Patent Litigation Associate Jobs in Rochester, NY

Intellectual Property Partner

Intellectual Property

Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany, NY

Exempt

Full-time

Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP is a leading and reputable full-service law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to our clients. With a team of highly skilled and experienced attorneys, we strive to deliver comprehensive and effective solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our headquarters is in Rochester, NY, with additional offices in Albany and Buffalo, NY.

We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. We encourage open communication, teamwork, and professional growth. Our firm promotes a healthy balance between work and personal life and supports the wellbeing of our employees.

We are seeking an experienced Intellectual Property Partner to provide senior leadership and depth across our Intellectual Property Practice Group. This is a broad, patent anchored role spanning U.S. and foreign patent procurement, opinion and counseling work, intellectual property licensing and cross border transactions, and patent and trademark litigation. The practice serves clients in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and food and beverage, with particular depth in industrial, manufacturing, and mechanical technologies. The ideal candidate is a registered U.S. patent attorney with a strong technical background and the judgment to lead matters, develop a team, and grow the practice independently.

• Lead U.S. and foreign patent prosecution and portfolio strategy in mechanical and industrial technologies.
• Conduct infringement, validity, freedom to operate, and patentability analysis.
• Advise on competitive surveillance and global IP strategy, including forecasting and budgeting.
• Negotiate IP licensing and complex cross border transactions covering patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights.
• Counsel on trademark protection and enforcement within an integrated IP strategy.
• Handle patent and trademark litigation in federal court, the TTAB, and the Federal Circuit.
• Lead IP due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and financings.
• Develop client relationships and support practice growth.
• Supervise and mentor associates, patent agents, and paralegals.
• Stay current through CLE and IP bar involvement such as the AIPLA.

• Juris Doctor and admission to the New York State Bar.
• USPTO registration.
• Engineering or hard science degree, ideally mechanical or industrial.
• 10+ years across patent prosecution, transactions, and litigation.
• Admission, or eligibility, to the relevant federal courts and the Federal Circuit.
• A proven leader with strong client relationships, team development, and practice growth.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across practice areas.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and proactive client development.

• Employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers to type, hold, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 15 pounds.

The compensation range for this position is $200,000– $700,000 annually, plus bonus potential, representing our good faith and reasonable estimate of the potential compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on various factors, including the candidate's qualifications, experience, skill set, and office location. Additionally, relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind—in the hiring process or in the workplace. We comply with the ADA and consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed Form I-9.