Bracewell welcomes ex-PTAB administrative judge
The firm’s newest IP litigation partner has “extensive” PTAB experience with contributions to the post-grant trials under the America Invents Act, advising the USPTO director, and playing a role in PTAB and agency reforms.
Bracewell has welcomed Christopher (Kit) Crumbley to its IP litigation team as a partner in the Austin office.
Since 2017, Crumbley held the position of lead administrative judge at the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), having joined in 2012 as an administrative patent judge.
He began his legal career as a litigation associate with Finnegan in Atlanta.
Gregory Bopp, Bracewell's managing partner, said: “We are excited to welcome Kit to the firm. Kit’s extensive experience and technical background, including his many years in PTAB leadership, bring additional depth and resources to our successful IP litigation team.”
Crumbley participated in some of the original post-grant trials conducted under the America Invents Act (AIA), and his portfolio includes authoring hundreds of decisions on AIA petitions and ex parte appeals.
During his role as a member of PTAB leadership, Crumbley advised the director of the US Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO) and played a role in major PTAB and agency reform efforts—including shaping the PTAB’s consolidated trial practice guide and rulemaking on motions to amend Board decision-making procedures.
Before his time at the PTAB, Crumbley served for nearly a decade as a trial attorney with the IP section of the US Department of Justice’s civil division.
During this time he defended the government in patent litigation suits before the US Court of Federal Claims and handled appeals before the Federal Circuit.
Doug Stewart, chair of Bracewell’s IP litigation practice, described Crumbley’s “unparalleled experience” as an opportunity to strengthen the firm's ability to provide advice and counselling to businesses in tech fields.
Sharing his thoughts on joining Bracewell, Crumbley said: “I look forward to working with my new colleagues and applying my experience as a litigator and administrative judge to help clients develop innovative legal strategies for successfully coordinating district court litigation and PTAB proceedings.”
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox
