Senior Patent Counsel

Unified Patents; Vermont; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive health insurance

Generous vacation

Profit-sharing

Maternity and paternity leave

Financial support for continuing legal education

Job summary

Unified Patents is expanding its legal department and seeks an experienced patent attorney in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience before the USPTO and a strong technical background, particularly with ex-parte reexamination and post-grant petitions. The role involves managing patent proceedings, drafting legal documents, and supporting senior attorneys.

We value diversity and prefer candidates located in the DC area but offer remote options. Competitive benefits are available, including generous vacation and health insurance.

Qualifications

• 5 years of PTAB or relevant reexamination experience.
• State Bar and Patent Registration Examination passage.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing patent office proceedings internally.
• Drafting, filing, and litigating patent office proceedings.
• Handling calls with decision makers.
• Supporting senior attorneys with management of ongoing matters.

Skills

Patent drafting

Legal writing

Team collaboration

Excellent communication skills

Education

EE or CS undergraduate degree

Graduate Technical (MS, MA, or PhD) degree

Job description

Unified Patents is again growing its legal department, and seeks to add an experienced, registered patent attorney. Applicants should have at least 5 years of law firm or other relevant experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in particular working on ex-parte reexamination proceedings, post-grant petitions (IPR, PGR, and CBM), or other administrative drafting and litigation experience.

Applicants should have a strong technical background and be willing to explore diverse new technologies; experience with video codecs, coding, cryptography, compression, signals, wireless communications, or other algorithmic subject matter is a plus. Patent examination experience is a plus; clerking experience is a plus; familiarity with ongoing appellate issues affecting PTAB practice is a plus. Must be willing to work within a team, work well independently, and enjoy writing and editing. Preference for candidates located in the Washington, DC area; remote officing is possible. Diversity is prized in our team and among our candidates. Please be prepared to discuss the administrative matters you have been involved in and be ready to provide examples.

Duties

• Managing patent office proceedings internally
• Drafting, filing, and litigating patent office proceedings, e.g., ex-parte reexaminations
• Handling calls with decision makers
• Drafting motions and briefs
• Supporting senior attorneys with management of ongoing matters
• Support docketing, e-filing, deposit account, budgeting, and other IP functions
• Editing work product of colleagues, outside counsel
• Amicus curiae drafting and support; comment drafting and support
• Contract, licensing, and other legal support services
• Legal writing, support, and other various legal duties

Qualifications

• 5 years of PTAB (drafting petitions, filing, litigating, deposition) or relevant reexamination experience
• State Bar and Patent Registration Examination passage
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills

Preferred additional qualities

• Patent Office examination experience
• Algorithmic, codec, and other code-based subject matter experience
• Semiconductor, analog and integrated circuit, and fabrication experience
• Appellate and/or clerking experience
• EE or CS undergraduate degree
• Graduate Technical (MS, MA, or PhD) degree
• Willing to work from DC preferred
• Aggressive, competitive benefits, with generous vacation and paid-for health insurance and profit-sharing; freedom to work from home when appropriate; maternity and paternity leave; financial support for bar associations and continuing legal education.