We work with some of the most prominent companies in the world, as well as startups and individual inventors who are devising novel ways to address unmet consumer needs, improve public health, and boost business efficiency.
Walk through our halls and you will meet practitioners who are deeply passionate about our clients’ innovations and tenacious in their efforts to secure and enforce clients’ intellectual property rights.
A career in IP law doesn’t have to start with law school or a JD. MBHB offers multiple tracks to talented professionals who are interested in the field of intellectual property.
Law Clerk
Law Clerk
Early in their careers at MBHB, our practitioners gain exposure to all aspects of intellectual property law – from patent preparation and prosecution to litigation to trademark portfolio development. From the start, we provide practitioners opportunities to work on interesting and substantive client projects related to patent portfolio development, IP strategy and more. And through an entrepreneurial culture and robust development opportunities, we encourage practitioners to build meaningful careers focused on the industries and technologies that interest them most.
By providing opportunities to work with exciting companies and secure and defend IP rights for cutting-edge technology, a career at MBHB is invigorating and dynamic. As one of our partners likes to say, “I feel like I’m living in the future.” Join us and find your path.
After earning a Ph.D. in cancer biology from Northwestern University, I spent a few years in a lab but decided research work was not the right career path for me. I learned about the possibility of a career in patent law from a friend who is an attorney. While I wasn’t interested in pursuing a law degree, MBHB allowed me to put my biology background to work as a patent agent.
I joined MBHB as a technical advisor and then took the patent bar exam to become a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As a patent agent, I perform technical analyses, draft patent applications, prosecute patent applications in front of examiners, coordinate with foreign associates, and manage client engagements.
At MBHB, I am able to work creatively and independently but also enjoy great mentorship and support from attorneys across the firm. I am also able to mentor new technical advisors that join the firm. Most importantly, I am able to use my academic background and the experience I’ve gained in the legal industry to help inventors protect biotech innovations.
While pursuing my Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University, I wanted to explore career opportunities outside of research. Initially, I planned to pursue consulting until I came across MBHB at a career fair. I was intrigued by the idea of patent law. It seemed to offer me the chance to work on more technical matters than a consulting career would have. And, as I met more attorneys at MBHB, they all seemed to be engineers and scientists first, and lawyers second.
I started with MBHB as a technical advisor, which allowed me to learn about patent law and get hands-on experience in the field before deciding whether or not I wanted to attend law school. After four years as a patent agent, I decided to pursue my JD. The firm was supportive as I attended school while continuing to work as a law clerk, allowing me to ramp my work commitments up or down as needed. Following law school, my mentors helped me build a career path based on my interests.
As an attorney at MBHB, I enjoy meeting with inventors and learning about their ideas. Additionally, I enjoy the people at MBHB. The culture is the furthest thing from a stuffy law firm you can imagine. All the professionals I work with are smart, technically savvy, collaborative, and a lot of fun.
After spending several years doing basic research at a national laboratory, I decided to pursue patent law at MBHB. Joining the firm as a technical advisor allowed me to test drive this new career before committing to law school.
I quickly discovered patent law was a good fit for me – it allowed me to use the technical knowledge I acquired during my research career, engage in detailed legal analysis and writing, and stay on the cutting edge of technological innovation.
After earning my JD, I returned to MBHB as an associate, and eventually became a partner. The mentorship from senior partners has helped me throughout my career. Now, I am able to pay it forward by supporting new colleagues.
