Intellectual Property Associate Director

At S&W, we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. As one of the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing accountancy firms, we have been a trusted partner since 1881—helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations.

Built on expertise and driven by ambition, we provide a comprehensive range of services, including tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, corporate finance, and restructuring. We are defined by our purpose—to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary.

S&W acquired ClearViewIP in September 2025 to complement the existing advisory services that S&W currently offers its clients including corporate finance, valuations, transaction services and forensic services, along with business tax, audit, consulting and business outsourcing services. 

The ClearViewIP team comprises experienced IP professionals, with decades of experience in managing, protecting and commercialising innovation and ensuring best practice IP approaches are deployed to help clients win in the market.

In a world that is constantly evolving we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. 

At S&W our mission is to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary. 

As the UK’s top 10 fastest growing accountancy firm, we’ve been there, as a trusted partner, helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations. 

Since 1881, we’ve been a trusted partner, building a legacy on expertise, simplicity, and an unrelenting commitment to client success.  

Our specialists provide an extensive range of services from tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, to corporate finance and restructuring, helping businesses and individuals both in the UK and internationally meet challenges and seize opportunities. 

We are a brand built on expertise, driven by ambition, and defined by our purpose - to help our clients navigate complexity and create opportunity. 

S&W acquired ClearViewIP in September 2025 to complement the existing advisory services that S&W currently offers its clients including corporate finance, valuations, transaction services and forensic services, along with business tax, audit, consulting and business outsourcing services. 

The ClearViewIP team comprises experienced IP professionals, with decades of experience in managing, protecting and commercialising innovation and ensuring best practise IP approaches are deployed to help clients win in the market.

Job Purpose

The IP Operations Associate Director (AD) will support the growth of the India team through being a hands-on expert. This role is responsible for the delivery of advanced IP research solutions – including Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses, licensing & commercialization support, technology & patent landscapes, and competitive intelligence – while ensuring operational excellence and innovation. The AD will leverage their deep operational & research expertise to optimize service delivery and enhance the firm’s offerings. Acting as a strategic partner to the client teams, they will foster long-term relationships with the global team and clients, identify new business opportunities with their internal client teams, and contribute to demonstrable revenue growth through exceptional delivery of client-focused solutions.

AI is at the forefront of the team and it’s essential that the AD has an AI first mindset. Experience in using and assisting the internal development of AI/ML tools and emerging technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs), to improve efficiency, consistency & quality are an essential requirement.

This demanding role will allow exposure to a wide variety of global clients, sectors and types of work, which will be highly rewarding to an individual who enjoys working on diverse projects and the dynamic of working as part of a rapidly growing global team. This is an office-based role.

Key Responsibilities

Client Service/Client Work

Provide excellent client service at all times and ensure that the customer experience is a priority

Strive to achieve the Exceptional Advisor competencies and status.

Manage client relationships.

Ensure efficient, high quality pro-active and timely execution of advice and services for your clients.

Ensure your clients’ requirements are serviced by you and members of the team of appropriate seniority, experience and technical ability and with the capacity to do the work to the highest standard.

• Globally collaborative and actively working with a partnership mindset with the global S&W and ClearViewIP teams.
• Living & actively promoting a “one team” mindset ensuring global integration & partnering across all teams & internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to occasionally travel globally and support global client needs (on the client time zone) as required.

Growing the business

Promote and build ClearViewIP reputation internally and externally.

Promote cross-selling within ClearViewIP and the wider S&W group.

Build and cultivate relationships with clients and potential clients of the group.

AI first mindset. You and your team will need to deploy AI and RPA extensively

Quality control, compliance and risk management

Ensure compliance with the group’s internal procedures so as not to expose the group to unacceptable levels of risk.

Ensure compliance with the group’s compliance manual and relevant operating procedures and manuals for your business line.

Maintain personal technical competence.

Report complaints and potential PI issues for your team/direct reports in line with the group’s complaints procedures.

Financial Management

Monitor and manage chargeable hours, utilisation, recoveries, WIP, billing and lock up, ensuring where possible lock up is kept to a minimum and clients are billed regularly.

Monitor and manage time recording and ensure prompt submission of time sheets.

Inform the HoD promptly of all WIP and bad debt provisions or any other material issues affecting the financial performance of the department.

Ensure compliance with the Delegated Authority Limits and any other relevant policies in respect of WIP and debtor management.

Staff Management & Development

Act as an effective leader in accordance with the Exceptional Leader profile and competencies and working collaboratively with the global research & operations team.

Responsible for the day to day management of direct reports – if applicable

Conduct annual development reviews (ADRs) for your direct reports – if applicable

Act as mentor and help to develop talent in line with the talent programme.

Ensure that your own high standards of technical and professional competence are maintained and are developed for other members of your team/direct reports.

Ensure that you help to develop strong management and leadership skills in your direct reports.

Ensure your direct reports are developed in accordance with their ADRs and talent development plans.

In conjunction with your HoD, manage, counsel and develop your direct reports with a view to maximising their work potential (in terms of their skills, knowledge and experience, management style and client

Financial Job Dimensions

An associate director should be responsible for a client portfolio of a minimum £300,000 per annum.

An associate director would be expected to keep tight control of debtors and demonstrate a commercial approach in connection with outstanding fees.

Skills, Experience & Qualification

• 12+ Years of IP Industry Experience
  Extensive background in intellectual property consulting, with over 12 years of expertise in delivering strategic IP solutions across diverse sectors.

• Client-Facing Leadership
  Skilled in managing high-value client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Long-Term Relationship Management
  Proven ability to cultivate and maintain enduring partnerships with internal teams & clients, ensuring sustained engagement and repeat business.

• Business Development & Growth
  Demonstrated success in identifying opportunities, expanding service offerings, and driving revenue growth through strategic business development initiatives.

• Expertise in IP Research & Services
  Deep experience in delivering comprehensive IP research services, including Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses, prior art searches, invalidity searches, claim charting, patent landscapes, competitive intelligence, and portfolio assessments.
• Advanced Knowledge of AI/ML in IP
  Extensive understanding and hands-on experience of AI and machine learning applications for patent analytics and analyses, enabling optimization of service delivery and development of innovative IP solutions.
• Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs)
  Hands-on experience with multiple LLM platforms (e.g., Claude and ChatGPT-based systems), leveraging them for enhanced patent information processing and client deliverables.
• Proven Track Record in Business Building
  History of successfully establishing new service lines, expanding client portfolios, and positioning the organization as a leader in IP consulting.
• Demonstrable Revenue Growth
  Consistent achievement of measurable revenue increases through strategic planning, operational excellence, and client-centric approaches.
• Experience of International working
  Understanding of working as part of a global team and working with international clients. Willingness to travel & work on clients time zones as required.

Professional Qualifications and Education

•Educated to degree level or equivalent.

•Excellent English both speaking & written

•A relevant qualification (such as qualifications in IP) is desirable, although not essential.

Key Competencies

•Customer focus –core to your role is to provide an excellent service to clients.

•Judgement – the firm relies on your judgement in the services supplied to clients. This has to be delivered as per the client’s needs, technically excellent, commercial and on time.

•Technical expertise – strong technical leadership and maintaining your technical competence is critical to ensuring clients receive an excellent service.

•Networking – you are skilled at developing and growing relationships in the wider market and leveraging these to create opportunities for the business.

•Communication – you communicate both verbally and in writing in an engaging and purposeful manner.

•Leadership – you will help drive and lead a culture of continuous development, be able to identify future talent and act as mentor and sponsor.