There are plenty of Fish in the BigLaw sea, but few have the same prestige in all things IP…
Fish & Richardson Lateral Profile 2025
Those hooked on all things intellectual property will certainly take like a fish to water here. According to our interviewees, Fish & Richardson “has been the top IP firm for a while.” It’s certainly a sentiment reflected by our colleagues over at Chambers USA who recognize the firm as one of the top nationwide for intellectual property and international trade intellectual property. It’s this deep IP expertise that Fish draws from to service a wide array of clients and household names. In fact, “I think we have every type of client,” an associate noted of the range. In particular, “Fish is really good in the tech, software, and consumer electronics field,” added another.
View the firm’s Chambers USA rankings
Read the firm’s Inside View feature on junior associate life
Why did you join your firm? Associates say…
“Fish is a nationally ranked IP firm and offers great experiences for those wanting to specialize in trademarks and copyrights. The people who work in this practice have been here their whole careers.”
“I chose my firm for the excellent reputation Fish has for intellectual property law. I wanted to work at a large firm with people that had a lot of expertise.”
“Fish is the top IP firm in the country, pays market salary, and has an office in my desired location.”
Career Development & the Path to Partnership
|
18 |
0.6 : 1 |
89% |
||
|
partners made in 2024 |
associate : partner gearing |
of associates intend to make partner |
||
|
85% |
89% |
86% |
||
| felt partnership was achievable for attorneys with childcare/caregiver responsibilities | felt partnership was achievable at the firm | agreed partners are nurturing future leaders |
||
Hours & Compensation
|
2,000 |
12.6 |
46.6 |
|
billable hours |
average number of vacation days associates took in one year |
average number of hours associates worked in one week |
|
71% |
79% |
56% |
| agreed they had a good work-life balance |
felt like they could take vacation/annual leave on their own terms |
found the firm's claims around bonus allocation to be authentic |
Salaries
1st year: $225,000
*The firm did not disclose salaries beyond this point.
Is Fish & Richardson the right firm for you?
|
93% |
100% |
93% |
|
were happy in their current role |
agreed the work they received was of the right quality |
felt that they chose the right firm |
The view from the firm: Fish is the #1 intellectual property firm in the country. At Fish, we promote a creative, respectful and inclusive culture that values the diversity of people and allows ingenuity to thrive. You will stretch your skills in high-stakes litigations that call upon technical knowledge and sophisticated legal strategy. You will work on cutting edge technologies for top-tier clients, working with legal practitioners who are leaders in our field. You will become a trusted advisor to clients who are among the world's greatest innovators. You will be a respected teammate, joining a diverse group of attorneys solving intellectual property issues for the world's leading companies.
If you have a passion for science, engineering and intellectual property, we want to hear from you.
Who you are:
- You have a strong technical or scientific background.
- You are enthusiastic about working within a team-oriented environment and will contribute to effective team relationships.
- You enjoy communicating with a diverse group of clients, attorneys, and staff.
- You thrive when using your analytical skills to conduct complex and detailed analysis of legal matters.
- You have an active membership in the state bar and compliance with CLE requirements.
- You have superior writing skills and excellent academic credentials.
Here's what survey respondents had to say about the firm's culture...
“From principals to associates, along with being some of the sharpest minds in IP law, everyone is down-to-earth, helpful, and overall great to work with. My colleagues and mentors have become good friends and make work all the more enjoyable.”
“You get to work on great teams that handle a large number of important cases.”
“The people here are great and so is the working environment. You’re provided with a lot of opportunities to learn.”
Pro Bono
|
45 |
88% |
|
average pro bono |
agreed the firm puts effort towards its commitment to pro bono and social impact activity |
Pro bono highlights: National Homelessness Law Center (civil rights for unhoused people); Great North Innocence Project (innocence case).
Contact
Learn more about opportunities at the firm
Recruitment contact: Clare Fifield
Director of Legal Recruiting
recruiting@fr.com