IP Docketing Supervisor

Eversheds Sutherland; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Paid time off

Merit bonuses

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plans

Learning opportunities

Job summary

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP in Houston seeks an IP Docketing Supervisor to lead the docketing team and ensure accuracy and timeliness of patent and trademark docketing. This hands-on leadership role blends IP prosecution docketing expertise with strong people management and process-improvement skills.

You will recruit, train, monitor workload, oversee audits and metrics, and support system migrations while maintaining confidentiality and delivering client-facing reports.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive IP prosecution docketing experience, including supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-directed, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a professional manner.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. and foreign patent/trademark prosecution from start to finish.
• Proficiency with IP docketing systems (CPI, PATTSY, Anaqua) and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage docketing staff; assign work; monitor workload and priorities.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and conduct performance reviews; coordinate back-up coverage.
• Ensure punctual, accurate docketing in line with firm policies and deadlines.
• Maintain docketing policies; monitor regulatory changes and implement updates.
• Generate and review docketing metrics; present findings to leadership.
• Design audits and drive corrective actions; oversee system migrations and onboarding.

Skills

IP docketing

Team leadership

Communication

Organization

Independent work

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CPI

PATTSY

Anaqua

MS Office

Job description

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is part of a global law practice providing legal services to a broad range of clients, from small and mid‑sized businesses to the world’s leading multinational organizations. The firm combines deep local knowledge with global reach, supporting clients across industries and jurisdictions. Eversheds Sutherland is recognized for its collaborative culture, commitment to client service, and delivery of practical, commercially informed legal solutions.

Position Summary

The IP Docketing Supervisor is responsible for leading the docketing team and ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of all patent and trademark docketing activities. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who combines deep IP prosecution docketing expertise with strong people management skills, and who is comfortable driving process improvement and systems change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage docketing staff by assigning work, monitoring workload, setting team priorities, and supporting the training and development of docketing professionals.
• Recruit, onboard, and train new team members; approve timecards and leave requests; coordinate backup coverage; conduct performance reviews; and partner with HR on personnel matters.
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of all docketing activities in support of attorneys, business professionals, and clients, in strict adherence to firm policies and applicable rules and deadlines.
• Own and maintain written docketing policies and procedures; monitor changes in U.S. and foreign IP prosecution rules and recommend procedural updates as needed.
• Generate, review, and interpret docketing metrics (volume, turnaround times, past due items, error rates); identify trends and present findings to firm leadership.
• Design and lead periodic audits of docketing data and processes; identify gaps and drive corrective action.
• Coordinate and deliver docketing system onboarding and training for attorneys and business professionals.
• Prepare and oversee client facing reports (portfolio, renewal, and special reports) in coordination with attorneys and business professionals.
• Support the firm’s ongoing docketing system migration, including data integrity review and staff training on the new system.
• Manage the intake and transfer of IP portfolios in and out of the firm, including data validation, coordination with outgoing/incoming counsel, and timely, accurate docketing of transferred matters.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all firm and client information.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive IP prosecution docketing experience, including experience supervising a docketing team, preferably in a law firm environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-directed, self-motivated, possess strong organizational and time management skills, as well as analytical and problem-solving skills, and work with a high level of professionalism.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. and foreign patent and trademark prosecution from inception through completion.
• Proficiency with IP docketing/management systems (e.g., CPI, PATTSY, Anaqua, or similar).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).
• Demonstrated leadership skills, with the ability to develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing team.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; sound judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while managing competing priorities and deadlines.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

This is a hybrid role and will require 1-2 days in office per week. The salary ranges for this position vary depending on the geographic location and other factors such as experience, internal equity, market data, and job‑related considerations. The range for this position is from $90,00 - $130,000, with offers contingent upon the various factors. The firm’s compensation strategy includes not just a base salary but also comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, paid time off, discretionary merit bonuses, life and disability insurance, retirement plans and tailored learning opportunities.

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our Firm and in the larger legal profession. We believe that diverse skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger firm. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP maintains a policy of affording all employees and applicants equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, domestic violence victim status, ancestry, amnesty, citizenship status, ethnicity, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated in any of the Firm’s offices or any other work‑related setting. Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a position or to enable them to perform the essential functions of a position for which they are otherwise qualified. EEO