What Intellectual Property Services Does Sterne Kessler Offer?
Updated
Sterne Kessler is a top-ranked intellectual property law firm whose services center on patent litigation, IP prosecution, and strategic counseling. If you are looking for a firm that handles IP disputes, helps you obtain and maintain IP rights, or advises on IP strategy across the lifecycle of a patent or trademark, its service mix is designed for exactly those needs. The sections below break down what each category covers and who typically benefits.
Patent Litigation
This is the firm's most prominent practice area. Patent litigation involves enforcing or defending patent rights in court or before specialized tribunals, and it is relevant when a patent is being challenged, infringed, or used as leverage in a dispute.
Typical situations where this service matters:
- You hold a patent and need to stop an infringer.
- You are accused of infringement and need a defense.
- You want to challenge the validity of a competitor's patent.
IP Prosecution
IP prosecution refers to the process of obtaining and maintaining intellectual property rights before government offices — most commonly patents and trademarks. This is the "front end" of IP: filing applications, responding to examiner rejections, and keeping registrations in force.
If your goal is to secure protection for an invention or brand rather than to litigate, prosecution is the relevant service.
Strategic Counseling
Strategic counseling sits alongside litigation and prosecution. It covers advising clients on how to build, manage, and use an IP portfolio — for example, deciding where to file, how to position patents relative to competitors, or how to align IP decisions with business goals. This is useful when you do not have a single discrete legal task but need ongoing guidance.
How the Services Fit Together
| Service | What it addresses | When it is most relevant |
|---|---|---|
| Patent litigation | Disputes over patent rights | Enforcement, defense, validity challenges |
| IP prosecution | Obtaining and maintaining rights | Filing and managing patents/trademarks |
| Strategic counseling | Portfolio and business alignment | Ongoing IP planning and decisions |
The firm's coverage spans multiple stages of the IP lifecycle — from securing rights through prosecution, to advising on strategy, to enforcing or defending those rights in litigation. That means a client can potentially work with one firm across the full arc of an IP matter rather than splitting work among separate providers.
Is This the Right Fit for You?
Consider Sterne Kessler if your needs fall into patent litigation, IP prosecution, or IP strategy counseling, and you want a firm whose stated focus is intellectual property. If your matter is outside IP — for example, general corporate or unrelated litigation — the firm's described practice areas do not indicate coverage for that.
For current details on specific services, attorney teams, or engagement terms, check the firm's own site, since offerings and availability can change.