Thompson Hine LLP · 3 weeks ago
IP Docket Manager
Atlanta, GA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
8+ years expThompson Hine LLP is an AmLaw 200 firm recognized for its innovation and collaborative culture, seeking an experienced IP Docket Manager to lead docket operations for patent and trademark matters. The role involves managing a team, ensuring data integrity, and overseeing the implementation of IP Management Systems.
AdviceConsultingLegal
Hiring Manager
DeMons Hambrick
Responsibilities
Lead, coach, and evaluate docket professionals across experience levels; set expectations, conduct timely reviews, and build individualized development and cross-training plans
Allocate workloads, assign queues, and manage coverage to meet service levels and ensure statutory deadlines are met
Collaborate with IP Paralegals, Director of Paralegals, IP Practice Group Leader, Director of Business Intake and others to continuously improve IP Docket’s role in prosecution processes, workflows, and training programs, including through facilitation and execution of strategic planning
Monitor deadlines, progress, and quality of work generated by the IP Docket team, ensuring timely and accurate entries, including establishing and managing a quality assurance program
Serve as the primary contact with the IPMS vendor to maximize value from software tools
Recruit, onboard, coach, mentor and retain a talented team of IP Docket professionals; set clear performance expectations, conduct annual reviews, and manage workload allocation, timekeeping, and coverage
Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that values continuous learning, open communication, relationship-building, and recognition of individual and team contributions
Develop succession plans and career-development roadmaps to ensure bench strength and knowledge continuity and professional development opportunities
Oversee all IP docketing functions, partnering with IPMS vendors to maintain data integrity, automate reminders, and generate real-time metrics
Serve as system owner/admin for the Firm’s IPMS (e.g., CPI, PATTSY), including configuration, rulesets, deadline calculators, user profiles, permissions, and data integrity protocols
Establish, document, and enforce written policies, SOPs, and productivity standards; drive continuous improvement therein
Support the Patent & Trademark Procedures Committee and other firmwide initiatives focused on innovation and client service
Partner with Management to prepare annual budgets, justify capital and head-count requests, and manage vendor relationships
Evaluate departmental resource utilization and recommend staffing models, outsourcing, or technology solutions to optimize profitability without compromising quality
Support business-development efforts by assisting with RFP responses, pitch materials, and value-added service proposals
Define and track KPIs such as on-time docket rate, first-pass accuracy, exception rate, task turnaround, SLA adherence, backlog, and migration reconciliation; publish actionable dashboards to practice leadership
Define and implement processes for onboarding new portfolios of Patents and Trademarks including steps to verify data quality, accuracy of calculated deadlines, validation with Country and 3rd party data sources and more
Define and implement procedures for project work, ensuring appropriate prioritization, resource allocation, communication with stakeholders, quality assurance and more
Email-to-Workflow Migration: Design, pilot, and roll out IPMS task queues to replace certain email-based communication between attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and docketing. If possible, decommission legacy inboxes with a clear change-management plan
Policy Library: Publish a controlled, searchable SOP library with versioning, RACI ownership, and training modules
Data Quality Program: Implement routine audits, exception reporting, and reconciliations with official sources (USPTO/WIPO) to raise accuracy and trust in Docket data
Conversion/Implementation Readiness: Complete migration scoping (data model mapping, cleansing rules, test scripts, cutover plan) and drive UAT and sign-off with stakeholders
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required
Minimum 8 years of IP docketing experience across U.S. and foreign patent/trademark matters
Minimum 5 years leading or supervising an IP docketing team
Expert command of U.S. patent rules, PCT procedures, EPO guidelines, and major foreign-filing requirements, including recent USPTO rule changes
Demonstrated expertise administering IPMS (Preferred CPI and PATTSY), including rules, workflows, permissions, and reporting
Hands-on IPMS conversion/implementation experience (data mapping, cleansing, migration, testing/UAT, cutover, and stabilization)
Proven ability to author and enforce policies/SOPs; strong process design/optimization skills
Proficiency with USPTO Patent Center and similar platforms and familiarity with annuity/maintenance platforms
Proven ability to lead through change, prioritize competing demands, and deliver accurate work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Advanced skills in Excel for data analysis and portfolio onboarding as well as experience with NetDocuments or iManage DMS and Aderant or Elite 3E Financial Management Systems, as well as Intapp Open matter intake workflow system
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change-leadership skills; ability to train and upskill mixed-tenure teams in a fast-paced environment
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Company
Thompson Hine LLP
Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with over 400 lawyers in 10 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Thompson Hine LLP has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2024 (1)
2023 (1)
2021 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Marc Minor
Senior Counsel
Recent News
bloomberglaw.com
2026-01-07
Morningstar.com
2025-11-05
Company data provided by crunchbase