Senior Associate Lawyer

SENIOR ASSOCIATE LAWYER

Hybrid Work from Home/Office Option 

Excellent Package

Pearce IP is an award-winning, boutique firm of specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys providing intellectual property services to the life sciences industries.  The majority of our work is pharma/biopharma/animal health/gene editing/personalised medicine/ag-tech and food-tech.

We develop, coordinate and execute local and multi-jurisdictional IP/legal strategies (including contentious and non contentious matters), provide IP/legal support for regional and global business development activities and licensing deals, and draft and prosecute patent and trade mark applications around the world.  In financial year 2024, Pearce IP commenced more life sciences focused patent litigation matters than any other firm in Australia.

Pearce IP is one of Australia’s leading IP firms, with staff based in Australia and New Zealand.   Along with the honour of being awarded IP Team of the Year at the Australian Law Awards in 2021, Pearce IP’s leaders are ranked in virtually every notable legal/attorney directory.

Thriving in a “work from anywhere” model, Pearce IP offers the best of both worlds to its team.

If you are a science/law graduate or a lawyer with a science background with a keen interest in patents and would like to be part of our continued growth and success, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

Pearce IP has a full-time role for a capable and driven Senior Associate Lawyer to join its Legal Team. Working five days per week, the successful candidate will:

• Provide accurate, concise and timely intellectual property services (with a focus on patent FTO, advice, strategy, commercialisation and litigation services, together with some trade mark services) to Pearce IP’s clients, with a focus on clients that operation in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries. 
• Provide legally sound, independent, practical and appropriate patent and trade mark advice to Pearce IP’s clients taking account of alternative approaches and solutions;
• The timely provision of advice, as measured by response within client deadlines, or in managing client’s expectations and a low incidence of reminders;
• Global freedom to operate patent review and advice;
• Develop litigation strategies in Australia and overseas;
• Manage contentious disputes in Australia;
• Proactively identify patent and legal risks and opportunities for clients, and suggesting solutions;
• Identify potential clients and suggest and implement strategies for targeting clients, enhancing Pearce IP’s public-facing communications, and business growth;

About you

Candidates will have extensive experience as a Senior Associate Lawyer, with 6 – 15 years PQE and big law training. You will bring to the role:

• Qualifications in law and chemical or biological sciences;
• The ability to practice as a Solicitor in Australia;
• Patent Attorney Registration in Australia is preferred but not essential;
• Experience in pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical/biotech industries along with patent freedom to operate clearance;
• Experience in providing commercially focused patent advice, including strategic advice;
• Experience in pre-litigation dispute resolution and patent office procedures;
• Patent Litigation experience in Australia and overseas;
• Confidence in direct client communications and ability to present and ‘pitch’ to potential clients;
• Demonstrated sound judgement in all situations;
• Ability to deal with challenging scenarios competently and calmly;
• Proficiency in Office 365; 

Culture and Benefits

All Pearce IP Team Members live out our values of Respect, Integrity, Talent, Excellence and Brand Ambassadors.

We offer a range of excellent employee benefits including:

• Comparative ‘big-law’ remuneration package;
• ‘Work from anywhere’ arrangements with state team office days;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• A reward and recognition program recognising individual and team performance;
• Mentoring opportunities with senior colleagues;
• Career path planning along with individualised learning and development opportunities:
• Menstrual and menopause leave;
• Sorry Business Leave;
• Paid Parental Leave covering the birth or stillbirth of a child, the placement of a child via adoption or surrogacy arrangement, fertility treatment and miscarriage leave; and 
• Birthday leave.

Pearce IP recognises, is committed to, and celebrates a diverse and inclusive workplace, and is proud to be certified as a Woman Owned business. 

All interested candidates with the required qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter for consideration by clicking on the “Apply” button. 

If you would like further information, to confidentially discuss any adjustments you might require throughout the recruitment process, or wish to confidentially discuss the role, please contact Pearce IP’s Executive, Deputy CEO & Head of Talent, Adele Chadwick at **************@pearceip.law, 0488 611 ***, or HR Administrator, Jenny Likousis at **************@pearceip.law.

Pearce IP: Nurturing talent, empowering futures