Intellectual Property Practice Assistant

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

The global law firm of K&L Gates LLP seeks an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Assistant to join the Pittsburgh Shared Services Team.  The IP Shared Services Practice Assistant will support our IP team with preparing, filing and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patents, U.S. and foreign trademarks and copyright applications.

Those in this role must observe confidentiality on all client matters and adhere to all procedures and guidelines set by the firm. The IP Practice Assistant provides considerable knowledge of legal procedures and terminology within particular practice areas along with the ability to follow complex instructions and work on his/her own initiative under limited supervision.

Essential Duties:

•             Preparing Patent/Trademark Office forms, including but not limited to:  Provisional Cover Sheet, Application Data Sheet, Power of Attorney/3.73 Statement, Extension of Time, Notice of Appeal, Terminal Disclaimer, Issue Fee Transmittal, SB08, Oath/Declaration

•              Send signature documents (Power of Attorney, Assignment, and Declaration) for execution by inventors

•              Assisting with preparing, filing and prosecution of US and foreign patents, US and foreign trademarks and copyright applications including electronic filing with the USPTO

•              Drafting patent documents and correspondence

•              Preparing Assignments for execution by inventors

•              Assisting with preparation and formatting specification and responses to Office Actions in proper USPTO format

•              Handling administrative aspects of US patent prosecution

•              Coordinate with internal and external docketing to manage deadlines

•              Send reminders to timekeepers and clients regarding upcoming deadlines

•              Managing IP docketing deadlines

•              Maintaining trademark and copyright application files

•              Maintaining patent application files

•              Assisting with patent searches

•              Researching and gathering foreign references and non-patent literature documents

•              Compiling supporting documents to accompany nationalization instructions

•              Reviewing filing receipts and notices of recordation received from USPTO for accuracy

•              Assisting in all administrative aspects of IP work, including conducting searches on the USPTO website

Experience & Skills Required:

•              Must have at least 3+ years of patent prosecution experience

•              IP practice assistant experience

•              Patent filing experience

•              Experience with opening new matters, conflicts, time entry, bills and reimbursements

•              Experience with Patent Center / TEAS / TSDR 

•              Significant experience in a similar role within a medium to large law or professional services firm working for senior lawyers/partners

•              High proficiency in the use of Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe

•              Exemplary oral and written communication skills

•              Excellent attention to detail, including using correct spelling and grammar

•              Ability to work with multiple lawyers on different matters

•              Excellent client service skills

•              Can-do attitude and flexible approach

Experience with Imanage and PattsyWave is a plus.

Compensation Salary $61,000 - $92,000

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. 

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.