Careers

Oblon, Spivak is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States. We represent domestic and international clients, including large multinational corporations, medium and small businesses, foreign and U.S. government agencies, and universities.  Our clients are located throughout the world, including the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.

We pride ourselves in providing each client with the highest quality service and uncompromising scientific expertise.  Many of our attorneys hold advanced degrees, including Ph.D.'s, or have professional experience from within industry and/or educational institutions.  Several of our attorneys and technical advisors are former examiners from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Our attorneys include a former Commissioner of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a former Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and multiple former administrative patent judges from the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and/or the Board of Trademark Appeals.  Our legal professionals are among the world's best qualified lawyers, and possess legal, technical and scientific credentials second to none.

We are well-known for our expertise in patent prosecution and are consistently ranked the number one patent prosecution firm in the United States.  We draft many original U.S. applications, but are also quite active in prosecuting foreign origin applications. Our Washington, D.C. area office is next door to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  This close proximity permits us to readily conduct personal interviews with examiners and to respond to and resolve issues more expeditiously.  We find personal interviews to be one of the best ways to serve clients and advance prosecution.  

We have experience litigating intellectual property cases at all levels -- before the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal, the federal district courts, the International Trade Commission, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, the Board of Trademark Appeals and state courts.  Our cases include patent, trademark, and copyright infringement actions, trade secret disputes, Hatch-Waxman or ANDA litigations, and interference proceedings.  They involve a wide variety of technical matters, ranging from coated glass to software, from hard discs to pharmaceuticals, and from biologics to wireless communication devices.  Our expertise in technical matters enhances our ability to prosecute and defend our client’s cases in a cost efficient manner.  Some of our cases have resulted in landmark decisions that have changed the landscape of intellectual property law. 

Our attorneys are well known and recognized experts in trademark and copyright law whose expertise spans the gamut of traditional and nontraditional industries.  They often serve as mediators and arbitrators of complex trademark and copyright matters, including internet domain issues.  The expertise of our prosecution and litigation attorneys allows us to obtain protection for our client’s rights around the world while protecting our client’s interests wherever infringement occurs.

Our attorneys belong to a large variety of professional organizations such as the ABA/IPL Section, AIPLA, INTA, American Inns of Court, Virginia Bar, Computer Law Association and other professional groups.  Several of our attorneys have leadership roles in such organizations.  Our lawyers publish articles in numerous professional, commercial, and other scholarly journals focused on intellectual property law.  Some of our attorneys have also authored books in their areas of expertise.

Our clients are viewed as firm clients rather than as individual attorney clients. This approach enables us to assign cases based upon attorney expertise in a given practice area, and promote teamwork among our legal staff, while providing clients with the most effective representation.

Our goal is to create a supportive environment which fosters trust and confidence in all client, attorney and staff relationships. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere is cultivated while providing clients with an uncompromising quality of service. Teamwork is emphasized in legal practice and team spirit is encouraged through a wide range of social activities.

Our international clients often send company representatives, i.e., trainees, to our office for extended periods of professional training. We promote activities designed to provide our attorneys with opportunities to interact with clients and their representatives in relaxed and informal settings. The firm has a readily available supply of season tickets for professional sports teams in the Washington, D.C. area and encourages attendance.  Golf outings, skeet shooting, white water rafting, fishing and cultural events are also planned.

Oblon Spivak is a full-service intellectual property law firm with an unsurpassed and unique ability to offer its attorneys opportunities for personal, professional and financial growth. We are always looking for qualified men and women to become part of our legal team. We look for individuals with excellent academics as well as strong written and oral communication skills. If you are interested in becoming part of the Oblon Spivak team, and you believe your qualifications match our firm, please send a letter and resume to recruiting@oblon.com.