Patent Post-Grant Associate

Join Our Atlanta Team as a Patent Post-Grant Associate (IPR, PGR, reexamination)

Lee & Hayes, an internationally known intellectual property (IP) and business law firm, is seeking a Patent Post-Grant Associate in our Atlanta office to support our IP Litigation Group. This position will focus primarily on patent post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including inter partes review (IPRs) and ex parte reexamination. The role will also support district court litigation on technical aspects of cases, including infringement, validity, claim construction, and expert discovery.

The ideal candidate will have meaningful post-grant experience, a strong patent prosecution background, and excellent legal and technical writing skills. In this role, you will work closely with an experienced post-grant partner and litigation partners, gaining hands-on experience in high-stakes matters and developing coordinated strategies across post-grant proceedings and related district court cases.

Lee & Hayes is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s highest-quality law firms across industries. In addition to IP law, the firm specializes in corporate, government relations, and litigation services. The firm offers a collegial, team-oriented work environment, along with a nationally competitive compensation and benefits package. Culturally, Lee & Hayes is more like a “high-tech company of lawyers” than just a law firm.

Responsibilities:

• Develop invalidity strategy and grounds for post-grant challenges; coordinate on common issues across post-grant and district court proceedings
• Draft PTAB and USPTO filings, including IPR petitions, briefing, motions, and reexamination requests
• Work with technical experts to develop positions, prepare expert reports/declarations, and prepare for deposition
• Take and defend expert depositions
• Deliver oral argument at PTAB hearings and on conference calls
• Support litigation teams as needed on technical and discovery-related issues
• Prepare clear client communications with practical recommendations

Qualifications:

• 1–4 years of experience in patent post-grant work strongly preferred, including developing invalidity challenges and drafting PTAB/USPTO pleadings; exceptionally strong candidates with less direct experience will be considered
• Strong patent prosecution background
• Exposure to patent litigation preferred
• Excellent legal and technical research/writing skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely
• Electrical, mechanical, or computer engineering degree preferred, but strong candidates with other technical degrees will be considered
• USPTO registration (or eligibility and intent to take the exam in the near future)
• Aptitude and willingness to support the business development efforts of the IP Litigation group
• Appreciation for mentorship, ongoing training, and advancement opportunities within the firm
• Ability to work from our Atlanta office strongly preferred; exceptionally strong candidates in other Lee & Hayes office locations (Spokane, Seattle, Rochester, DC Metro) or remote locations will also be considered