Patent Agent – Chemistry

Location: Boston, MA or Washington, DC
Experience: 2 Years
Salary: $130,000–$230,000 Bonus

About the Firm

Direct Counsel is seeking a Patent Agent to join a leading Am Law 100 firm with more than 500 attorneys serving clients worldwide. The firm provides sophisticated legal counsel to businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and other clients across a range of industries and practice areas, including intellectual property.

About the Position

The firm is seeking a Patent Agent with an advanced degree in medicinal or organic chemistry to join its Intellectual Property – Patent Prosecution team in Boston or Washington, DC. The Patent Agent will work under the supervision and guidance of partners within the IP practice and handle a variety of patent-related matters, primarily focused on patent prosecution, freedom-to-operate analysis, and due diligence.

The ideal candidate will have strong scientific expertise in organic, synthetic, or medicinal chemistry and the ability to analyze complex scientific concepts and communicate conclusions effectively to both scientists and non-scientists.

Responsibilities

• Assess scientific literature, patents, and patent application documents involving organic, synthetic, and medicinal chemistry, as well as materials science

• Analyze and critique scientific data relating to inventions

• Conduct comprehensive searches of scientific articles, patents, and patent applications relevant to inventions

• Perform in-depth analyses comparing inventions with existing discoveries and inventions

• Identify the essential elements, features, and components of inventions

• Draft patent applications, including detailed descriptions of inventions and clearly defined claims

• Draft responses to patent application rejections issued by the USPTO and other worldwide patent offices

• Analyze scientific and patent references cited in patent office rejections and develop persuasive arguments distinguishing the invention from the cited references

• Present scientific concepts, analysis, reasoning, and conclusions clearly and concisely to colleagues and clients

• Provide thoughtful feedback and collaborate with attorneys and other team members

• Work directly with clients on innovative technologies to procure patent protection and develop IP portfolios

• Assist with freedom-to-operate analyses and intellectual property due diligence

Qualifications

• Admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry, or at least 3 years of post-baccalaureate laboratory research experience

• 2 years of patent prosecution experience

• Strong understanding of scientific concepts and ability to analyze complex scientific data

• Ability to communicate scientific concepts, analysis, reasoning, and conclusions effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet deadlines

• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment

Additional Information

The position is available in Boston, MA or Washington, DC. The firm follows a hybrid work model, with attorneys and professional staff expected to work from the office approximately 60% of the time in accordance with firm guidelines.

Salary: $130,000–$230,000, plus bonus eligibility and comprehensive benefits.