Sterne Kessler Wins PTAB Firm of the Year and Design Patent Firm of the Year at the 2026 Managing IP Americas Awards

Washington, D.C. (April 10, 2026) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox won multiple awards at the 2026 Managing IP Americas Awards ceremony on April 9 in New York City, including its fourth “PTAB Firm of the Year” award and the inaugural “Design Patent Firm of the Year” award.

In addition to the firm’s recognition, Eldora Ellison was named “PTAB Practitioner of the Year,” reflecting her leadership in high‑stakes post‑grant proceedings. Ellison serves as co-chair of the firm’s PTAB Trials practice and brings nearly three decades of experience representing clients in inter partes review and post‑grant review proceedings, interferences, patent reexaminations, and district court litigation.

This is the fourth time that Sterne Kessler has earned “PTAB Firm of the Year” honors from Managing IP since winning the inaugural award in 2015 and again in 2017 and 2020. The firm continues to be a dominant force in the industry and is consistently one of the most active firms at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), handling more than 1,400 proceedings and counting. Representing both petitioners and patent owners, the team is known for its ability to deliver effective, strategic results across technologies and industries, helping clients navigate high-stakes disputes.

The 2026 awards also marked the first time Managing IP has presented the “Design Patent Firm of the Year” award. This recognition highlights the depth, sophistication, and industry leadership of the firm’s design patent practice. For more than 40 years, Sterne Kessler has helped clients across industries to protect, defend, and enforce design rights worldwide, safeguarding their products in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Sterne Kessler was also a finalist for “IP Boutique of the Year.” In the individual categories,  Tracy-Gene G. Durkin was a finalist for Patent Prosecutor of the Year (Northeast) and Dennies Varughese was a finalist for Patent Litigator of the Year (DC Metro).

Now in its 21^st year, the Managing IP Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of law firms and practitioners over the last year through market research, firm submissions, and client interviews. The full list of winners can be found on the Managing IP website.

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Based in Washington, D.C. and renowned for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, enhancement, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, technical specialists, specialized trademark paralegals, and law clerks include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law, tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating. Visit the firm online at sternekessler.com.