Associate / Attorney - Patent Appeals & IP

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 365,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Pro bono opportunities

Professional development

Job summary

Watts & Associates is partnering with an Am Law 100 international law firm in Chicago, seeking a Patent Appeals & IP Associate with 5–7 years of appellate experience.

You will handle bet-the-company patent appeals and complex IP matters for high-technology and life-sciences clients, working with elite appellate lawyers and trial teams. Excellent writing and analytical skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of appellate litigation experience.
• Meaningful patent or broader intellectual property appellate experience.
• Exceptional legal research, writing and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated appellate-brief and substantive-motion drafting ability.
• Strong academic credentials (J.D.) and bar admission in Illinois or readiness to obtain.
• Ability to manage complex matters and demanding deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Draft appellate briefs, certiorari petitions and amicus submissions.
• Research complex patent-law and appellate-procedure issues.
• Develop persuasive legal theories and appellate strategy.
• Preserve issues and build records with trial teams.
• Prepare substantive motions and key trial filings.
• Engage with high-tech and life-sciences subject matter.
• Support moot courts and oral-argument preparation.
• Advise clients on procedure, risk and likely outcomes.
• Manage overlapping deadlines across significant appeals.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Top law school (T14) preferred

Job description

Patent Appeals & IP Associate | AM Law 100 Firm | 5–7 Years | Chicago, IL | $365,000–$420,000 Base + Benefits & Bonuses

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law 100 international law firm with nationally recognised appellate and intellectual property practices seeking a Patent Appeals & IP Associate with 5–7 years of experience to join its Chicago, IL office.

This opportunity offers bet-the-company patent appeals and complex intellectual property matters for high-technology and life-sciences clients within a nationally recognised intellectual property practice. The successful attorney will work closely with experienced appellate lawyers and patent litigators, take ownership of substantive matters and gain exposure to Federal Circuit appeals, appellate strategy and issue preservation in technically complex cases.

Company Highlights

• Am Law 100 international platform across major business and technology markets
• Nationally recognised Supreme Court, appellate and intellectual property practices
• Deep bench of former Supreme Court and federal appellate clerks
• Busy docket of industry-shaping patent and technology appeals
• Market-leading appellate-eyes-at-trial and issue-preservation capability
• Work spanning high-technology, life sciences and strategic IP disputes
• Collegial teams with direct partner access and substantive responsibility
• Formal academies, mentoring, retreats and shadowing opportunities
• Strong innovation, inclusion, wellbeing and pro bono platform

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

Join a nationally recognised appellate practice offering:

• Federal Circuit patent appeals and strategic IP matters
• Exposure to bet-the-company and industry-changing disputes
• Ownership of major briefing and legal-analysis workstreams
• Direct collaboration with elite appellate and trial lawyers
• Deep engagement with complex technical subject matter
• Structured moot-court and advocacy development

The Role

The successful attorney will support and lead patent appellate and related IP matters, including:

• Draft appellate briefs, certiorari petitions and amicus submissions
• Research complex patent-law and appellate-procedure issues
• Develop persuasive legal theories and appellate strategy
• Preserve issues and build records with trial teams
• Prepare substantive motions and key trial-court filings
• Engage with high-tech and life-sciences subject matter
• Support moot courts and oral-argument preparation
• Advise clients on procedure, risk and likely outcomes
• Manage overlapping deadlines across significant appeals

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

Ideal Candidate Profile

The firm is seeking a Patent Appeals & IP Associate with:

• Five to seven years of appellate litigation experience
• Meaningful patent or broader intellectual property appellate experience
• Exceptional legal research, writing and analytical skills
• Demonstrated appellate-brief and substantive-motion drafting ability
• Strong academic credentials (T14 Schools preferred) and an accredited J.D.
• Admission to the Chicago state bar
• Ability to manage complex matters and demanding deadlines
• Experience within a sophisticated litigation practice

A Federal Circuit or patent-focused judicial clerkship, Federal Circuit admission, or life-sciences patent experience is strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is $365,000–$420,000, depending on experience, qualifications, location and other relevant factors.

The firm also offers bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement support, paid time off, family-care benefits, professional development, wellbeing resources and pro bono opportunities.