Open roles:
Job Title: Patent Attorney – Pharma / Biotech (EPA)
Location: Flexible location. We operate a hybrid model from our Cambridge hub, and are open to exceptional remote applicants.
How to Apply: We understand that exploring a new role requires absolute discretion. For a confidential, no-obligation discussion about how your career could look different, please contact Steven at steven@evolve-ip.com. All contact is held in the strictest confidence. We are not partnering with recruitment agencies for this role because we prefer to invest the recruitment fees directly into our team’s compensation and development. To be considered, please reach out to us directly.
Are you ready for an exciting new challenge?
If you are an ambitious life science patent attorney seeking a role that blends the best of in-house and private practice, then we would love to hear from you. Evolve Intellectual Property was founded with a clear purpose: to be a true strategic partner that helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovators deliver new medicines and bring hope to patients.
We are a specialist IP firm built differently. We are agile, commercially focused, and deeply integrated into our clients’ missions, so your strategic advice will directly help shape their success.
We operate at the leading edge of legal technology. We have built a bespoke suite of proprietary AI agents tailored specifically to pharma and biotech, which are fully integrated into our daily practice. We are now rolling out this suite of systems to our clients.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a firm that is shaping the future of pharmaceutical IP and grow with us.
The opportunity: be a true strategic partner
This is not a conventional patent attorney role. At Evolve, you will leverage our unique fractional in-house model to get the immersion of an in-house counsel alongside the variety of private practice.
You will:
- Build authentic relationships with client teams at pioneering life sciences companies, helping them protect the innovations that bring hope to patients.
- Combine a deep understanding of the underlying science, access to business decision making and up-to-date legal expertise to provide pragmatic impactful IP strategies that help our clients achieve the best outcomes.
- Help build and refine our bespoke AI systems. You will play an active role in developing and supporting our proprietary AI agents through prompt engineering, system integration and validation. No software development, coding or prior experience with AI tools for IP is required (though Python experience is a bonus). However, a genuine interest in learning to build these tools and integrate them into daily IP practice is a core requirement of the role.
- Draft patent applications, manage European prosecution and global IP portfolios.
- Deliver strategic asset management to secure market exclusivity for critical drug candidates across a range of different clients and technologies. Advise on complex patent portfolios for clients at every stage of development, from early-stage biotech startups to established pharmaceutical companies.
- Work across cutting-edge technology areas. Examples include traditional pharmaceuticals, biologics, cell & gene therapy, and AI-driven drug discovery. Experience true intellectual variety; your week can move fluidly between advising on cell & gene therapy for a biotech startup, managing a complex portfolio for a pharma client, and conducting FTO for an AI-driven drug discovery platform.
- Focus on high-impact work. Our fractional in-house model means we focus on strategic work and avoid internal corporate time drains. Our state-of-the-art technology means you spend time on the work that matters.
- Contribute to a dynamic, fun, collaborative team environment where your insights are valued and your professional growth is a priority.
About you:
This role is ideal for a talented attorney from private practice seeking deeper client impact, or an in-house attorney looking for greater work variety without sacrificing strategic influence.
- Passionate about life science: You care about our core purpose of helping innovators deliver new medicines and bring hope to patients.
- Scientific and pharmaceutical excellence: A strong academic background (preferably PhD) in a life science discipline such as biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, immunology, or a related field. Experience in cell or gene therapy is advantageous.
- Professional qualification: European Patent Attorney with ~1-4 years PQE. We will also consider finalist/NQ candidates.
- Agile approach and future-focused mindset: You are excited by the prospect of working in a dynamic, responsive environment and are keen to actively build new technologies and processes that deliver better results. You view AI and emerging technologies as powerful tools to enhance strategic advice, and you are eager to get hands-on helping us develop bespoke systems for our practice and our clients.
- Commercial mindset: You see intellectual property not just as a legal right, but as a strategic asset that enables your clients’ mission. You are skilled at translating complex science into clear, pragmatic advice.
- Exceptional communication: You excel at articulating complex scientific and legal ideas with clarity and persuasion. You can tailor your communication to audiences ranging from R&D scientists to the C-suite.
- Collaborative spirit: You thrive in a team where contribution is valued over title and where sharing insights is key to collective success.
What we offer: the Evolve advantage
- Unparalleled strategic exposure and high-impact work: Gain the integration of an in-house role with the variety of private practice. This is a unique opportunity to develop a truly holistic skill set. Work directly with the decision-makers where your contributions will have a clear and measurable impact.
- Trusted autonomy: We trust our team. You will benefit from a culture that prioritises output and self-management, with a genuine commitment to work-life balance.
- Professional development: We will support your continued growth through ongoing mentoring and learning opportunities. You will be mentored directly by recognised industry thought-leaders who teach pharmaceutical IP for the MPhil at the University of Cambridge, contribute to the CIPA Guide, and are regular, sought-after commentators for IPKat and the epi podcast. You won’t just learn about the future of IP; you’ll be working with the people who are helping to define it.
- A modern, collaborative culture: We do not follow the rigid hierarchy of traditional firms. Join a supportive, agile team where you are a key player from day one.
- Merit-based career path and future: We are, as our clients describe us, “a refreshing change to the traditional patent attorney firm approach”. We reward based on capability and impact, not tenure. As a pivotal member of a growing firm, your career trajectory is transparent and tied directly to your contribution. We offer a faster and more meaningful path to senior strategic roles.
- A pioneering tech and IP ecosystem: We combine deep legal and pharma expertise with advanced AI capabilities. You will not just use generalist, off-the-shelf software; you will help build and integrate bespoke agents tailored to pharma/biotech. This is a rare opportunity to future-proof your career within an environment that is actively embracing technology and change.
- A transparent, modern reward package: We are a high-performance firm and reward our team with a competitive compensation package:
- Competitive base salary dependent on stage of qualification.
- Bonus scheme where your contribution to the firm’s success is directly rewarded.
- An industry-leading 30-day holiday allowance (plus bank holidays).
- Genuine, trust-based commitment to flexible and hybrid working.
Evolve Intellectual Property is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
For more information, please contact: Steven Gurney (steven@evolve-ip.com / +44 (0) 7490531064)
Date: 29 April 2026