This is for IP lawyers- Given how niche IP practice is, would you prefer to continue building depth in an IP law firm, or would you consider moving to a general in-house practice where the role is broader but less specialized? Would like comments from professionals working in IP teams of Tier 1 law firms.

Hi, thanks for your response. Could you please share some insights on the IP transactional work that Tier 1 law firms are currently doing? How busy is the practice, and what’s usually expected from someone with 5–6 years of experience. Also curious to know which partners are active in this space. Are IP teams at full-service firms open to hiring people coming from in-house roles who have done trademarks and media rights licensing but with initial years at good IP law firms (mix of trademark and enforcement work and contracts). And what’s the typical salary range at Tier 1s like Khaitan, Trilegal, or AZB for around 6 years’ experience? Also, would you consider IP transactional work too niche and what are the challenges you think you may face career trajectory wise in future. Thanks in advance!

Apologies for the barrage of questions. I’ve been working as an IP lawyer for the past five years, with experience in both trademarks and IP licensing contracts. I recently received an in-house offer from a reputed MNC in India with attractive pay. That said, since IP has always been my area of interest, I’m a bit unsure whether to take up this role or continue with my current job. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Work is fun, but stressful with really tight deadlines and no real off time. Working hours and times are same as corp teams. While an associate/ SA could be working at 2-3 transactions, someone in IP mei be staffed on half a dozen. The growth will increase as long as pe/ vc stuff keeps increasing.

IP transactional work in of wide variety in Tier 1's. Includes advisory on deal structuring , due diligence and transaction documents markups for VC/ PE investments, mergers and acquisitions, family settlements, group restructuring, slump sale bid situations, and even banking related transactions where IP assets are leveraged. Also includes taking the lead on licensing, franchising agreements etc.

If the TL partner has good reputation within the firm, there is no dearth of work. Know of partners who have 2-3 deals getting completed every week.

For someone with 5-6 years work ex, the ask would be to be able to work on requisitions and draft DD reports from IP ownership, licensing, employment, and litigation aspects. Also the ability to do major chunk of markup on SPAs and other transaction documents as well as draft ancillary assignment deeds, employee/ consultant agreements etc.

KCO has the best IP transactional practice, followed by Trilegal, CAM, AZB, and SAM in that order. Look into the profiles of IP partners in their deal reportings to shortlist.

Yes, IP teams in full service Tier 1s are open to hire there is a dearth of people with transaction experience.

Salary wise, Trilegal pays at par with other teams. CAM, SAM, KCO between 25-45% less than corp/ disputes practices at same level.

IP transactional work is a bit niche, but if there's good relationship with corp teams in the firm, work keeps flowing. Though most partners also do a bit of prosecution as well as litigation to supplement such practice. Trajectory wise, most Tier 1 IP teams are top heavy, so that may be a challenge.