Patent Tribunal Judges Urge Firms to Send Women, Diverse Lawyers

“Judges at an administrative patent tribunal want to see younger, more diverse attorneys arguing before them, and they’re pushing firms to take advantage of a program designed to make that happen.

Not enough firms are using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Legal Experience and Advancement Program, also known as LEAP, which gives an edge to parties who have a less experienced attorney participating in oral argument, Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges said. PTAB judges see it as a way to boost lawyers who are typically underrepresented in the patent bar and haven’t had oral argument opportunities.”

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox was mentioned in the article “Patent Tribunal Judges Urge Firms to Send Women, Diverse Lawyers,” published by Bloomberg Law. The article highlights the firm’s 9 oral arguments before the USPTO’s PTAB using the Legal Experience and Advancement Program (LEAP), which shares the top spot out of all participating firms. LEAP grants junior practitioners 15 extra minutes of oral argument time.