Overview
Introduction
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff is an intellectual property law firm with offices in Illinois and California. The firm's client list includes Fortune 100 companies, midsize companies, startups, and academic institutions. MBHB attorneys are experienced in the procurement, licensing, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition actions in a number of technological disciplines and product categories, including biotechnology, business methods, chemical, electrical, mech...
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2023)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2023)
No. of Summer Associates (2023)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
MBHB is looking for candidates with technical backgrounds, and typically hires out of Chicagoland schools—interviews can get granular, with behavioral questions as well as technical and social ones. The firm is a social place where people are friendly and attorneys get together regularly. Associates rave about the partners, their willingness to mentor, and firm leadership’s commitment to transparency. The hours can get a little long, but attorneys love that the firm is flexible with those hours. Attorneys spend their time on quality legal work, and training—particularly mentoring—supports attorneys as they grow. Pro bono work is a source of pride, but associates don’t cite it as a major focus at the firm. Associates note that diversity is improving at MBHB. Partnership appears pos...
About the Firm
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff is an intellectual property law firm with offices in Illinois and California. The firm's client list includes Fortune 100 companies, midsize companies, startups, and academic institutions.
Speaking the Language of Law and Science
MBHB's practice areas encompass all aspects of intellectual property law. Approximately 50 percent of the firm's practice is devoted to patent and trademark prosecution and counseling; the other 50 percent is devoted to litigation. MBHB attorneys are experienced in the procurement, licensing, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition actions in a number of technological disciplines and product categories, including biotechnology, business methods, ...
2025 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “Lawyers often socialize throughout the day at the office, including grabbing lunch together. Some of my best friends are my coworkers. Many lawyers participate in both firm-organized and private social events with one another outside of normal business hours.”
- “Very professional, social, and friendly colleagues. There are many firm-organized social opportunities every month, such as lunches, happy hours, and other group events.”
- “Firm culture is friendly: daily lunch crew, monthly happy hours, and all-practitioner lunches. [There is a] patent prosecution roundtable and CLE opportunities. Weekly summer activities and summer lunch program mean lots of opportunities to socialize and get to know others at the firm”
Getting Hired Here
- “Strong technical backgrounds are very important for patent attorneys, so our firm places a lot of value in undergraduate grades. Law school grades are still important though, and a strong writing sample will go a long way. We hire a lot from Chicago schools, including Kent, DePaul, and Northwestern. We also have a large presence from the University of Illinois.”
- “I appreciate that MBHB is nontraditional in their hiring practices. This has allowed MBHB to create a successful and sustainable culture. Experience and advanced degrees are valued as much or more than law school grades. Class rank is never discussed when choosing an applicant. Diversity, personality, [and] professional (non-law) experience is valued. This allows MBHB to find unique talent that aligns with the firm goals and maintain these individuals.”
Perks & Benefits