Banner Witcoff
Firm overview:
Patent prosecution is “a cornerstone” of IP specialist firm Banner Witcoff. The firm names Nike, Toshiba, Bank of America and Capital One among its clients, and manages large patent portfolios that can run to several thousand patents and include substantial numbers of foreign patents. Banner Witcoff claims to have procured more US design patents for clients than any other law firm for 22 consecutive years. Recently, the firm has been increasing its activity in obtaining utility patents.
On the litigation side, the firm has represented some of the world’s most innovative companies, in complex, high-stakes matters. The team has been involved in more than 270 litigations in US federal courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC) during the past decade and appeared on numerous landmark cases during that time.
Team overview:
Banner Witcoff’s patent team is located across its Chicago, Washington, DC, Boston and Portland offices. The majority of the team work primarily on prosecution matters.
Robert Katz focuses his practice on utility patents and industrial designs, primarily directed to mechanical and electromechanical devices, and software and computer-related inventions. Before joining Banner Witcoff, he was a patent examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
IP litigator Joseph Berhammer has assisted numerous Fortune 100 companies in developing their patent programmes, with experience in the chemical, mechanical, electrical, and business method arts. In contentious matters, he has represented clients before juries and judges, obtained preliminary injunctions, and secured damages following trial.
Other names to know at the firm include veteran IP attorney Frederic Meeker, who has extensive experience in non-contentious and contentious patent matters; past president of the firm Binal Patel, whose experience covers patent procurement, litigation, and counselling; and Scott Kelly, particularly known for his work in the video game industry.
Key matters:
- Patent prosecution for Capital One
Scott Kelly leads Banner Witcoff’s patent prosecution team for Capital One, managing over 1,000 patent matters and coordinating a team of 25 attorneys to assist in patent drafting, patent prosecution, and strategic IP counselling.
Kelly and the team work with in-house counsel and engineers at Capital One to prepare patent applications and strategies. Capital One has been a client since late 2018.
- Patent prosecution matters for Tencent
Banner Witcoff is representing Tencent, the world’s largest video game publisher in the world, in patent prosecution matters.
The team’s Tencent work has grown fivefold from 2024 to 2025; attorney Ross Dannenberg, based in Washington, DC, has particular experience in the video game IP market.
Led by Dannenberg, the team also includes Hengyi Jiang.
- Design protection for Nike and Converse products
Robert Katz has helped to secure design protection for Nike and Converse products, acquiring over 1,000 US design patents and over 4,500 design patents/registrations since January 2023. Many of these procured design rights have been enforced.
Katz and his team are responsible for protecting Nike’s footwear and apparel, as well as digital innovations.
Katz leads the team, which includes Alisa Abbott, Sean Jungels, Sonia Okolie and Alaina Pak.
Clients:
Anker, Capital One, Cloud Software (formerly Citrix Systems), Electrolux, Light & Wonder, Nike, Swift Response (aka Flex Seal), Tencent
