Senior IP Laws Specialist

The role will be responsible for validating and maintaining of IP Laws/rules, related IP Laws operations for operationalizing various products within Protect Delivery.  This role should enable the “Law Engine” that powers our technology-enabled solutions – ensuring that jurisdictional rules, deadlines, fee structures and procedural logic are accurately formalized, validated, codified, maintained and embedded into our platforms.Working closely with the Head of IP laws, product teams, IP Operations, and external agents and authorities, this role contributes to the effective operations and delivery of IP Laws operations.

We help Protect our customers’  ideas and innovations

• →Conduct in-depth research into Laws, rules and renewal and fees for Patents, design, trademarks, plant variety rights across major global jurisdictions
• →Creation of fresh IP Laws rules and renewal and fees for Patents, design, trademarks, plant variety rights across major global jurisdictions as per stakeholder requirements
• →Research, analyse and validate IP Laws for accuracy before codifying into software
• →Proactive research, monitoring IP office, law firm’s newsletter, internal and external resources for identifying timely law changes
• →Contribute to process standardisation, efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• →Partner effectively with IP Operations teams, product team to ensure smooth end-to-end IP Laws operations and delivery.
• →Regulatory insight across Protect by monitoring, interpreting and communicating changes to IP laws, rules, procedures and fees across all relevant jurisdictions.
• →Maintain an authoritative, up-to-date knowledge base of jurisdictional requirements covering filing, prosecution, renewals, recordals and related IP procedures.
• →Enable proactive compliance by translating evolving statutory and procedural requirements into clear, actionable guidance for service lines, regional teams and technology platforms.
• →Provide early warning of legislative, treaty and procedural change (e.g. new IP offices, fee changes, deadline rule changes), assessing operational and client impact and coordinating response.
• →Enable the legal “law engine” that powers our technology-enabled solutions, ensuring jurisdictional rules, deadlines, fee schedules and procedural logic are accurately codified and maintained.
• →Partner with Technology, Product and Data, Analytics & Automation teams to embed legal rules and compliance logic into core fulfilment systems and client-facing platforms.
• →Validate and govern the legal accuracy of automated laws, rules, calculations and workflows, providing sign-off and ongoing assurance as rules change.
• →Define and maintain the framework for capturing, updating and version-controlling jurisdictional rules so that the law engine remains a single, trusted source of legal truth.
• →Own the legal compliance framework for IP processes across Protect Delivery, ensuring enterprise processes meet applicable statutory and procedural obligations.
• →Identify, assess and escalate legal and regulatory risks, working with Business IP Service Owners and Regional Service Leaders to implement mitigation and controls.
• →Support governance and audit activities, ensuring procedures, controls and records meet professional, regulatory and client requirements.
• →Advise on data protection, confidentiality, conflicts and professional conduct considerations relevant to the delivery of IP services.
• →Maintain awareness of relevant treaties, conventions and regional frameworks (e.g. PCT, Madrid, Hague, EPC) and their operational implications.
• →Ensure quality-assurance of legal and jurisdictional research in support of service lines, clients and solutions.
• →Provide authoritative legal interpretation and advice on complex or non-standard IP procedural matters referred from regional teams or Business IP Service Owners.
• →Develop standardised legal research methodologies, templates and knowledge assets to ensure consistency, accuracy and efficiency.
• →Develop an internal database for storing all IP laws, rules, fees for all IP types across multiple jurisdictions
• →Develop an internal hyperlink or page for easy access to other owners and stakeholders for accessing new law changes.
• →Operate as an enabling capability within the IP Ops Hub, partnering with Business IP Service Owners (Filing, Renewals, Recordals, Translations) and Regional Service Leaders.
• →Partner with Technology, Product and Innovation teams to align legal requirements with the technology roadmap and emerging solutions.
• →Work with Training & Governance to embed legal and regulatory knowledge across regional operational teams.
• →Collaborate with Finance, Payments and supply chain functions on fee accuracy, jurisdictional cost structures and official fee management.
• →Engage with external counsel, IP offices, agents and professional bodies where required to validate or clarify jurisdictional requirements.
• →Define and monitor KPIs for the IP Law function, including rule accuracy, research turnaround, compliance coverage and law-engine currency.
• →Drive continuous improvement of legal research, rule maintenance and compliance processes, leveraging automation and analytics where appropriate.
• →Capture and apply learnings from regulatory change, audits and incidents to strengthen processes and reduce risk.
• →Contribute legal and compliance insight to enterprise-level reporting and governance forums.
• →Foster a trusting and collaborative work environment that encourages professional growth and self-development.
• →Promote a culture of continuous learning, integrity and professional excellence within the team.
• →Lead by example, demonstrating the values and behaviours that reflect RWS’s commitment to quality, integrity and client excellence.
• →Encourage open communication and psychological safety, ensuring team members feel empowered to raise ideas, concerns and feedback.Skills & Experience

• →A qualified IP professional or legally trained specialist with significant experience in IP law and procedure (a recognised IP/legal qualification is advantageous).
• →Experience of 3-7 years in an IP legal, paralegal or regulatory role, ideally within the IP industry or a professional services environment.
• →Deep working knowledge of IP filing, prosecution, renewals and recordals procedures across multiple jurisdictions, including key treaties and conventions (e.g. PCT, Madrid, Hague, EPC).
• →Demonstrable experience interpreting and applying complex jurisdictional rules, deadlines and fee structures.
• →Experience codifying or maintaining legal/procedural rules within technology platforms, rules engines or automated workflows is highly advantageous.
• →Experience working with technology, product, data and operational teams to translate legal requirements into solutions.
• →Strong analytical, problem-solving and attention-to-detail capabilities, with a rigorous and accurate approach.
• →Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
• →Ability to prioritise and multi-task in a fast-paced environment, managing competing demands with confidence.
• →A self-starter, capable of working autonomously and navigating complex cross-functional and stakeholder environments.

Get the 3Ps right – Partner, Pioneer, Progress – and we´ll Deliver together as RWS.

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