Mathys & Squire LLP

Overview

Mathys & Squire is a specialist European intellectual property law firm founded in 1910, focused on patents, trade marks, designs and IP litigation. The firm combines deep scientific and technical expertise (many attorneys hold advanced technical degrees and PhDs) with commercial IP strategy for clients ranging from agile startups and universities to large multinationals. Mathys & Squire operates from multiple UK and European centres and is regularly ranked in leading IP and legal directories for prosecution, contentious work and IP commercialisation. The firm emphasises long-term client relationships, international filing programmes and strategic portfolio management.

Headquarters: London, The Shard (32 London Bridge Street)
Founded: 1910
Lawyers: 86 qualified attorneys
Offices: 9

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Technology & Digital
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: UK-headquartered with a strong London base and a pan-European footprint (offices in Luxembourg, Munich and Paris). Frequently instructed on large international filing programmes and global portfolio management; dedicated regional/international teams (China, Japan, Korea and Israel) support cross-border prosecution, EPO oppositions/appeals and multi-jurisdictional enforcement.

Training Contract

The firm trains patent and trade mark attorneys with development through actual casework, mentor-led tutorials and practical drafting exercises.

Academic Requirements: For patent-attorney early careers roles the firm requires a STEM degree; Open Day and graduate recruitment materials encourage candidates with strong academics (attained or on course for a 2:1 or equivalent) in subjects such as electronics, computer science, electrical engineering and physics.

Seat Options

Patents
Trade marks
Designs
Litigation
Mathys & Squire Consulting

Mentorship

Mentoring partners and mentoring schemes are used (intern and trainee testimonials cite assigned mentoring partners who provide regular feedback and supervision). The firm runs tutorials for Technical Assistants and enlists partner mentors for early-career development.

Apply on the Mathys & Squire LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Open Day

Interactive Spring and Autumn Open Days offering insight into the career of a patent attorney: hands-on patent drafting exercises, claim amendment exercises, Q&A with HR about applying for early careers roles, and opportunities to meet Partners, Associates and Trainees. Aimed at students with STEM backgrounds to demonstrate 'a day in the life' and the route to qualification.

Duration: 1 day
Deadline: 2 April 2026

Apply →

Internships

Ad-hoc internship programme providing participants with day-to-day exposure to prosecution work, tutorial support, mentoring and real tasks. Interns are given responsibilities from day one, participate in technical tutorials and receive substantive feedback from mentors. Opportunities are advertised on the careers pages when available.

Apply →

Notable Matters

Management of global IP licensing programmes (multi-million-pound scale)

The firm has managed global IP licensing programmes for clients, handling large-scale licensing processes and administration involving sums described as 'up to millions of pounds' and coordinating cross-border portfolios and commercialisation work.

Intellectual Property

Patent prosecution and portfolio work for Public Health England

Mathys & Squire lists Public Health England among clients advised in the biotechnology/health sector, providing patent drafting, prosecution and strategic IP portfolio support for public-sector health technologies.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Patent prosecution and strategic support for Bristol-Myers Squibb

The firm advises large pharmaceutical clients such as Bristol-Myers Squibb on patent protection and prosecution strategy across the life sciences sector, reflecting experience in Pharma and biotechnology patent filing and portfolio management.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Representation in European Patent Office opposition and appeal proceedings; UK High Court and IPEC enforcement

Mathys & Squire regularly conducts opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO and represents clients in enforcement and litigation matters in the UK High Court and Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), covering validity, opposition and enforcement strategy.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Longstanding trade mark portfolio management for Xaar

The firm has provided trade mark registration, monitoring and portfolio management services for Xaar over many years, demonstrating long-term brand protection and client retention in the technology/manufacturing sector.

Intellectual Property

What Mathys & Squire LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

STEM degree (science, technology, engineering or mathematics)
Strong academic performance (attained or on course for a 2:1 or equivalent for graduate roles)
Commercial awareness
Technical / scientific expertise
Attention to detail
Teamwork and collaboration
Clear written and verbal communication
Client service orientation

Evidence Signals

Patent-related work experience or internships
Hands-on drafting or claim-amendment experience (e.g., from Open Day exercises)
Laboratory, engineering or technical project experience
Participation in STEM societies or technical competitions
Prior experience working with startups/scaleups or in commercial roles that demonstrate applied commercial awareness

Benefits & Wellbeing

Enhanced maternity / paternity / adoption / shared parental pay
Pension scheme with contributions of up to 10%
Group income protection
Life assurance
Private medical insurance
Discretionary bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Season ticket loan
Corporate rates for gym membership
Christmas bonus for business support staff
Summer party and Christmas party
Active social committee

Wellbeing

The firm promotes a supportive environment, social events and charitable activities; it allocates budgets for charitable donations and supports staff fundraising and matched-funding. Environmental and CSR initiatives are in place (ISO 14001) and the firm emphasises wellbeing through inclusive culture and anti-bullying/harassment policies.

Awards & Recognition

The Legal 500 — PATMA: Patent Attorneys & PATMA: Trade Mark Attorneys (ranked in 2026 edition)
Chambers UK — Highly ranked in Intellectual Property: Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys (2026)
IAM Patent 1000 — Gold Tier (2025)
JUVE Patent — UK rankings (recognized 2022, 2023, 2024)
World Trademark Review 1000 — featured (2026)
Managing IP — IP STARS (2025)
ISO 9001 accreditation
ISO 14001 accreditation

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Mathys & Squire is a member of IP Inclusive and has signed the IP Inclusive pledge; the firm also sets out three core CSR commitments: to behave ethically to staff and suppliers; to support the local communities it operates in; and to reduce the environmental impact of running the business. The firm is ISO 14001 accredited (environmental management).

D&I committee (headed by D&I Partners Andrea McShane and Nicholas Fox)
IP Inclusive (member; signed the IP Inclusive pledge)
The Halo Code
Career Ready (partnership and internship/mentoring activity)
In2Science (sponsorship and student support)
UK Electronics Skills Foundation (engagement and seminars)
D&I survey (2021) and D&I report

Pro Bono

The firm allocates an annual budget for charitable donations, supports staff fundraising (including matched-funding), offers internship and mentoring opportunities through partners such as Career Ready and In2Science, and encourages employees to participate in community activities. Charities supported include Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children, The Movember Foundation and Guy’s & St. Thomas’ London Bridge Covid-19 Fundraiser.

Innovation

The firm invests in advisory and consulting services through Mathys & Squire Consulting and has created resources such as a UPC and UP Hub and a Scaleup Quarter microsite to support clients with digital and strategic IP issues. The firm uses EPO-approved video-conferencing for remote hearings and engages in industry events on legal technology and AI; trainees and staff are involved in practical drafting and technical-search training and bespoke client-facing training packages.

Mathys & Squire Consulting
UPC and UP Hub (Unified Patent Court / Unitary Patent information hub)
Scaleup Quarter (microsite for startups and scaleups)
EPO-approved video conferencing capability for hearings
Participation in digital/AI legal events (e.g., Beyond Modernisation panels)

Quick Application Angles

Mention the firm’s Scaleup Quarter and demonstrable experience advising startups or scaleups — Mathys & Squire positions itself as a key adviser to early‑stage businesses.
If you have biotech/pharma experience, reference the firm’s work for Public Health England and Bristol‑Myers Squibb and explain how your technical background translates to patent drafting or prosecution strategy.
Demonstrate practical patent skills: describe a claim-drafting or claim-amendment exercise you have completed (the firm runs hands-on drafting sessions on its Open Days).
Show commercial awareness: cite how IP strategy can inform R&D or fundraising decisions — the firm offers IP valuation and commercial training, so link your example to commercial outcomes.
Highlight collaborative experience and mentoring relationships (e.g., supervised research, group projects or internships) to align with the firm’s mentor-driven, team-based training approach.