Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

Firm Profile

Rankings

Leading firm in USA 2026

Ranked Departments:

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Ranked Individuals:

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Overview

Provided by Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

Based in Washington, D.C., Sterne Kessler is a leading intellectual property law firm providing strategic IP services to clients worldwide. Since 1978, Sterne Kessler has served as a trusted partner to innovative companies, startups, inventors, universities, and investors, helping them protect, enforce, and maximize the value of intellectual property. The firm is committed to delivering practical, business‑driven solutions that support innovation and long‑term strategic objectives.

Work & experience

Provided by Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

With more than 170 attorneys, the firm offers integrated capabilities across patent and trademark prosecution, strategic counseling, post‑grant proceedings, and litigation before federal district and appellate courts and the International Trade Commission. Our team combines deep technical and legal experience with a highly collaborative, client‑focused approach—providing tailored, business‑driven strategies to protect, enforce, and maximize the value of innovation.

Ranked Offices

Provided by Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

USA - Head office

District of Columbia

1101 K Street NW 10th Floor , Washington, DC, District of Columbia, USA, 20005, Washington, DC

sternekessler.com

202 371 2600

Ranked Departments

1
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution
4 Ranked lawyers, District of Columbia
5
Intellectual Property: Litigation
2 Ranked lawyers, District of Columbia
3
Intellectual Property: Patent Trial and Appeal Board
1 Ranked lawyer, USA - Nationwide

Ranked Individuals

S
Jorge Goldstein
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution, District of Columbia
S
Robert Sterne
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution, District of Columbia
2
Eldora L Ellison
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution, District of Columbia
2
Tracy-Gene G Durkin
Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution, District of Columbia
4
Dennies Varughese
Intellectual Property: Litigation, District of Columbia
4
John Christopher (JC) Rozendaal
Intellectual Property: Litigation, District of Columbia
3
Eldora L Ellison
Intellectual Property: Patent Trial and Appeal Board, USA - Nationwide

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC

Top figures

167

Lawyers

Partners

1978

Established in

Key people

Byron L. Pickard (Managing Director (Partner))

Michael B. Ray (Chair)

Robert K. Burger (Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director)

Industry sectors

Electronics & High-TechBiotechnology & PharmaceuticalsArtificial IntelligenceConsumer Products & ServicesMedical DevicesChemical & Industrial ProductsBiosimilars & BiologicsClean TechnologyIndustrial & Agricultural BiotechnologyAerospace & DefenseSemiconductorsSoftwareFood & Beverage

Capabilities

Patent Prosecution & Strategic Counseling: For over 45 years, our team has protected innovation, providing strategic counsel from idea conception and product development to commercialization, launch, and beyond. Patent Litigation: Served as litigation counsel in over 200 cases across nearly 30 federal district courts. One of the top 10 most active firms at the Federal Circuit and among the top 10% of active firms at the ITC.PTAB Trials: Represented petitioners and patent owners in more than 1,400 proceedings and counting, ranking as one of the top three most active firms at the PTAB. Creative solutions to win cases with a wealth of institutional knowledge.Design Patents: At the forefront of design patents, consistently delivering successful outcomes for clients in securing and defending their design rights. The firm is the 2nd most active filer, handling nearly 5,000 applications globally.International Trade Commission: One of the most active firms at the ITC, offering unrivaled experience, comprehensive litigation strategy, and the legal and technical know-how to achieve the best possible results.Trade Secret Protection & Enforcement: Decades of experience counseling clients on trade secret protection for technology, also litigating trade secret claims in U.S. state and federal courts and before the ITC.Trademark & Brand Protection: Work with clients at all stages of the trademark lifecycle, helping protect robust portfolios and craft proactive and effective strategies to enforce and defend trademark rights globally.Strategic IP Advice: Opinions related to freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, invalidity, patentability, registrability of trademarks, enforceability of patents and trademarks; IP due diligence related to transactions, licensing, M&A, investments.

Content provided by Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC