Senior Patent Attorney

Overview

In this role you manage Vodafone’s patent portfolio, guiding filings and aligning cases with commercial goals. You draft and prosecute applications, including collaboration with outside counsel, while actively capturing inventions and evaluating disclosures. You’ll champion IP education and coordinate data and reporting on patent matters with stakeholders. This is a hands-on, independent role at the intersection of technology, business, and law, shaping Vodafone’s IP strategy and impact.

Pay / Benefits

• Discretionary yearly bonus: 20%
• Company car: company funded car and private fuel option
• Annual leave: 28 days + bank holidays + carryover option
• Maternity/adoption leave: 52 weeks with paid periods
• Paternity leave: 16 weeks fully paid
• Private medical family plan and private pension with company matching

Responsibilities

• Manage own patent portfolio including filing decisions, deadlines, and mapping cases to commercial goals
• Draft and prosecute patent applications; collaborate with outside counsel
• Proactively capture inventions and assess invention disclosures
• Lead IP communication and education through awareness, training, and events with stakeholders
• Handle ad hoc and routine data collection and reporting on patent matters

Key requirements

• Ability to work independently on patent matters
• Excellent communication with technical, business, and legal stakeholders at all levels
• Experience drafting patent applications and prosecuting before EPO and UK patent office in networks, AI, and software; AI tools for drafting/prosecution preferred
• In-depth knowledge of European and UK patent law
• Degree in Engineering Science, Electrical Engineering, or Software Engineering (PhD preferred)
• Qualified European and UK patent attorney (finals standards considered)

• Strong communication and stakeholder management
• Ownership and autonomous working style
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Patent drafting and prosecution
• Experience with EPO and UK patent offices
• Knowledge of networks, AI, and software patents

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