Patent Prosecution Associate - Life Sciences / Biotechnology - Silicon Valley
Job Description
Job Description
Patent Prosecution Associate – Life Sciences / Biotechnology – Silicon Valley
Practice Area: Intellectual Property / Patent Prosecution
Experience: 1–5 years
Requirements: Advanced degree in life sciences (Ph.D. preferred); USPTO registration or eligibility to sit for the patent bar within 12 months.
This is an opportunity for a technically sophisticated patent associate to transition from standard portfolio maintenance to high-value asset strategy for world-changing biotechnology companies. A premier Am Law 50 global firm is seeking a mid-level associate to join its elite Silicon Valley IP practice, stepping directly into a sophisticated workflow that bridges cutting-edge science and complex patent law.
The Work
You will guide life sciences and biotech innovators through the entire lifecycle of intellectual property protection. This is not a repetitive, back-office drafting role; you will be directly involved in building and managing global patent portfolios, drafting complex applications for breakthrough therapies, and conducting critical freedom-to-operate (FTO) and patentability analyses. The practice covers everything from venture-backed startups to multinational pharmaceutical giants, ensuring your portfolio exposure remains broad and sophisticated.
Who This Is For
You are an intelligent, scientifically driven attorney with one to five years of patent prosecution experience within a dedicated biotechnology practice. You possess a deep technical foundation—ideally a Ph.D. in a life sciences discipline (molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, or related fields)—and can speak the language of founders and chief scientific officers. You either hold a USPTO registration number or have the foundational credentials to sit for and pass the patent bar exam within your first year in the role.
The Platform
The firm offers the rare combination of an elite, global footprint with a deeply collaborative, partner-led mentorship structure in Silicon Valley. You will work alongside recognized leaders in the life sciences space who invest in your development, ensuring you gain the strategic advisory skills necessary to transition from an associate who executes work to a trusted advisor who commands a room. The firm is highly meritocratic, offering a clear, predictable trajectory for associates looking to build a long-term career.
Why Silicon Valley
As a key hub for global biotechnology innovation, Silicon Valley offers an unparalleled concentration of venture capital, research institutions, and emerging life sciences companies. Working from this office positions you at the absolute epicenter of the industry, providing a steady stream of high-stakes, market-defining IP work that cannot be replicated in smaller markets.
Compensation and Benefits
The base salary range for this position is $225,000 to $435,000, commensurate with your class year, technical expertise, and depth of experience. The comprehensive benefits package includes market-leading medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) eligibility with profit sharing; exceptional paid time off; parental leave; and robust professional development and bar association support.
Apply in Confidence
If you are open to exploring a platform that matches your scientific expertise with world-class legal work, let's begin a confidential conversation. Your details will not be shared with this or any other firm without your explicit permission.
Contact us to schedule an introductory discussion.