Life Science Patent Prosecution Associate

Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Grand Rapids seeks an associate with 1–4 years of life sciences patent prosecution experience to join our Intellectual Property Department. You will help clients protect innovations in pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and ag-bio technologies, collaborating with a respected national team.

The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in organic chemistry, hands-on prosecution experience, and an interest in strategic portfolio development, due diligence, and

Qualifications

• 1–4 years of patent preparation and prosecution experience in life sciences.
• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academics.
• Registration to practice before the USPTO.
• Advanced degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or related field (Ph.D. preferred).
• Excellent writing, analytical, and communication skills for complex chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications for life sciences tech.
• Interact with inventors, examiners, and clients to frame inventions.
• Develop portfolio strategies aligned with client goals.
• Support analyses for patentability, freedom-to-operate, and validity.
• Assist with diligence, licensing, and corporate transactions as needed.
• Collaborate with in-house counsel and R&D teams.

Skills

Life sciences patent

Patent drafting

US patent prosecution

Education

J.D. degree

Advanced degree in organic chemistry

Job description

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is seeking an associate with 1–4 years of life sciences patent prosecution experience to join its Intellectual Property Department. The associate will work alongside a nationally respected and growing life sciences patent team. You will help sophisticated clients protect and use innovations at the frontier of pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and ag-biotech technologies.

The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in organic chemistry and will have hands‑on experience in U.S. and foreign prosecution and an interest in the strategic side of patent practice, including global portfolio development, IP due diligence, patentability, and freedom‑to‑operate work. You will work directly with clients and inventors, take on meaningful responsibility early, and see that responsibility grow with your judgment and client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Patent preparation and prosecution: Draft and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications covering small molecule pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, ag-bio treatments, formulations, synthetic processes, and related life sciences technologies. This includes handling PCT and foreign filings in coordination with foreign associates.

• Inventor and examiner engagement: Conduct inventor interviews to capture and frame inventions. Prepare well‑reasoned responses to Office Actions, and take part in examiner interviews and appeals as appropriate.

• Portfolio strategy: Working with clients and supervising attorneys, develop prosecution and global filing strategies that match patent protection to clients' scientific, commercial, and competitive goals.

• Strategic analyses: Conduct and support patentability, freedom‑to‑operate, validity and invalidity, and non‑infringement analyses. You will turn complex technical, legal, and commercial issues into clear, actionable advice.

• Transactional and diligence support: Assess patent portfolios for financings, licensing, and M&A transactions, and help draft and review related opinions, agreements, and client correspondence.

• Client and team collaboration: Work closely with in‑house counsel, R&D scientists, and internal colleagues across the firm's IP, corporate, and litigation practices.

• Growing ownership: Take on more responsibility for matters and client‑facing workstreams over time, with the mentorship and support to grow into a trusted advisor.

Qualifications

Required

• 1–4 years of patent preparation and prosecution experience, with substantial work in chemical, pharmaceutical, or other life sciences technologies

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials

• Registration to practice before the USPTO

• Advanced degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or a closely related field (Ph.D. strongly preferred; candidates with an M.S. and substantial relevant experience will be considered)

• Excellent writing, analytical, and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex chemistry clearly to clients, examiners, and colleagues

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines while consistently producing high‑quality work

Preferred

• Experience supporting patentability, freedom‑to‑operate, clearance, non‑infringement, or invalidity analyses, or preparing opinions

• Experience with patent due diligence for corporate transactions or with portfolio management

• Familiarity with pharmaceutical life cycle management and the Hatch‑Waxman/Orange Book framework

• Experience in foreign prosecution, including EPO practice

Why Barnes & Thornburg LLP?

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is an AmLaw 100 firm with 26 offices. The firm and our intellectual property department have an exceptional reputation for fostering an inclusive, collegial, and supportive atmosphere with a well‑defined and transparent path for professional growth. Our intellectual property practice delivers the strength of a powerhouse IP boutique housed within a full‑service AmLaw 100 firm. With 125+ dedicated IP attorneys and agents, we have one of the largest and most technically skilled IP teams in the country, earning consistent recognition in Chambers USA, IAM Patent 1000, World Trademark Review 1000, and IP Stars. Our practitioners advise clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies, who call us \"the absolute best\" and their \"go‑to for all things intellectual property.\"

Equal Employment and Opportunity Statement:

Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran’s status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.