Legal Advisor (Patent Lawyer)

Based: London or any key site - hybrid working - see our network of 20 offices nationally: 

Role summary

KPMG is now a digital business, and as a result, technology enables everything it does and requires KPMG to continue to transform with technology in support of its Growth and Trust agenda. This role, which is focused on the product and innovation aspects of Intellectual Property (IP), Technology and Data, is a part of the International Office of the General Counsel (IOGC).  It focuses on providing legal advice and support from IOGC on the development, protection, enforcement, acquisition and licensing of technology, software and data, particularly risks, protections and opportunities related to the patent aspects of KPMG’s IP, technology and data strategy.

Although this role is primarily focused on product and innovation, this role may also involve providing support to other IOGC lawyers on strategic initiatives and commercial technology transactions, particularly where the licensed technology is protected by patents, is not patent protected but is in a highly patented field, and/or leverages artificial intelligence and blockchain.

The person in this role will execute their responsibilities under the overall supervision of, and working collaboratively with, the most senior patent lawyer with respect to IP, Technology and Data and other senior lawyers focused on IP and technology law. This role requires a person to provide meaningful value-add to business and technology development teams by supporting product and innovation that contributes to over $17 billion in annual revenue, helping to analyse KPMGI’s intellectual property (IP) and technology assets, and advising on patent protection and IP enforcement, all while supporting IOGC’s senior leadership team in managing, mitigating and preventing legal and reputational risk.

The role is an excellent opportunity for a junior lawyer who has focused on patent work (prosecution, litigation, licensing, freedom to operate) to apply their skills to a rapidly growing international patent pipeline focused on emerging technologies and to expand their IP skillsets beyond patent law in a rapidly growing digital business.  

Associate Director - Deal Execution - Integration & Separation

KPMG’s Deal Execution practice is looking for exceptional candidates for an Associate Director role. The Deal Execution team is part of KPMG’s rapidly expanding Strategy Group, which delivers value for clients by challenging conventional thinking, bringing deep industry and functional insights and executing with investor-grade rigour.  We are a diverse team working collaboratively with and orchestrating KPMG’s broad set of capabilities within our Deal Advisory business, and are focused on continually enhancing value for clients across the deal and economic cycle. Our teams comprise of specialists capable of helping clients right through from conceptual thinking of buying a business to turning their business around in times of difficulty.

The Deal Execution Advisory Team

KPMG's Deal Execution Advisory Team is a growing and dynamic team. We work with both vendors and acquirers on mergers, acquisitions, divestments, exits and joint ventures, both pre and post-deal.

The team offers four key proposition areas:

Separation: Supporting vendors to plan and deliver a credible, discrete standalone entity to the Buyer with value preserved and business continuity in place from Day 1, including supporting the definition and implementation of transitional service agreements.

Integration: Pre and post deal integration design, planning and implementation to integrate the target business into the Buyer’s organisation whilst mitigating risk and enhancing value.

Synergies: Understanding the potential benefits and costs generated through a proposed transaction, and the associated plans, interdependencies, risks and issues for the delivery of base and stretch case targets.

Joint Ventures: Helping respective partners ensure the key value considerations are identified and prioritised early and delivered through the associated business plan, leveraging each party’s specific contribution and capabilities and managing broader stakeholder relationships.

Role summary

KPMG is a digital business, and as a result, technology enables everything it does and requires KPMG to continue to transform with technology in support of its Growth and Trust agenda. This role, which is focused on Intellectual Property (IP), Technology and Data, is an important part of IOGC. It involves the provision of legal advice  to KPMG International leaders and their teams on: (i) complex, strategic technology procurement and supply chain matters, especially technology leveraging data and analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, (ii) strategic alliances and partnering with technology providers, (iii) complex strategic, change management and legal remediation projects, and (iv) the amalgamation of supplier-developed technology and IP into AI-enabled platforms developed and managed by KPMG International. This role also involves driving the development and on-going management of procurement and alliance templates, playbooks, guidance and best practice principles, and developing and providing training to IOGC and procurement professionals on the use of them.   

This role requires a person to influence, collaborate with, and provide significant value-add to business and technology development teams (particularly those in the Global Business Functions, Global Procurement, Global Alliances and Global Technology & Knowledge) by enabling and supporting a diverse range of IP, technology and data matters that support KPMG’s Collective Strategy, the Global Business Functions’ strategic goals, and our “Artificial Intelligence First” mindset, all while supporting IOGC’s senior leadership team in managing, mitigating and preventing legal, commercial and reputational risk.

The person performing this role is expected to drive substantial cost savings by performing complex matters internally without reliance on external counsel.

The person in this role is expected to execute their responsibilities under the overall supervision of the Partner-equivalent co-leads of the IP, Technology and Data group (the Legal Head of IP, Technology and Data and a Principal/Associate General Counsel) or, where delegated by one of them, the most senior Global Director lawyer with respect to the commercial technology transactions, and:

(a)          with a significant degree of autonomy while exercising appropriate judgment on when to consult/escalate; and