Gene Bernard is the Co-Leader of Kilpatrick Townsend’s Electronics and Software Practice Group. He counsels clients in all aspects of intellectual property strategy, with an emphasis on building national and international patent portfolios, developing cost-effective patent enforcement goals, and capitalizing on accelerated examination procedures. He regularly advises clients on defensive strategies including third-party patent reexamination and review proceedings, third-party prior art submissions, patent invalidity opinions, and design activities to minimize infringement risks.

Dr. Bernard is familiar with a wide range of technologies, including the fabrication of advanced semiconductor and flat panel display products; the development of cleantech and renewable energy technologies including second generation biofuels, commercial-scale methanogenesis, high-temperature ceramic fuel cells, and solar photovoltaic systems; and the synthesis of advanced polymers and ceramic materials. He works with preeminent companies in a variety of industries including consumer electronics, energy exploration and production, defense, chemical production, semiconductor fabrication, food production, and building materials.

With more than a decade of patent experience, Dr. Bernard has drafted and procured hundreds of patents for some of the world’s leading technology companies. His years of experience in patent prosecution and reexamination give him deep insight into a patent’s vulnerabilities, enabling him draft patents that deter future challenges. This experience complements his client counseling work on international patent procurement and management programs, intellectual-property audits, and competitive analyses for established and developing products.

Dr. Bernard successfully represented a third-party requester in one of the first inter partes reexaminations filed with the USPTO, resulting in the cancellation of all claims in the contested patent. He has also successfully defended patentholders in reexamination proceedings brought by defendants during patent litigation and Section 337 Investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Dr. Bernard has been an invited speaker at a number of seminars on changes to U.S. patent law brought about by the America Invents Act. He has lectured on the impact of the AIA’s Post-Grant Review and Inter Partes Review proceedings on strategies for patent prosecution and litigation.