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I'm interested in Sec 337 litigation, and possibly employment with the USITC.
1) At what stage in one's career as a patent litigator can one enter the ITC arena, is it possible to do stuff as an associate?
2) What law firms specialize in Sec 337 practice within IP?
3) Is working for the ITC directly in some capacity a good move?
4) Do you know if one would have to work in DC to do ITC work?

Interesting question

If anyone just knows the answer to #2, that'll be just fine.

yellowjacket2012 wrote:I'm interested in Sec 337 litigation, and possibly employment with the USITC.
1) At what stage in one's career as a patent litigator can one enter the ITC arena, is it possible to do stuff as an associate?
2) What law firms specialize in Sec 337 practice within IP?
3) Is working for the ITC directly in some capacity a good move?
4) Do you know if one would have to work in DC to do ITC work?

1) Yes. Patent litigation associates get staffed on ITC cases.
2) Law firms with the most new ITC cases in 2009 - http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC. ... 2462784426
3) Not sure, but I would guess so. If you plan on practicing before a certain court, it can't hurt to work there first.
4) I know some NY associates who have worked on ITC cases, but most of the action is in DC.

Overall, there are quite a few patent cases in the ITC, but no firm specializes only in ITC work. There just isn't enough of it. Even if you go to a firm that does a lot of ITC work, most of the cases at the firm will be "normal" patent suits in Fed. Dist. court.

for what its worth, I kept searching for one, and there's this one firm:
Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg, LLP, that does pretty much only ITC stuff.

But they seem to be the only boutique I could find. You're right about the general industry.
I think ITC is going to be where its at, I'm going to apply for the equivalent of a clerkship with the ITC (i think they call it attorney-adviser/counsel) or something. I'd need to work in the private sector as a patent litigator for a year or two though, and then apply.