Knowledge Development Lawyer - IPT

The Department

Our Knowledge approach is at the heart of the firm's strategy for Quality. It is how we capitalise on the collective expertise of our lawyers to drive higher quality products and services for our clients, enhancing our reputation as professionals and as a brand.

A team of dedicated Knowledge professionals supports the delivery of our Knowledge objectives and maintains the Knowledge Hub, our research platform for legal work.

The IPT Group at DLA Piper is an important part of the firm with an impressive global footprint. The IPT Group is divided into 6 specialised sub-groups:

• Technology and Sourcing (T&S)
• Commercial Contracts (CC)
• Patent Litigation
• Trade Marks, Media and Copyright
• Data, Digital and Cybersecurity
• AI

The IPT Knowledge team underpins and supports the Group’s success through a number of experienced Knowledge Development Lawyers working together as a team, each supporting one or more sub-groups within the practice.

Role Purpose

We are looking to hire, as part of the firm's commitment to quality, training and knowledge development, a Technology and Sourcing/Commercial Contracts Knowledge Development Lawyer.

Our Technology & Sourcing and Commercial Contracts lawyers are recognised worldwide by legal directories and the market, seamlessly combining multi-jurisdictional reach with local knowledge and experience.

This role will support the Head of Knowledge for IPT, the Senior Technology & Sourcing and Commercial Contracts Knowledge Lawyer and the wider IPT Group to maintain its profile with clients and in the market generally.

The purpose of the role is to:

• Support the T&S and CC sub-groups in the UK and internationally across the full range of contract law issues.
• Support the AI Knowledge Development Lawyer in regulatory and contract law matters.
• Support the International IPT Group's overall business strategy and the T&S and CC sub-groups' strategies.
• Monitor legal and technological developments in topics relevant to T&S and CC.
• Help to develop new products for our clients and to improve internal efficiencies.
• Enhance the quality of the IPT team’s legal advice and be a role model for technical knowledge, skill and practice in the IPT Group.
• Champion the firm's vision for Knowledge across the International IPT Group.
• Assist in the development of thought leadership and internal and client

Main duties and responsibilities

• Working closely with the Head of Knowledge for IPT, the Senior Technology & Sourcing and Commercial Knowledge Development Lawyer, the IPT partners, the IPT Knowledge Partners, and our Marketing and Business Development function to identify issues affecting our clients and produce forward thinking thought leadership and client alerts.

• Ensuring that our lawyers are kept aware of legal, regulatory and commercial developments. Providing analysis of the impact of significant developments and how they will affect the CC and T&S practice’s business and its clients and developing ideas as to the kinds of activities which the group should be undertaking to capitalise upon them.
• Identifying, developing and maintaining the knowledge resources required for the CC and T&S practices to deliver high quality services to their clients efficiently, such as precedents, automated documents (where appropriate), technical advice memos and practical know-how guidance.
• Capturing and promoting sharing of Knowledge and expertise from the CC and T&S sub-groups through the firm’s Knowledge Hub.
• Supporting the IPT Group’s training programme, which will include preparing and updating training materials, delivery of some training sessions (internally and to clients), and supporting fee earners to deliver training.
• Working with the IPT and the central Knowledge Services team to ensure the CC and T&S practices have access to the external databases and information resources they need.
• Acting as a "sounding board" and supporting the IPT partners and other fee earners with legal research and other queries as appropriate.
• Sharing knowledge best practice and training across the Group in the UK and internationally.
• Working closely with the other IPT Knowledge Development Lawyers whose practices overlap to some degree, particularly in the fields of AI and the EU's Digital Decade.
• Interfacing with the Marketing and Business Development teams.

About you

• Excellent academic credentials with a strong technology law and contract drafting background.

• An interest in outsourcing, emerging technology such as AI and digital transformation.
• At least 5 years’ experience practising as a qualified contracts lawyer, ideally in an international context.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to connect, influence and collaborate at all levels across multiple geographies and practices.
• Pro-active. A self-starter who values clear direction.
• Innovative. Ability to work with the Head of Knowledge, other Knowledge Development Lawyers, the Partners and Marketing & Business Development teams to identify and develop new client products, insights and training.
• Highly organised and able to co-ordinate and deliver projects in a timely way.
• Ability to assess competing priorities and provide solutions to address them.
• Able to demonstrate experience of developing knowledge resources and delivering training.
• We would be pleased to consider applications from individuals from a private practice or in-house background as well as established Professional Support/Knowledge professionals.

About us

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

Our values

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

Diversity and inclusion

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

Hybrid working

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

Pre-engagement screening

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.

Apply now