2017 Report of the Economic Survey

AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2017

CORPORATE IP DEPARTMENT, ATTORNEY

 Responding corporate IP department, attorneys (109) reported an average of 16.4 years of IP attorney experience. More than half (56.9%) reported holding a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree held other than their law degree.  Average total gross income for corporate IP department, attorneys in 2016 was $270,441, higher than the $252,411 reported for 2014. The 2016 median is also higher than for 2014; $250,000 and $234,500, respectively. Overall, median gross income rose with years of IP experience.  The average year-end bonus for corporate IP department, attorneys was $50,107. The median year-end bonus was $43,500.  Employer contributions to 401(k)/403(b) retirement and savings plans for corporate IP department attorneys averaged $12,451 which was very similar to the $12,183 reported for 2014. The median contribution was $10,000 – the same as reported for 2014.  The median expected cash income for 2017 was $255,000 – 2.0% higher than the actual income reported for 2016.  Corporate IP department attorneys spent 32.6% of their time on IP prosecution work, and 12.7% of time on opinions counseling prior to litigation or formal ADR, and 12.2% managing outside IP prosecution work.  Patent work was the predominant IP work area, accounting on average for 68.4% of time spent by corporate IP department attorneys.  The average number of IP lawyers and patent agents employed by responding corporate IP department attorneys’ companies at all locations was 36.2. Higher than reported in 2014 (29.0), but more similar to that reported in 2012 (38.6).  The median number of new priority US and PCT patent applications prepared and filed by corporate IP department attorneys in 2016 was 10.0 – slightly higher than reported for 2014 (8.0) and the 9.0 reported in 2012.  More than six in 10 responding corporate IP department attorneys reported having no direct or indirect reports, and 33.3% had 1-5 reports. 2016 GROSS INCOME (P. I-66, Q10) ATTORNEY, CORPORATE IP DEPARTMENT By Years of IP Experience

Fewer than 5

5-6

7-9

10-14

15-24

25-34

Years IP Experience

35 or More

Total All

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

$300,000

$350,000

$400,000

1st Quartile/3rd Quartile Median Mean

2016 Income

27