Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

Founded in 1978, Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox is one of the leading intellectual property (IP) law firms in the nation, with a focus on the protection, enforcement, and defense of IP rights. This DC-based firm works with some of the most innovative clients in the world including Adidas, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roku, Teva, Therabody, Volkswagen Group of America, and the University of California. 

Shaping Intellectual Property Law

Sterne Kessler has been involved in some of the most important IP cases of the past few decades, thereby helping to shape the way patents are granted and protected. In 1995, the firm served as lead counsel for IBM in the landmark In re Beauregard appeal to the Federal Circuit. In this case, IBM sought to establish that a computer program on a disk was patentable subject matter, and the decision resulted in the Software Patent Guidelines issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Moreover, in 2007, name partner Rob Sterne represented the respondent in KSR v. Teleflex before the U.S Supreme Court; this case addressed the fundamental question of when an invention is "obvious" and therefore not patentable. In addition, Sterne Kessler attorneys served as counsel in the seminal 2014 U.S. Supreme Court case Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int'l, which led to a substantial decrease in the number of business-method patents.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board Kings

Sterne Kessler has been leading the way at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), which was created in 2012 as part of the America Invents Act. The PTAB handles challenges to patent validity, as well as appeals of patent examiner rejections. Sterne Kessler has developed one of the largest PTAB practices, representing both petitioners and patent owners in inter partes and post-grant review proceedings, with more than 75 PTAB practitioners, including a former deputy chief administrative patent judge, a former vice chief administrative patent judge, and a former lead administrative patent judge. The firm has served as counsel in more than 1,400 PTAB cases and was named PTAB Firm of the Year at the 2026 Managing IP Americas Awards.

Promoting Human Rights Through Intellectual Property

Sterne Kessler launched its intellectual property and human rights pro bono practice—the first of its kind—more than a decade ago, with a focus on the interplay of IP and human rights. The program has since evolved to address a broad spectrum of pro bono issues as the firm partners with deserving organizations assisting underserved communities, both locally and internationally, on issues including immigration, veterans’ assistance. The firm’s attorneys were recognized in the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll in 2025.

• Sterne Kessler was instrumental to In re Beauregard, the 1995 case that led to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) developing guidelines for patenting software.
• Sterne Kessler represented TwinStrand and the University of Washington in a patent infringement case against Guardant Health, securing a jury award of $83.4 million in past damages and a finding of willful infringement. Prior to the district court trial, the team preserved the validity of all challenged claims of the infringed patents in the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings.
• Sterne Kessler represented Wirtgen in Delaware District Court, securing an eight-figure jury verdict against Caterpillar. The jury found that Caterpillar willfully infringed five patents related to technology for road-milling machines and rotary mixers. The district court later granted Wirtgen’s motion for enhanced damages. This win in district court followed victories at the International Trade Commission and the PTAB.
• Sterne Kessler secured a victory for Teva Pharmaceuticals in a patent lawsuit filed by Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. A Delaware district court found all asserted patents invalid as obvious. The Federal Circuit later affirmed that decision, and SCOTUS denied Vanda’s petition for review of that decision, cementing Teva’s win.

• Top Workplaces, 2025—The Washington Post
• Band 1 Patent Prosecution Firm, DC, 2026—Chambers USA
• Tier 1 PTAB Litigation, National, 2025—Managing IP   
• Tier 1 Patent Litigation, DC Metro, 2026—Best Law Firms
• Mansfield Rule Certification, 2024-2025—Diversity Lab