Profile
Trenton A. Ward has over 20 years of experience in patent law, including serving for five years at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) as a Lead Administrative Patent Judge, among other roles. While serving as a Patent Judge, Trenton adjudicated more than 250 America Invents Act (AIA) trial proceedings, encompassing inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings. Trenton leverages his experience from the bench to provide the highest level of advocacy to clients on intellectual property matters.
Trenton’s practice focuses on patent litigation, including trials before the PTAB, District Court trials, and appeals before the Federal Circuit. His practice also covers patent prosecution management and client counseling.
Trenton is a thought leader on patent adjudication and has spoken on behalf of or about the PTAB at over 100 conferences, seminars, and meetings in the US, UK, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Taiwan. Further, he frequently publishes on topics relating to patent law.
Capabilities
Experience
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2012-2017
- Lead Administrative Patent Judge, 2014-2017
- Administrative Patent Judge, 2012-2014
- Electrical Engineer, Nortel Networks, 1999-2000
- Co-Op Engineering Student, Scientific Atlanta, A Cisco Company, 1995-1998
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
- Litigation - Patent, 2023-2024
- Patent Law, 2023-2024
- Listed, Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine, "IAM Patent 1000," 2019-2022
- Secretary, Atlanta IP Inn of Court, 2023-2024
- Member, PTAB Bar Association, Trials Committee Member
- Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Member PTAB Trial Committee
Credentials
- J.D., Emory University School of Law, 2003
- B.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999
- Georgia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit