirements, please contact us to ensure that we can make any required adjustments for the interview.

Vision & Values

We have a diverse workforce, the members of which share a vision and a set of core values. Our vision is: to be the right choice for intellectual property. That means as an employer, we aspire to be the right choice to develop your career. Based on the principles on which our vision is founded, GJE practices the following values;

Care: we take the time to understand the needs of our clients and colleagues, so we can deliver the best possible results for them

Clarity: we provide clear advice and concise recommendations so our clients can make the right decisions quickly and confidently

Creativity: we encourage innovative thinking to help solve problems

Collaboration: teamwork is important to us; our clients see us as an extension of their own team and our people flourish in a supportive environment

Commerciality: we work hard to understand our clients’ businesses and help them realise the value of their IP

To apply, please submit your CV with a covering letter explaining why you would like to become a trade mark attorney.