DENVER (January 14) -- Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today that it has named Gene Bernard, Ph.D. the new managing partner of the firm’s Denver office. Dr. Bernard succeeds Ian Saffer who served as Denver’s managing partner. Mr. Saffer will continue his practice at the firm focusing on trademark and copyright litigation and counseling.

“It is a great honor and responsibility to be leading Kilpatrick Townsend’s Denver office which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015,” said Gene Bernard, Denver Office Managing Partner. “I want to thank Ian for his outstanding leadership in guiding the office for nearly four years. I look forward to adding to his successes while continuing to strategically grow and provide clients with exceptional service.”

Kilpatrick Townsend also announced today that Craig Largent, Ph.D. will be the managing partner of the firm’s Silicon Valley office in Menlo Park, California.

Dr. Bernard, with more than a decade of patent experience, has counseled some of the world’s leading technology companies in all aspects of intellectual property strategy, with an emphasis on building national and international patent portfolios, developing cost-effective patent enforcement goals, and capitalizing on accelerated examination procedures. He regularly advises clients on defensive strategies including third-party patent reexamination and review proceedings, third-party prior art submissions, patent invalidity opinions, and design activities to minimize infringement risks.

Dr. Bernard is familiar with a wide range of technologies, including the fabrication of advanced semiconductor and flat panel display products; the development of cleantech and renewable energy technologies including second generation biofuels, commercial-scale methanogenesis, high-temperature ceramic fuel cells, and solar photovoltaic systems; and the synthesis of advanced polymers and ceramic materials. He works with preeminent companies in a variety of industries including consumer electronics, energy exploration and production, defense, chemical production, semiconductor fabrication, food production, and building materials.

Dr. Bernard has been an invited speaker at a number of seminars on changes to U.S. patent law brought about by the America Invents Act. He has lectured on the impact of the AIA’s Post-Grant Review and Inter Partes Review proceedings on strategies for patent prosecution and litigation. Dr. Bernard was recognized as a top patent practitioner in 2014 by IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners.

Until earlier this month, Dr. Bernard served as Co-Leader of Kilpatrick Townsend’s nationally recognized Electronics and Software Practice Group.

Dr. Bernard received his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law, his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physical-Organic Chemistry from Cornell University, and his B.S. in Chemistry from Union College, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

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