Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
While maintaining his thriving IP practice, Latham partner Bob Steinberg recently led an effort to organize nearly 50 law firms and other stakeholders in creating the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Bar Association, the first new US bar association formed in three decades. In early 2016, a handful of PTAB practitioners saw the value in establishing best practices for the unique skills required to appear before the PTAB, so they collaborated on an organizational charter. The myriad tasks involved in such an effort fell to Steinberg and the small group of like-minded practitioners from leading IP law firms who aligned efforts among themselves and the U.S. Patent Office’s leadership, adopt a charter and bylaws, raise funds, form committees, develop a website and other communications, and organize a highly successful inaugural conference with more than 400 practitioners attending.
Steinberg has also been instrumental in establishing Latham’s PTAB practice, which he chairs. The practice pioneered innovative approaches to the bourgeoning area of PTAB proceedings, and has maintained an outstanding success rate in persuading the PTAB to institute clients’ petitions and a more than 96% success rate with final determinations.
