World IP Review highlighted Bracewell welcoming Christopher (Kit) Crumbley to its IP litigation team as a partner in the Austin office. 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.
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.
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.
