Patent Agent/Science Advisor

IP for Life Sciences Discipline

Practice Area: Intellectual Property Transactions & Strategies (IPTS) / Life Sciences

Location: New York, NY

Salary: $155,000 - $175,000 Target Base Salary.

Compensation includes eligibility for a robust annual performance bonus program.

About the Firm:

Our client is an AmLaw 50 institution with a globally recognized Life Sciences Business Unit that stands at the vanguard of legal support for biomedical innovation. Consistently earning Tier 1 rankings from Chambers USA for its Intellectual Property practice, the firm provides counsel to emerging companies, major pharmaceutical corporations, and leading venture capital funds across the entire life science ecosystem. The firm is known for integrating deep technical expertise with cutting-edge legal strategy, fostering a dynamic and intellectually rigorous environment where scientific knowledge is directly leveraged to build and monetize patent portfolios for transformative technologies.

Job Description:

This role is ideal for a highly credentialed scientist seeking to transition their expertise into a strategic legal career. The Science Specialist will operate as a critical technical resource for attorneys and clients within the Intellectual Property Transactions & Strategies Group, focusing on matters within the Life Sciences and Chemical domains. Key responsibilities include:

• Pioneering the drafting of original patent applications, encompassing the preparation of highly detailed specifications and legally sound claims in close collaboration with inventors and corporate IP counsel.
• Executing in-depth prior art investigations and complex freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses to inform client research and development pipelines and mitigate litigation risk.
• Conducting scientific assessments of novel inventions to render technical opinions on patentability thresholds, patent validity, and potential third-party infringement exposure.
• Supporting intellectual property due diligence in high-value corporate transactions, including venture capital investments, complex licensing deals, and public M&A.
• Developing and presenting IP landscape and competitive intelligence reports to guide clients’ long-term research strategies and business planning decisions.
• Directly managing global patent portfolio needs, including preparing strategic responses to patent office actions under the guidance of supervising attorneys.
• Collaborating with cross-functional legal teams and clients to ensure IP objectives are fully aligned with overarching commercial goals.

Qualifications:

• Two (2) to four (4) years of experience in patent drafting, prosecution, or related IP technical support.
• A deep scientific background demonstrated by an advanced technical degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) in Chemistry or a closely related field (e.g., Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry).
• Demonstrated knowledge of core U.S. and international patent law concepts, specifically within the Life Sciences and Biotechnology sectors.
• Exceptional technical writing and communication skills for drafting complex legal and scientific documents.
• Eligibility to sit for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) registration examination.

Preferred Skills:

• Admission to practice before the USPTO (Patent Agent registration number).
• Ph.D. degree or M.D. in a relevant chemical discipline.
• Previous experience in a law firm or in-house legal department environment, with a focus on patent preparation and prosecution.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset and the demonstrated capacity to excel in a deadline-driven, sophisticated legal environment.

(This a job advertisement on behalf of our client and does not reflect the full job description for the role. Any qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. You will need to provide law school transcripts, a writing sample or deal sheets, and a cover letter in order to be considered for this role. This posting does not constitute an offer of employment, and the listed compensation details may vary by state or experience and will be discussed thoroughly during interview phase.)