IP Senior Associate Attorney - Life Sciences (CA)

Job Juncture; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 365,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Our client, a leading international law firm, seeks a Senior Associate Attorney to join its Life Sciences IP practice in Palo Alto. You will work on sophisticated patent prosecution and litigation matters across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, gene therapy, medical devices, and digital health.

Required: JD from a top-tier law school, 3–5 years post‑JD experience in patent prosecution and patent litigation, biology undergraduate degree, and PhD strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• JD from a top-tier law school with an excellent academic record
• Undergraduate degree in Biology or related life sciences
• PhD strongly preferred for life sciences focus
• 3-5 years of substantive post-JD experience in patent prosecution and patent litigation
• Experience handling patents in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, gene therapy, medical devices, and digital health
• Experience with patent portfolio development and management
• Familiarity with IP strategy and post-grant proceedings before PTAB

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in life sciences patent prosecution and litigation matters
• Develop and manage domestic and international patent portfolios
• Conduct patentability, freedom-to-operate, and landscape analyses
• Develop litigation strategies for complex patent disputes
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and discovery requests
• Assist with discovery, depositions, and trial prep
• Collaborate with scientists and technical experts to analyze technologies

Skills

Patent prosecution

Patent litigation

Life sciences background

Education

JD from top-tier law school

Biology undergraduate degree

PhD in life sciences strongly preferred

Job description

IP Senior Associate Attorney - Life Sciences (CA)

Salary: $260,000 - $365,000 per year

Posted: September 11 2026

Relocation Assistance: Available

HYBRID

Our client, a leading international law firm, is seeking a highly motivated Senior Associate Attorney to join its thriving Intellectual Property Practice Group in Palo Alto. This is an outstanding opportunity for an attorney with a strong life sciences background to work on sophisticated patent prosecution and litigation matters involving biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, gene therapy, medical devices, and digital health. The successful candidate will collaborate with experienced intellectual property attorneys and technical professionals to protect, develop, and enforce clients’ most valuable innovations.

Candidate Profile

• JD from a top-tier law school with an excellent academic record
• 3-5 years of substantive post-JD experience in patent prosecution and patent litigation
• Undergraduate degree in Biology or a closely related life sciences discipline
• PhD in a life sciences field strongly preferred
• Experience handling patents involving the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, gene therapy, medical device, and digital health industries
• Experience with patent portfolio development and management
• Familiarity with competitive landscape analyses, patentability assessments, and intellectual property strategy
• Familiarity with inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple sophisticated matters with exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• Large law firm or sophisticated intellectual property practice experience preferred

Key Responsibilities

• Represent clients in sophisticated life sciences patent prosecution and litigation matters
• Assist with the development and management of domestic and international patent portfolios
• Conduct patentability, freedom-to-operate, competitive landscape, and intellectual property analyses
• Develop litigation strategies for complex patent disputes in federal district courts and other forums
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery requests, and other substantive litigation documents
• Assist with fact and expert discovery, witness preparation, depositions, hearings, and trial preparation
• Evaluate the potential impact of post-grant proceedings on related patent litigation
• Collaborate with attorneys, scientists, technical specialists, and experts to analyze complex technologies and develop effective legal strategies
• Work with colleagues across jurisdictions and practice areas to manage domestic and international intellectual property disputes
• Advise clients on intellectual property strategy, portfolio development, enforcement, and protection

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to join a globally recognized intellectual property practice that represents clients in complex patent disputes, prosecution matters, and post-grant proceedings. The team works with a diverse client base ranging from emerging life sciences companies to major global corporations with extensive intellectual property portfolios.

Attorneys in this practice handle matters in prominent patent jurisdictions throughout the United States, as well as proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and federal appellate courts. The group’s multidisciplinary approach combines sophisticated litigation capabilities with substantial scientific and technical experience, enabling its attorneys to understand clients’ innovations and the business considerations surrounding their intellectual property.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with experienced litigators, patent practitioners, and attorneys with advanced scientific backgrounds on challenging and commercially significant matters. The firm offers exceptional mentorship, meaningful responsibility, direct client exposure, and a collaborative environment that supports professional development and long-term career growth.

• Competitive Salary: Commensurate with experience, qualifications, and class year.