Staff Scientist / Patent Agent – Intellectual Property (Chemistry)

For over 40 years, Choate has advised life sciences and tech companies, investors, and top universities on global patent portfolios, life cycle strategies, patent validity, infringement, and due diligence. We offer deep expertise to optimize IP strategies for startups, corporations, and research institutions. Our technical knowledge and industry experience enable us to craft innovative, business-focused patent solutions that drive commercial success. Clients benefit from partner-led service, true collaboration, and a dynamic culture that transforms science into commercially successful products.

Responsibilities

• Drafting patent applications.
• Prosecuting patent applications in the US (including replies to Office actions, examiner interviews, and appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board) and directing prosecution worldwide.
• Conducting freedom-to-operate searches and analyses.
• Conducting IP landscape analyses.
• Conducting IP due diligence in the context of an asset purchase or securities offering.
• Conducting invalidity and non-infringement analyses.
• Counseling clients on prosecution strategy.
• Surveilling competitor patent applications and filing observations at the US Patent Office.
• Assisting with contested cases at the US Patent Office (e.g., inter partes review, post-grant review) or in US district court.
• Assisting with agreements (e.g., for licenses, research collaborations, research services).

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required; strong technical background in chemistry.
• An excellent academic record and superior organizational and communication skills (written and oral) required.
• A demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional client service and a creative and entrepreneurial perspective on IP required.
• Law firm experience and USPTO patent bar membership are both preferred.
• Demonstrated aptitude for adopting new technologies, including the ability to become proficient in generative AI tools and apply them thoughtfully in a legal environment.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship by the Firm (either now or in the future).

About the Firm

One of the nation’s premier law firms, Choate is intentionally structured to be different from the firms with which we compete and those differences materially benefit our clients and the best and brightest talent who join us. We focus on a core group of strategic areas where we practice at the highest level and represent clients in some of their most important matters across the US and internationally, including Fortune 500 companies, public and private companies, PE/VC firms, financial institutions and wealthy individuals. Choate lawyers are highly integrated and work closely together every day and across services, maximizing value for clients by developing a sophisticated understanding of their businesses and goals and fostering long-term, collaborative relationships. Our balanced leverage model gives us the ability to match clients with a dedicated, leanly staffed team of lawyers led by highly experienced, hands-on partners and associates working under their direction. To capture the benefits of our model, attorneys are expected to work from our office at least four days per week.

Compensation

Choate offers market-based compensation for its attorneys, patent agents and staff scientists. We also offer bonus compensation and a generous benefits package. The anticipated salary range for this role is listed below and represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the salary range for this specific position at the time of posting. The actual offered salary for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to qualifications and prior experience, class placement, external market data, and consideration of internal equity.

• Staff Scientist: $141,500 - $178,500
• Patent Agent: $170,000 - $186,000