Supreme Court & Appellate Associate Attorney (Patent & Intellectual Property)

Job Description

Job Description

Supreme Court & Appellate Associate Attorney (Patent & Intellectual Property)

Direct Counsel is seeking a Supreme Court & Appellate Associate Attorney to join a prestigious Am Law firm in one of the following offices: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Irvine (Orange County), Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Seattle, Silicon Valley (Menlo Park), or Washington, D.C.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney with 5-7 years of appellate litigation experience and a strong background in patent and intellectual property appeals to join one of the nation's premier appellate practices. The team handles high-profile, bet-the-company appeals and works closely with trial teams on complex patent and intellectual property matters across the high-tech and life sciences industries.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in Federal Circuit patent appeals and other sophisticated intellectual property appellate matters.

• Provide strategic appellate support during trial, including issue preservation and key motion practice.

• Draft appellate briefs, petitions for certiorari, amicus briefs, and other significant appellate filings.

• Conduct sophisticated legal research and analysis involving complex patent law and intellectual property issues.

• Develop appellate strategy and identify persuasive legal arguments.

• Collaborate closely with trial teams to preserve issues for appeal and strengthen the appellate record.

• Prepare for oral arguments, including moot courts and appellate advocacy exercises.

• Counsel clients on appellate procedure, litigation strategy, and potential outcomes.

• Analyze and work with highly technical subject matter involving the high-tech and life sciences industries.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Active membership in at least one state bar; admission to the Federal Circuit is preferred.

• 5-7 years of appellate litigation experience with a focus on patent and intellectual property appeals.

• Experience drafting appellate briefs, substantive motions, and other complex appellate filings.

• Prior judicial clerkship experience, particularly with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or a district court with a significant patent docket, is strongly preferred.

• Outstanding legal research, analytical, drafting, and writing skills.

• Ability to distill complex legal and technical issues into clear, persuasive appellate arguments.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple high-stakes matters simultaneously.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a collaborative, team-oriented approach.

• Experience with life sciences patent litigation, including Hatch-Waxman, BPCIA, or direct-competitor litigation, is a plus.

• Strong academic credentials and a commitment to delivering exceptional client service.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $365,000-$420,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

• Comprehensive benefits package, including:

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

  • Mental health and wellness programs

  • Child, family, elder, and pet care benefits

  • Short- and long-term disability coverage

  • Industry-leading parental leave

  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options

  • 401(k) retirement plan

  • Flexible Time Off (FTO) and paid holidays

  • Annual discretionary performance bonus eligibility