Associate

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Named for several years as a "great place" to work by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. We recognize that it is the talent and dynamism of each individual at Sterne Kessler that makes that possible. With that in mind, we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. We offer a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits and are Metro-accessible in a prime downtown location with many nearby restaurants and shops.

Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Responsibilities

Associates for Washington, D.C location. Responsible for Mechanical Engineering patent prosecution and other proceedings before USPTO and other bodies. Assess novelty and non-obviousness of utility of design patent claims. Conducts invention disclosure meetings with inventors. Develops patent strategies and portfolios. Prepares detailed patent applications. Prepare legal memoranda, briefs, motions, and patentability opinions. Conduct legal research and work on litigation matters. Execute literature and document review. Directly communicates with client contacts and inventors. Conducts comprehensive prior art searches and invention disclosure meetings with inventors. Analyze and draft licenses and agreements. Assists in strategy and briefing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Assists in mentoring junior staff.  

Requirements:

JD in Law and Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field plus 6 months of experience in Mechanical Engineering design/Intellectual Property law required. Experience must include: assisting with ME patent preparation or lit/prosecution. Must hold DC law license, or any US state license and must be eligible to waive into or sit for the D.C. Bar. Hybrid role.

Salary:

The salary range for this role is $190,000 to $285,000 at a 1,900 billable hour goal.

Billable hours: The firm has a flexible hours program under which an Associate can request a lower billable hour goal with a commensurate salary. Under the flexible hours program, you may select a billable hour goal in the range of 1400 to 2000 hours. Associates at our firm primarily doing patent or trademark prosecution tend to select hour goals less than 2000 hours, while attorneys primarily doing litigation and/or inter partes work are more likely to select hour goals of 2000 hours.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in addition to virtual care services through CloseKnit


• On-site Wellness Center in our Washington, D.C. office


• Staffed by a Nurse Practitioner, offers firm employees and other qualified family members with a range of medical services


• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care


• Wellness program


• Firm-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage


• Firm-paid short and long term disability insurance


• Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D coverage, supplemental long term disability insurance*, long term care insurance


• 401(k) retirement savings plan


• Transportation commuter benefit program


• Back-up childcare and family support


• Pet insurance discount


• Employee Assistance Program services