Full Job Description
The Firm has created a Vice President - Patent Underwriting position who will be responsible for evaluating patent cases Burford considers for financing, and for providing oversight to cases once Burford has invested.
We are seeking an experienced litigator with success in all phases of complex patent cases. This person will be a team player who contributes actively in a collaborative environment. He/she will have the ability to quickly evaluate the merits of claims, assess and price risks associated with the litigation, evaluate litigation budgets, and negotiate financing deals from start to finish. Ideally this person will have worked with litigation funding, on a contingency/AFA basis, and/or on patent monetization, so as to have a strong grounding in the economics of patent matters.
This position will involve close liaison with law firms, in-house counsel, and corporate representatives, as well as Burford's global team, which spans offices in New York and Chicago in addition to London. There are also frequent opportunities to write and speak on IP matters on behalf of Burford.
The role will report to the Managing Director of Burford's Intellectual Property business and may be based in our Chicago or New York office.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Patent Underwriting
• Quickly evaluate the merits of patent infringement claims, including validity, infringement, damages and other common substantive patent litigation issues.
• Assess and price risks associated with the litigation, evaluate litigation budgets, and negotiate financing deals from start to finish.
• Work closely with Burford's legal, finance and tax teams effectively to structure, model, negotiate and close financing transactions, while minimising legal and operational risks and building strong client relationships.
• Actively monitor ongoing patent investments, regularly interacting with clients and counsel as the litigation proceeds in order to facilitate successful resolution.
• Represent Burford at IP industry conferences and networking events, to build client relationships and originate patent finance opportunities.
SKILLS DESIRED
Qualifications & Experience
• At least four years of patent litigation experience with a top US law firm or established litigation boutique. Litigation experience should include substantial briefing, deposition and expert discovery, and oral argument/trial work.
• Familiarity with litigation funding, working on a contingency/AFA basis, and/or on patent monetization is strongly desired.
• Additional in-house experience, particularly managing litigation dockets, evaluating litigation budgets and negotiating counsel engagements will also be useful.
• An undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering or science is preferred but not required.
• Licensed to practice law in any U.S jurisdiction. Registered patent attorney helpful but not required.
Core Competencies & Skills / Personal Attributes & Fit
• Superior writing and analytical ability.
• Numerate and deal-savvy, with the ability to price risk and explain (both internally and externally) the value of a deal.
• Excellent interpersonal/people skills, including the ability to build consensus with highly sophisticated internal clients and to interact effectively at all levels of the organization.
• A polished speaker, capable of representing Burford while participating on panels, attending industry conferences, and other client-facing business development activities.
• Highly organized, with committed work ethic and strong attention to detail; able to work independently and prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Enterprising, highly intelligent, creative and proactive, and willing and eager to learn.
Other Requirements
• Some amount of business travel may be required.
