Kirkland Collaborates with Other Law Firms to Create PTAB Bar

On Friday, September 16, 2016, the newly formed Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Bar Association launched.

Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce that David Higer will serve as interim Treasurer and a Director for the Association. The creation of the PTAB Bar Association has involved collegial collaboration among more than 45 law firms, including Kirkland & Ellis, over the past several months. The Association’s mission is to promote the highest professional and ethical standards among lawyers and stakeholders who appear before the PTAB; to help establish best practices for the unique practice and skills required before the PTAB; and to foster communication among its various stakeholders.

It has been more than 30 years since a national bar association of this scope has been formed. The PTAB Bar Association will provide a forum for communications between the legal community and PTAB officials and its Administrative Patent Judges (APJs), particularly to share best practices and stay abreast of the rule making, procedure, and jurisprudence emanating from the PTAB.

“I’m excited to be part of an organization dedicated to bringing together members of the IP legal community with an interest in the PTAB in a collaborative, congenial, inclusive and professional way,” Mr. Higer said. “The sharing of information and best practices across law firms, in-house counsel, and other stakeholders will benefit our clients and the legal community as a whole.”

Eugene Goryunov is chair of the Website Committee and Brent Ray is chair of the Membership/Sponsorship Committee. These committees report to the Board and the committee chairs were appointed to their roles by the interim President-elect with advice from of the Board.

In addition to providing a forum for communications between the PTAB and practitioners, the Association also will coordinate many other important functions, such as PTAB-centric continuing legal education, pro bono opportunities, career enhancement, and scholarship activities. The Inaugural Annual Conference of the PTAB Bar Association will take place March 1-2, 2017 in Washington, D.C. To become a member of the PTAB Bar Association, and for more details on its events and functions, please visit www.PTABBar.org