Legal Counsel

Want to do the best work of your life? With 24 million customers in 6 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 fantastic opportunity for an Intellectual Property Lawyer to join Sky's UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy, and Intellectual Property team as Legal Counsel, to support all business areas. The role will report into Head Counsel of the UK Litigation, Anti-Piracy and IP team based in the UK. We strive for the highest standards, providing top-quality business-focused legal expertise to keep Sky competitive and bring better content and innovation to our customers.

Our team manages and protects (i) all SKY and non-Sky trade marks and brands globally and (ii) Sky’s patent and designs portfolios, while handling cases in various courts, including the CJEU, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal, as well as activity in IP registries around the world. The team also manages the brand relationship with Sky’s major global trade mark brand licensees.

The role requires close collaboration with legal and business colleagues and offers a wide variety of cutting-edge work and first-class opportunities for development and growth, both within the team and more broadly across the department.

What you’ll do:

• Provide expert analysis, strategic advice and business partnering to internal stakeholders (the business or other members of the legal team, including at senior 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 (trade mark clearance). 
• Lead on trade mark portfolio management and development, including applications, oppositions, collating evidence, specification objections and renewals worldwide. 
• Assist with the preparation and negotiation of IP licences and IP contract terms and the impacts for wider commercial and corporate deals, including the licensing of standard essential patents (SEPs). 
• Support IP matters which have escalated to litigation or pre-action stage and coordinate with business/legal stakeholders. 
• Retain, instruct, and manage outside law firms/counsel efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Build effective relationships with legal colleagues and the wider Sky businesses (including Sky Group and Comcast/NBCU).  
• Assist with the management of Sky’s patent portfolio, including renewals, applications, engaging with inventors, and liaising with outside law firms/counsel to support the effective maintenance of the portfolio.
• Develop and implement templates, guidance and resources for the legal team and wider business to streamline processes and drive efficiency, including exploring legal technology to improve ways of working.

What you’ll bring:

• 2+ years PQE or equivalent experience in UK/EU IP law within a highly regarded law firm or equivalent in-house.  
• Trade mark & patent portfolio, IP advice and IP licensing experience.
• Dispute resolution/litigation experience and/or experience in IP registry office actions, ideally in multiple territorial jurisdictions.
• Ability to think critically and take a strategic approach 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 levels.   
• Top quality drafting skills and the ability to project manage matters.
• A positive 'can do' attitude, an open inquiring mind and plenty of initiative.

Benefits and perks

There's one thing people can't stop talking about when it comes to life at Sky: the perks. Here’s a taster:  

• Free Sky TV or NOW package, including Sky Sports and Sky Cinema   
• Pension package with up to 9% employer contribution 
• Private healthcare with mental health support  
• Aviva Digital GP and dental insurance  
• Discounts on Sky products, including Sky Mobile, Sky Broadband, Sky Glass and Sky Protect  
• Sharesave and Tech schemes  
• A range of Sky VIP rewards and experiences 

How you'll work:

We've adopted a hybrid working approach to give more flexibility on where and how we work. You'll find out more about what this means for this role during the recruitment process.

Your office base 

Osterley

Our Sky Group HQ. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and workspaces, there’s plenty of space to see your big ideas come to life. Here you’ll find 13 subsidised restaurants and cafes. You can re-energise at our gym, catch the latest films at our cinema, get your car washed and even get pampered at our beauty salon. 

Our Osterley Campus is just a 10-minute walk from Syon Lane train station, or you can get one of our free shuttle buses from Osterley, Gunnersbury and Ealing Broadway stations. Plus, there’s free onsite parking available for cars, motorbikes and bicycles. 

Inclusion:

At Sky we don’t just look at your CV. We’re more focused on who you are and your potential. We also know that everyone has a life outside work, so we’re happy to discuss flexible working.

We are a Disability Confident Accredited Employer, and welcome and encourage applications from all candidates. We will look to ensure a fair and consistent experience for all and will make reasonable adjustments to support you where appropriate. Please flag any adjustments you need to your recruiter as early as you can.

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.