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Sterlington

Global virtual law firm handling deals

Patent Agent

Full-Time
No salary listed
Junior, Mid
Bachelor's
Remote in USA
RemoteRemote role; candidates must be based in the United States.
LegalIntellectual Property (IP)

About the job

Requirements
  • Be registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or be eligible for and actively pursuing registration.
  • Have a bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
  • Provide an undergraduate transcript; master's and Ph.D. transcripts are also required where applicable. Academic performance in technical and engineering coursework is reviewed.
  • Have approximately 2–5 years of patent preparation and prosecution experience.
  • Have excellent patent drafting and technical writing skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear and defensible patent claims.
  • Have strong academic credentials and demonstrated ability to manage matters independently with appropriate oversight.
  • Be based in the United States to support applicable client requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Draft and prosecute U.S. patent applications involving wireless communications, cellular technologies, networking, signal processing, and related technologies.
  • Coordinate foreign patent prosecution and work with international counsel on global patent portfolios.
  • Prepare responses to Office Actions and manage deadlines across an active patent prosecution docket.
  • Work directly with inventors and other technical personnel to understand new technologies and develop appropriate patent protection.
  • Collaborate with partners and other practitioners on patent strategy and portfolio development.
  • Conduct prior art searches and analyze prior art in connection with patent prosecution and portfolio development.
  • Analyze technically complex disclosures, standards, and prior art and translate them into effective patent prosecution strategies.
  • Manage matters with a high degree of independence while maintaining consistently high standards for technical and patent prosecution work.
Desired Qualifications
  • Have experience with, or strong working knowledge of, cellular and wireless technologies, including areas such as 3GPP standards, LTE, 5G, 6G, RF systems, baseband processing, wireless protocols, signal processing, or networking.
  • Have experience using AI-enabled legal or productivity tools, such as Claude or Harvey.

About the company

Sterlington is a world-class virtual law firm that provides sophisticated transactional and litigation services. Its lawyers and staff are spread across the US, Europe, and Asia, enabling global coverage without a traditional office footprint. The firm serves a diverse client base, including private equity funds, multi-billion-dollar family offices, venture capital funds and their portfolio companies, public and private companies, investment banks, hedge funds, high net worth individuals, CEOs, and biotech/startup clients. The virtual model has helped Sterlington grow rapidly since the pandemic, underscoring its ability to deliver cross-border legal work efficiently. The company's goal is to offer high-quality, globally distributed legal support through a remote, flexible platform that meets the needs of sophisticated clients and complex transactions while maintaining strong client relationships.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2015

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Sterlington advised Janus Henderson, Clearwater, Avanos, and Aligned on 2026 take-privates.
  • Kevin Collins' September 2026 hire strengthens wildfire and mass-tort capabilities after his $80 million settlement.
  • Family-office, executive-comp, and matrimonial expansions target wealthy founders, CEOs, and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

What critics are saying

  • Deal-reliant revenue concentrates on management-side private equity transactions if sponsors pause hiring.
  • Partner-heavy growth raises integration and cultural risk across dispersed US, Europe, and Asia offices.
  • A single rainmaker loss, especially Harrison or Goldstein, would damage client origination quickly.

What makes Sterlington unique

  • Christopher S. Harrison leads Chambers-ranked management-side M&A from New York.
  • Sterlington combines litigation, executive compensation, tax, and private wealth under one virtual platform.
  • Recent partner hires from Quinn Emanuel, Kirkland, and Kasowitz deepen specialized bench.

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Benefits

  • Remote Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours

Company News

Business Wire
Nov 2nd, 2026
Sterlington hires veteran estate accountant Fran Mehaffey for Private Wealth team

Law firm Sterlington has hired Fran Mehaffey as an estate and fiduciary accountant in its Private Wealth practice. His arrival brings the team to 19 professionals. Mehaffey has more than 40 years of experience preparing and reviewing tax returns for individuals, estates, trusts, and private foundations. He previously managed tax services at Fiduciary Trust International and is an Enrolled Agent, authorised to practise before the IRS and state tax authorities. "His experience with charitable trusts and private foundation returns fills a real need for our clients," said Daniel Cooper, partner and head of the practice. The team, based mainly in Philadelphia, advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and closely held businesses nationwide.

Associated Press
Oct 26th, 2026
Sterlington hires nine-member patents team from Holland & Hart

Law firm Sterlington has hired a nine-member patents team from Holland & Hart, led by former partners J. Scott Karren and Thomas Anderson. The firm announced the move on October 26, 2026. The team includes four counsel, two patent agents, and an IP specialist. It expands Sterlington's ability to advise technology companies on global patent portfolio strategy, preparation, and prosecution, with depth in wireless communications, standards-related technologies, semiconductors, and AI and machine learning. Karren is a Chambers-ranked patent attorney focused on wireless communications. Anderson manages international patent portfolios for global corporations and venture-backed startups. Karren said more colleagues are expected to join soon.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 14th, 2026
Sterlington expands litigation practice with addition of Kevin Collins after $80M wildfire settlement

Sterlington PLLC has added Kevin Collins as a partner in its litigation practice. Collins joins the firm after serving as lead counsel in securing an $80 million settlement for a public entity in a major California wildfire case. Previously a partner at Buchalter, Collins led the firm's Wildfire Litigation Team. He recently represented Placer County Water Agency in connection with damages from the 2022 Mosquito Fire, securing the $80 million settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Collins' practice covers complex civil litigation, including trade secret misappropriation, antitrust, class actions, and mass torts. He also handled Solano County landowners in the $510 million antitrust suit against California Forever developers and defended a global LCD manufacturer in one of the largest antitrust multidistrict litigations in US history.

Associated Press
Jul 22nd, 2026
Sterlington adds litigation partner with AI and data privacy expertise

Sterlington PLLC has hired Christopher Hurld as a partner in its litigation practice. Hurld joins from EverQuote, a publicly traded online insurance marketplace, where he served as general counsel and chief compliance officer. He previously worked as counsel at Jones Day. Hurld specialises in plaintiff-side litigation involving AI, cybersecurity, and data privacy. He has experience advising companies on data security incidents and compliance with regulations including CCPA, GDPR, HIPAA, GLBA, and PCI-DSS. Before EverQuote, Hurld spent over a decade at AmLaw 100 firms and served as assistant attorney general in Massachusetts. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Centre.

Associated Press
Jul 6th, 2026
Sterlington launches matrimonial law practice with team from Kasowitz led by Kelly Frawley

Sterlington has launched a matrimonial and family law practice with the arrival of partner Kelly A. Frawley and counsel Joseph Hyland from Kasowitz. The new practice will focus on divorce, asset distribution, custody, and prenuptial agreements, particularly for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Frawley, who leads the practice, previously chaired Kasowitz's matrimonial and family law practice. She regularly handles matters involving hedge fund and private equity interests. Hyland specialises in complex financial issues in matrimonial matters, including asset valuation and prenuptial agreement enforcement. The practice extends Sterlington's existing work with founders, senior executives, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Managing partner Christopher S. Harrison described the launch as a natural extension of the firm's services during a period of exceptional growth.