Associate / Attorney - Life Sciences Patent

Watts & Associates Recruitment; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 310,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Health insurance

Retirement support

Paid time off

Professional development

Wellbeing programmes

Pro bono opportunities

Job summary

Watts & Associates, a premier Am Law 50 firm, is seeking a Life Sciences Patent Associate to join its San Francisco, CA office. You will engage in patent preparation, prosecution and portfolio strategy for biotechnology and life-sciences innovations, collaborating with partners and senior lawyers on high-value matters.

The ideal candidate has 1–4 years of patent experience, a strong scientific background in biology or related fields, and excellent writing and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Approximately 1–4 years of patent prosecution or related patent practice experience.
• Experience drafting and prosecuting biotechnology or life-sciences applications.
• Advanced scientific background relevant to the client work.
• Strong academic credentials and sophisticated practice experience.
• Admission to the California Bar.
• Ph.D. or advanced degree strongly preferred; USPTO registration may be required.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prosecute biotechnology and life-sciences patent applications
• Develop domestic and international portfolio strategies
• Interview scientists and analyse complex inventions
• Prepare responses to office actions and examiner communications
• Conduct prior-art and patentability analysis
• Coordinate foreign prosecution and international counsel
• Support diligence, freedom-to-operate and strategic counselling
• Manage portfolio deadlines and client reporting
• Work directly with research teams and in-house legal functions

Skills

Scientific writing

Analytical thinking

Organisational skills

Client-service abilities

Education

Ph.D. or advanced degree in biology/biochemistry/bioinformatics/chemistry

Admission to the California Bar

Job description

Life Sciences Patent Associate | San Francisco, CA | 1–4 Years' Experience | $225,000–$310,000 Base + Benefits & Bonuses | Am Law 50

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 50 national full-service law firm seeking a Life Sciences Patent Associate to join its San Francisco, CA office.

This opportunity offers patent preparation, prosecution and strategic counselling involving biotechnology and life-sciences innovations for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and research-driven companies and institutions within a nationally recognised life-sciences patent prosecution and portfolio strategy practice. The successful attorney will work closely with partners and senior lawyers, take ownership of substantive matters and gain exposure to high-value work, important clients and cross-practice collaboration.

Company Highlights

• Am Law 50 platform with a premier reputation across technology, life sciences and the innovation economy
• Deep relationships with startups, public companies, venture investors, financial institutions and strategic buyers
• Recognised strength in life-sciences patent prosecution and portfolio strategy and complementary corporate, regulatory or litigation disciplines
• Established teams advising biotechnology, pharmaceutical and research-driven companies and institutions on complex, high-value matters
• Partner-accessible teams offering early responsibility and meaningful client interaction
• Career-stage legal education programmes and associate academies
• Formal mentoring structures, lateral integration support and one-to-one career coaching
• Collaborative culture that values practical commercial judgment and entrepreneurial thinking
• Longstanding commitment to pro bono service, inclusion, innovation and attorney development

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is an opportunity to join a well-established life-sciences patent prosecution and portfolio strategy practice offering:

• Sophisticated biotechnology and life-sciences patent work
• Exposure to commercially important research and product portfolios
• Meaningful ownership of drafting and prosecution workstreams
• Direct access to scientists, inventors, partners and in-house counsel
• Domestic and international portfolio experience
• Strong scientific, legal and commercial development
• A credible route to long-term advancement in a specialised practice

The Role

The successful attorney will support and lead key components of life-sciences patent prosecution and portfolio strategy matters, including:

• Draft and prosecute biotechnology and life-sciences patent applications
• Develop domestic and international portfolio strategies
• Interview scientists and analyse complex inventions
• Prepare responses to office actions and examiner communications
• Conduct prior-art and patentability analysis
• Coordinate foreign prosecution and international counsel
• Support diligence, freedom-to-operate and strategic counselling
• Manage portfolio deadlines and client reporting
• Work directly with research teams and in-house legal functions

The role offers direct collaboration with partners, senior lawyers and clients, together with increasing responsibility and opportunities to take ownership of important workstreams.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking a life sciences patent associate with:

• Approximately 1–4 years of patent prosecution or related patent practice experience
• Experience drafting and prosecuting biotechnology or life-sciences applications
• Advanced scientific background relevant to the client work
• Strong scientific writing, analytical and organisational skills
• Ability to manage multiple portfolios and prosecution deadlines
• Excellent communication and client-service abilities
• Strong academic credentials and sophisticated practice experience
• Admission to the California Bar

A Ph.D. or advanced degree in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemistry or a related field is strongly preferred; USPTO registration may be required.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is $225,000–$310,000, depending on class year, experience, location, qualifications and other relevant factors.

The firm also offers bonus eligibility, comprehensive health and insurance benefits, retirement support, paid time off, professional-development resources, wellbeing programmes and pro bono opportunities.

Relevant search terms

Life Sciences Patent Associate, Life-Sciences Patent Prosecution And Portfolio Strategy, San Francisco, CA, Am Law 50, Attorney Jobs, PatentLaw, LifeSciences, Biotechnology, Law Firm Associate, Legal Recruiting

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