Trenton Ward has joined Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner after five years at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. That stint began just as the America Invents Act (AIA) was transforming the board into a new venue for patent validity challenges.
Ward adjudicated more than 250 AIA proceedings during his tenure. They range from a groundbreaking decision applying Section 101 in a covered business method review to a lengthy series of disputes between Nike Inc. and Skechers USA Inc. over shoe design. He acted as a lead administrative patent judge, supervising other APJs and assisting board leadership.
