MWA - Merlin Wright Associates

As the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, the demand for adaptable IP professionals is growing rapidly. Legal expertise alone is no longer enough. Today’s IP leaders must blend legal precision with technological fluency, strategic vision, and flexibility in order to keep a portfolio commercially successful. Every day, we work with firms and companies across Europe actively rethinking what they look for in IP talent. From patent litigators to trademark specialists, the profile of a “high-value” hire is changing.

Here are the four core skill sets that we see setting candidates apart:

Strategic Thinking: IP as a Business Driver

As IP becomes more and more visible to investors, patent portfolios influence funding rounds, M&A activity, market expansion, and competitive positioning. As such, the role of patent attorneys has become somewhat more fluid, encompassing business strategy as well as IP protection.

Employers now look for professionals who understand how IP supports commercial objectives. This includes portfolio development, licensing strategy, risk management, and valuation; all areas where legal knowledge must be paired with business awareness.

The most in-demand candidates are those who can operate not only as patent professionals but as advisors; translating IP insights into strategic action.

A Global Mindset

Innovation doesn’t recognise borders, and with the UPC now operational, the Unitary Patent gaining traction, and international filings on the rise, IP teams must think and act globally.

Candidates with cross-border experience – be it prosecution, litigation, or advisory work – bring essential value. Familiarity with different legal systems, procedural nuances, and cultural expectations can make or break multinational strategies.

As a bonus, language skills and the ability to work across jurisdictions are increasingly seen as leadership traits in a more international IP market.

Communication and Commercial Awareness

Of course, technical knowledge is critical, but the ability to communicate that knowledge in digestible terms is what turns good patent attorneys into great ones. In all communications with internal stakeholders or external clients, IP professionals must have strong communication skills.

This is especially true for in-house counsel, who might be expected to justify legal spend, assess commercial risk, and support product or R&D teams – all of which require the ability to apply and adapt technical and legal knowledge for a specific audience. Even in private practice, firms prize lawyers who can deliver actionable advice, not just thorough analysis.

Soft skills such as clarity, empathy, and relationship building are no longer optional, they are career accelerators.

Adaptability and Curiosity

Perhaps the most important quality is the ability to adapt. New technologies, AI tools, regulatory changes, and market shifts are reshaping the profession in real time.

AI, for example, is already affecting how prior art searches are conducted, how patents are drafted, and how enforcement is strategised. Candidates who embrace change and continuously upskill are the best leaders in this ever-changing market.

From a hiring perspective, we’ve seen adaptability and curiosity increasingly become “must-have” qualities, especially at senior levels.

What Does This Mean for Employers?

For firms and companies, evolving skill sets means evolving hiring strategies. It’s no longer enough to rely on traditional CV markers when the best candidates might come from adjacent industries, different jurisdictions, or cross-functional roles.

Employers who want to attract top IP talent in this market will need to offer:

• Opportunities to engage with emerging technologies
• Exposure to international work and strategic matters
• Clear development pathways and mentorship
• A culture of learning and innovation

While IP law is built on the legal system, it is driven by people; professionals with the insight to protect and unlock value from the ideas that shape our world. As the future of IP continues to evolve, so must the people who lead it. Investing in forward-thinking talent today is the key to staying ahead tomorrow.