IP Litigation Associate — Patent Disputes (LA)

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 270,000 - 385,000; Full time

Job summary

Watts & Associates is seeking a 3rd- to 5th-year IP Litigation Associate to join its Los Angeles, CA office within a highly regarded Am Law 100 full-service international law firm. The successful candidate will handle sophisticated patent disputes and related IP matters for major corporate clients.

The role offers substantial litigation exposure, mentorship from seasoned trial lawyers, and structured development opportunities, with duties spanning research, drafting, discovery, and trial

Qualifications

• Three to five years of substantive intellectual property litigation experience.
• Experience in a sophisticated law firm, government or comparable litigation environment.
• Strong patent litigation and broader intellectual property dispute capabilities.
• Excellent research, analytical and legal writing skills.
• Experience drafting substantive motions and complex briefs.
• Strong discovery and case-management fundamentals.
• Ability to understand and communicate technically complex subject matter.
• A technical degree background in electrical engineering or computer science, preferred.
• Admission to the District of Columbia Bar or ability to obtain admission promptly.
• Excellent academic credentials, generally within the top half of the class, with the top third preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducting detailed legal and technical research.
• Drafting pleadings, motions and dispositive briefs.
• Developing infringement, validity and damages arguments.
• Managing written discovery and document production.
• Supporting fact and expert depositions.
• Assisting with witness and expert preparation.
• Preparing for hearings, claim construction proceedings and trial.
• Contributing to settlement and case strategy discussions.
• Coordinating with technical experts, clients and internal litigation teams.
• Supporting related ITC, Federal Circuit or PTAB proceedings where applicable.

Skills

IP Litigation

Legal Writing

Research

Oral Advocacy

Team Collaboration

Technical Understanding

Education

Electrical Engineering

Computer Science

DC Bar Admission

Job description

Watts & Associates is seeking a 3rd- to 5th-year IP Litigation Associate to join its Los Angeles, CA office within a highly regarded Am Law 100 full-service international law firm. The successful candidate will handle sophisticated patent disputes and related IP matters for major corporate clients.

The role offers substantial litigation exposure, mentorship from seasoned trial lawyers, and structured development opportunities, with duties spanning research, drafting, discovery, and trial