Patent Prosecution - Patent Agent (Biotech)

Direct Counsel is seeking a Patent Agent with a Ph.D. in the biological sciences to join a leading Am Law 100 firm in San Francisco, San Diego and Boston. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge biotechnology patent prosecution, freedom-to-operate analysis, and due diligence.

About the Intellectual Property - Patent Prosecution Section

The patent practice provides strategic counseling in patent law, enabling clients to clarify goals, find solutions, and achieve results throughout the innovation lifecycle. The team works with clients to procure and enforce patent protection, navigate patent landscapes, and handle licensing, acquisitions, and other business transactions.

Responsibilities

The Patent Agent will:

• Manage patent portfolios and coordinate prosecution with foreign associates across jurisdictions.
• Draft office action responses and prosecute patent applications.
• Collaborate with scientists and inventors to draft patent applications.
• Assess scientific literature, patents, and patent application documents in various biology fields.
• Conduct patent-landscape and freedom-to-operate searches and assist with analysis.
• Work with investors to conduct IP diligence for potential investments.
• Assist with IP diligence on biotech IPOs and capital markets transactions.

Qualifications

• USPTO admission required.
• Ph.D. in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field. (bioinformatics, data science and machine learning are a plus but not required)
• 2+ years of patent prosecution experience preferred.
• Experience drafting patent applications from invention disclosures and inventor interviews with minimal supervision.
• Ability to present scientific concepts and analysis to both scientists and non-scientists.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in team settings.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $250,000, with bonus eligibility. The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package.

This is a unique opportunity for a biotech-focused patent agent to join a prestigious firm and contribute to its growing intellectual property practice.