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Intellectual Property Counsel*

Maplewood, MN · On-site

Intellectual Property Counsel Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it ...

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$51.5K

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How much do intellectual property jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for intellectual property in the United States is $119,876.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,500.00 and $140,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an intellectual property professional?

Intellectual Property (IP) professionals are experts who help individuals and organizations protect, manage, and enforce their intellectual property rights. These rights include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. IP professionals may work as attorneys, agents, consultants, or in-house specialists, providing legal advice, filing applications, conducting searches, and handling disputes. Their work ensures that creators and inventors can safeguard their innovations and creative works from unauthorized use.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an intellectual property professional?

To thrive as an Intellectual Property professional, you need a strong understanding of patent, trademark, and copyright laws, often supported by a law degree or specialized IP certification. Familiarity with IP management software, patent databases like USPTO or EPO, and legal research tools is essential. Outstanding analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you effectively protect and advocate for intellectual assets. These competencies are crucial for navigating complex legal frameworks, advising clients, and ensuring robust IP protection in a competitive market.

What are common challenges faced by intellectual property professionals?

Professionals in Intellectual Property (IP) roles often navigate complex legal frameworks and must stay updated on evolving laws and international treaties. A typical challenge is balancing the protection of innovations with ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Additionally, coordinating with inventors, legal teams, and business stakeholders requires strong communication and project management skills. Managing tight deadlines, especially for patent or trademark filings, is also a frequent aspect of the role.

What is the difference between Intellectual Property vs Patent Examiner?

AspectIntellectual PropertyPatent Examiner
CredentialsLegal, technical, or patent law backgroundEngineering or technical degree, patent law knowledge
Work EnvironmentLegal firms, corporations, government agenciesPatent offices, government agencies
Industry UsageBroadly used across industries for rights managementSpecific to patent application review

Intellectual Property is a broad field encompassing rights like patents, trademarks, and copyrights, while a Patent Examiner specializes in reviewing patent applications within the patent system. The examiner's role is focused on assessing patentability, whereas Intellectual Property professionals manage and strategize across various rights. Both roles require technical or legal credentials and are integral to protecting innovations in various industries.

What does an intellectual property specialist do?

An intellectual property specialist manages and protects a company's intellectual assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. They conduct patent searches, prepare and file applications, and ensure legal compliance, often working closely with legal teams and using specialized IP management tools.
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What cities are hiring for Intellectual Property jobs?

Cities with the most Intellectual Property job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Intellectual Property jobs?

The most popular types of Intellectual Property jobs are:

What states have the most Intellectual Property jobs?

States with the most job openings for Intellectual Property jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Intellectual Property jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Intellectual Property jobs are:

intellectual property jobs near you
Infographic showing various Intellectual Property job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,876 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Partner, Intellectual Property

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Rochester, NY • On-site

$200K - $700K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Title: Intellectual Property Partner
Department: Intellectual Property

Location: Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany, NY

Classification: Exempt

Job Type: Full-time


Company Overview:

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.

Position Summary:

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.

Key Responsibilities:

  • 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.
Page Brek

Required Skills & Qualifications:

  • 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.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • 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.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this role. It provides a snapshot of the core functions and responsibilities. All inquiries will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. 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.