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I’m a current 2nd year at one of the big IP boutiques. I’ve been dissatisfied with the experience/work I’ve gotten to this point (not blaming the firm on this, just stating how I’ve felt after 1.5 years at the firm), and as a result, my eyes have wandered.

I have offers to join a regional office of another big IP boutique where I have more personal connections, a GP firm regional office where I’d start in the IP lit group, and a lit firm that also does substantial IP lit, although it’s not exclusively what they do.

I like the IP boutique model at this level, but I’m worried I’m still not getting the substantive experience I need at my current firm and there are personal benefits to moving to one of the new firms if I choose to do so.

As a second year, can I salvage getting the experience I want at my current firm? And if not, what is my best bet to gain the experience I need to be a competent IP litigator?

ETA: outside of the two big boutiques, the firms listed in the poll are illustrative and not specific to my eventual decision.

If experience is what you want, go to QE or Desmarais. You'd certainly not get that at a GP firm.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:21 am

If experience is what you want, go to QE or Desmarais. You'd certainly not get that at a GP firm.

+1 if early experience is what you want then one of these firms (particularly plaintiff side firms) is where to go. I'd just caution you to look at the whole picture. Experience is great, but there are other reasons why you might pick one of the more standard boutiques or a general practice firm over one of these other firms. Those include, but are not limited to workload, work environment, exit opportunities, conflicts issues.

I spent one of my summers at a plaintiff IP lit firm and another at a big defense side GP firm and ended up at the latter. Sure, I would have taken a depo way earlier at the plaintiff's side firm, but I much preferred the GP firm's culture and exit opportunities.

I'm at a GP firm now after starting at an IP firm. If you are sure you want to be an IP litigator, Fish/Finnegan is the best place to be and you'll probably be exposed to the most substantive cases there. Also I would: 1) look at IP firms with a good patent prosecution practice and 2) look at the firm's competence in every IP lit venue/category (Dist Ct, ITC, Hatch Waxman, PGR etc). GP firms are generally lighter on the prosecution side because its usually less profitable than litigation. I found the time I spent with prosecutors very helpful as an IP litigator. QE and Desmarais are great firms that have strong IP lit lawyers so they are good options as well.