IP Litigation Assistant

The Houston office of Nelson Mullins is seeking an IP Litigation Assistant to support two IP Litigation Partners handling a diverse IP litigation portfolio, along with some patent and trademark prosecution. The IP Litigation Assistant will be responsible for docket and practice management, USPTO and court filings, client correspondence, legal research, and routine administrative tasks essential to the attorneys’ IP practice. This role provides both practice-specific and administrative support while reporting to the IP Coordinator. A strong background in IP litigation is required, with additional experience in IP prosecution preferred but not mandatory. The ideal candidate will have the expertise to manage complex litigation tasks efficiently while maintaining strong organizational and communication skills.

This role involves managing a patent and trademark litigation docket, including tracking court deadlines, case schedules, and hearings before the PTAB and TTAB. Responsibilities include preparing and filing multi-document USPTO submissions such as Inter Partes Review and Post Grant Review filings, as well as assisting in drafting legal documents like complaints, motions, and discovery requests. The position requires organizing and preparing exhibits, briefs, claim charts, and other essential court documents while maintaining meticulous records of all evidence and case files. Additional duties include supporting attorneys in depositions, hearings, and trials, conducting legal research on intellectual property cases, and proactively managing non-substantive U.S. docket items such as calendaring, formalities, assignments, and administrative client file management. Reviewing incoming court and USPTO correspondence, preparing client communications, and drafting response documents summarizing pending case activities are also key tasks. The role requires liaising with courts, the USPTO, and other tribunals for case updates, as well as coordinating with internal teams like IP Docketing, Litigation Docketing, IP Quality Assurance, and Accounting to ensure accurate case tracking. Administrative duties include processing reimbursement requests, arranging travel, managing conference room bookings, and addressing billing inquiries.

Additionally, the role involves monitoring litigation docket reports, ensuring deadlines are met, facilitating file transfers, staying updated on changes to federal and local court rules, and coordinating with external trial support providers such as court reporters, e-discovery vendors, and trial graphics specialists.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of IP litigation experience, preferably in a high-volume law firm environment, with a strong understanding of intellectual property laws and familiarity with court systems, legal procedures, and protocols, including local patent rules, Markman hearings, and infringement/invalidity contentions. This role requires direct client interaction, necessitating excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong awareness of client-specific procedures, and impeccable proofreading abilities to ensure error-free internal and external communications. Proficiency in MS Word, including advanced formatting, styles, tables of authorities, and tables of contents, as well as experience handling voluminous documents, is essential. The candidate must demonstrate strong organizational and prioritization skills, the ability to manage all facets of an IP Partner’s practice, excellent follow-up capabilities, and the confidence to synthesize information and work independently while maintaining composure under pressure. A team-oriented mindset is crucial, along with proficiency in Westlaw/Lexis and Pacer, with experience using Docket Navigator being a plus. While patent and trademark prosecution experience is preferred, it is not required. A paralegal certificate is also preferred but not mandatory.

With more than 1000 attorneys, policy advisors, e-discovery professionals and other business professionals, Nelson Mullins has strong roots in the business community and an appreciation for new directions in the business world.  As a Firm, Nelson Mullins has a strong foundation of community service and good citizenship.  Our professional staff teams likewise promote these values, with opportunities to participate and play roles in various pro-bono and community service initiatives. We collaborate with each other and with our clients, working side-by-side with shared goals.