Senior IP Counsel

Want to do the best work of your life? With 24 million customers in 7 countries, make your mark at Europe’s leading media and entertainment brand. A workplace where you can proudly be yourself; our people make Sky a truly exciting and inclusive place to work.

This is a great opportunity for an Intellectual Property Lawyer as a Senior Legal Counsel within the UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy and Intellectual Property team of Sky’s in house Legal Department, to support across all business areas.

As a team, we pursue the highest standards and demonstrate commitment, integrity, and judgement. We exist to add real value by sustainably providing the highest quality business-focussed legal expertise that keeps Sky competitive. Through our work we help to bring better content and innovation to all of our customers, better connecting them to more of what they love. Our vision is to create the Legal team of the future, together – operating at the heart of Sky, famous for adding value.

We are responsible for the protection and management of all SKY and non-Sky trademarks and brands worldwide.  We protect Sky’s brands in all courts, and recent cases have included hearings in the CJEU, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal, as well as activity in IP registries around the world.  This role requires close collaboration with legal and business colleagues in our core markets and there will be potential for some travel.  We are also responsible for the Sky’s patent and designs portfolios, as well as providing subject matter expertise on all intellectual property matters. 

Whilst the role will report into Head Counsel of the UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy and IP team based in the UK, we are open to the candidate being physically based in either our London, Milan, or Munich offices.

What you’ll do:

• Provide expert analysis, strategic advice, leadership, and business partnering to internal clients and stakeholders (the business or other members of the legal team, including at senior e.g. executive levels) on potential IP risks, opportunities, and disputes with third parties and propose creative solutions.
• Advise on the use of Sky’s brands and assist with new brand risk assessment (trademark clearance).
• Lead on complex trademark, opposition, revocation and invalidity actions by third parties against Sky and non-Sky marks, and by Sky against third party marks globally.
• Provide strategic input for the monitoring and management of our trademark portfolio management and development, including applications, oppositions, specification objections, renewals worldwide.
• Manage Sky’s patent and design portfolios including innovation capture and managing external lawyers and attorneys to prepare and prosecute patent and design applications.
• Lead on the preparation and negotiation of IP licences and IP contract terms and impacts for wider commercial and corporate deals.
• Lead on IP matters which have escalated to litigation or pre-action stage and coordinate with business/legal stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships with legal colleagues and the wider Sky businesses (including Sky Group and Comcast/NBCU).

What you’ll bring:

• 5+ years PQE or equivalent experience within a highly regarded law firm or equivalent in-house
• UK/German or Italian law experience in relevant areas
• Extensive trademark and passing off experience
• Significant experience in IP registry office actions in multiple territories
• Extensive dispute resolution/litigation experience
• Brand licensing and licensee management experience
• Ability to think critically and take a strategic approach e.g. to protect and grow Sky’s IP portfolio
• Great team player, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build rapport and establish trust and business partnering at all including senior levels
• Top quality drafting skills and analytical mindset

Legal

Sky’s Legal department is a fantastic place to work.  We comprise over 200 industry leading lawyers and legal and compliance professional across the Sky territories, providing commercial, risk-based advice to the wider business.  We regard ourselves (and are recognised) as trusted partners of the business functions we support.  We seek to employ the “Believe in Better” mantra in our day-to-day work, both in our output and in our behaviours.  Our Vision is to be one team, business partnering to deliver Sky’s Protect & Grow plan, empowered to be our best.

The rewards:

There’s a reason people can’t stop talking about #LifeAtSky. Our great range of rewards really are something special, here are just a few:

• Sky Q, for the TV you love all in one place
• A generous pension package
• Private healthcare
• Discounted mobile and broadband

Where you’ll work:

Osterley:

Our Osterley Campus is a 10-minute walk from Syon Lane train station. Or you can hop on one of our free shuttle buses that run to and from Osterley, Gunnersbury, Ealing Broadway and South Ealing tube stations. There’s also plenty of bike shelters and showers.

On campus, you’ll find 13 subsidised restaurants, cafes, and a Waitrose. You can keep in shape at our subsidised gym, catch the latest shows and movies at our cinema, get your car washed and even get pampered at our beauty salon.

Inclusion:

Recognised as an ‘Inclusive Top 50 Employer’ and a ‘Times Top 50 Employer for Women’, we’re working hard to ensure we’re a truly inclusive place to work. This means we don’t just look at your CV. We’re more focused on who you are and the potential you’ll bring to Sky. We also know that everyone has a life outside work,

And we’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our recruitment team who will be happy to support you. 

Why wait?

Apply now to build an amazing career and be part of a brilliant team. We can’t wait to hear from you.

To find out more about working with us, search #LifeAtSky on social media. A job you love to talk about.

Just so you know: if your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a criminal record check. And depending on the role you have applied for and the nature of any convictions you may have, we might have to withdraw the offer.