Patent Attorney

Aggregate function:  Legal
Business Area:  Group Legal
Posting Country:  United Kingdom
Date Posted:  9 Jul 2026
Full Time / Part Time:  Full Time
Contract Type:  Permanent

At Vodafone, we’re working hard to build a better future. A more connected, inclusive and sustainable world. As a dynamic global community, it's our human spirit, together with technology, that empowers us to achieve this. 

We challenge and innovate in order to connect people, businesses, and communities across the world. Delighting our customers and earning their loyalty drive us, and we experiment, learn fast and get it done, together.

With us, you can be truly be yourself and belong, share inspiration, embrace new opportunities, thrive, and make a real difference.

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

What you’ll do

•    Management of own patent portfolio, including filing decisions, deadlines, and mapping cases to commercial goals.
•    Drafting and prosecution of patent applications and working with outside counsel on the same.
•    Pro-active invention capture, including the assessment of invention disclosures.
•    Responsible for IP communication and education, including designing and implementing awareness, training, and events in collaboration with key stakeholders. 
•    Working with the team on ad hoc and routine matters such as collection and reporting of data on patent matters.

Who you are

•    Ability to take ownership of and work independently on patent matters.
•    Excellent communication skills and ability to engage with technical, business and legal stakeholders at all levels.
•    Experience in drafting patent applications and prosecution before the European Patent Office and the UK patent office in areas such as networks, AI, and software (experience in the use of AI tools for patent drafting and prosecution preferred).
•    In-depth knowledge of European and UK patent law, 
•    Degree in Engineering Science, Electrical Engineering, or Software Engineering (PhD preferred).
•    Qualified European and UK patent attorney (finals standards will also be considered).

Not a perfect fit?

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

What's in it for you

Yearly bonus: 10%

Annual leave: 28 days + bank holidays + the opportunity to buy/sell/carry over 5 days/year

Charity days: 5 days/year

Maternity leave:  52 weeks: the first 13 weeks are fully paid, followed by 26 weeks of half pay

Private pension: You can contribute up to 5% of your basic pay with 2:1 matching from Vodafone up to 10%.

Access to: private medical, private dental, free health assessments, share save scheme

Additional discounts: Vodafone retail, gym, cinema, cycle to work, season ticket loan    

Who we are

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.

Vodafone is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the very best people by offering a motivating and inclusive workplace in which talent is truly recognised and rewarded. We are committed to promoting Inclusion for All with the belief that diversity plays an important role in the success of our business. We actively encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of our journey.