Patent Attorney/Agent (Non-partner track; 7+ yrs) – Am Law 100
McCormack Schreiber Legal Search
Chicago, IL · Posted November 11, 2026
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About the job
About the Position:
We are working with an Am Law 100 firm that is seeking patent attorney or agent to join its Chicago office. The firm helps clients obtain, manage, commercialize, and enforce patents through prosecution, strategic counseling, transactions, and litigation, including Hatch-Waxman cases, post-grant challenges, and ITC proceedings across life sciences, software, electronics, and mechanical technologies.
Highlights:
· Strong training and mentoring programs
· Ranked on the Vault Law 100 list
· Firm is dedicated to pro bono work and supports over 40 legal aid groups
Responsibilities:
· Draft and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications involving hardware and software technologies
· Prepare responses to office actions, conduct examiner interviews, and coordinate patent prosecution with foreign counsel in key international markets
· Manage patent portfolios and conduct prior art research using patent databases and search tools
· Work directly with inventors, scientists, in-house counsel, and cross-functional teams on patent matters, exercising independent responsibility with appropriate guidance
Required Qualifications:
· 7+ years of patent drafting and prosecution experience, including experience with hardware and software technologies, ideally including consumer electronics, mobile and wireless devices, automotive systems, quantum computing, databases, distributed systems, and cloud-based software-defined storage
· Electrical Engineering degree and strong academic credentials
· USPTO registration required
Location:
Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
Compensation:
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $160,000 – $300,000