Sterne Kessler is an intellectual property law firm located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Our team consists of more than 160 attorneys from diverse backgrounds, with over 60 of our professionals holding Ph.D.s in science and engineering. Our attorneys are particularly noted for their technical expertise, industry experience, and litigation prowess. Additionally, we get to work on matters involving cutting edge technologies and legal issues demanded by a broad range of innovative individuals and companies. Some of our clients include Adidas, BioNTech, Bristol-Myers Squibb, SAP, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Volkswagen Group of America.
We offer an immersive summer associate program. Our summer associates get to attend and participate in depositions, draft legal documents, conduct legal research, participate in client calls and meetings, attend hearings, and contribute to our firm’s successful pro bono practice. Summer associates also increase their knowledge of intellectual property law by attending a comprehensive orientation program where they learn directly from our attorneys and professionals about the intricacies of patent prosecution and litigation. Summer associates receive substantive feedback on their work throughout the summer program, culminating in thorough formal evaluation meetings. Here’s what some of our former summer associates have said about their summer experience with Sterne Kessler:
"From my first networking event with Sterne Kessler, I knew I had found a boutique patent firm that I wanted to work for. My summer associate experience reinforced this decision: I made strong friendships with my fellow associates (we still talk daily) and received challenging projects (including publishing a law review article on an ITC case). The summer program was a nice balance between specific practice-group activities and firm-wide annual events to meet the entire D.C. office." - Kathleen, 2L.
“I chose Sterne Kessler’s summer program because I believe that the firm is innovative and a leader in IP law. I was also intrigued by the firm’s reputation for providing great mentorship and learning opportunities to summer associates and junior associates. The firm exceeded my already high expectations by providing me tons of learning experiences, mentorship, and guidance. The recruiting team held weekly meetings with me to ensure that I was getting the experiences I desired, the attorneys went above and beyond in providing feedback to me after each and every project I completed, and the firm organized additional training sessions throughout the summer to further enhance our learning and growth. I could not have imagined a better summer experience.” - Kyle, 1L.
While our summer associates work hard, they get to experience our awesome culture. There are ample social and networking opportunities arranged throughout the summer. In previous years our summer associates have attended D.C. United games, taken in a unique view of the D.C. monuments by sailing around the Potomac, attended dinners hosted by directors, and participated in cooking classes, among other things.
We are proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property law firms in the world and we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. In fact, our attorneys and staff have voted Sterne Kessler as a Washington Post “Top Workplace” for 11 years running!
Sterne Kessler is the 4th largest IP specialty firm in the United States. We are a Chambers USA “Band 1” firm, leading in patent preparation and prosecution (and the only firm in D.C. to snag that recognition). In 2023, the firm was named “U.S. Post-Grant Firm of the Year” by Intellectual Asset Management and World Trademark Review and in 2024, the firm was nationally ranked as “Tier 1” firm for Patent Prosecution and PTAB Litigation by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine. We are also recognized for patent prosecution & patent transactions as well as patent litigation in Washington D.C. in the IAM Patent 1000.
Diversity & Inclusion is Valued and Demonstrated at our Firm
At Sterne Kessler we strive to maintain a dynamic and energetic workplace that is reflective of our global client base and the diverse cultural mix of the greater Washington, D.C., area in which we live and work. In doing so, we place a premium on talented lawyers and staff, irrespective of their race, gender, religious views, sexual orientation, or other personal attributes.
The firm is recognized in Law360’s “Diversity Snapshot” report for 2024. Based on a survey of nearly 300 United States law firms, Sterne Kessler ranked 15th for overall diversity and is a top four firm for equity partnership diversity among firms with “101 – 250 attorneys.”
We pride ourselves in our inclusive culture and work environment, and because of this our employees have ranked us as a Washington Business Journal “Best Place to Work” 11 times.
Your Health & Wellness is Important to Us
From our annual participation in the Lawyers Have Heart race to enjoying fresh air during our biennial hiking day trip in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, we support and encourage our employees’ wellness in and outside of the office.
Wellness is a central focus of the firm’s space and we are committed to providing our staff and attorneys with the tools necessary for their success. In 2023, we officially opened the doors to our first-of-its-kind in-house wellness center, staffed by a family nurse practitioner who can provide primary care services, prescribe medications, and offer personalized health consultations for our employees and family members ages 12 and up.
