Gender Disparity at PTAB: Women Underrepresented in Patent Proceedings Despite Making Up Significant Workforce

Despite accounting for up to 30% of the patent attorney workforce, women represent only 13% of attorneys appearing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in post-grant proceedings since the board’s inception in 2012. This statistic is outlined in a report released by the PTAB Bar Association. The disparity raises questions about gender representation and participation levels within tech and legal fields, particularly in specialized legal forums like the PTAB.