Gender Disparity in Patent Proceedings: Women Make Up Only 13% of PTAB Attorneys

In a significant observation about gender representation, only 13% of attorneys appearing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) have been women, as reported by the PTAB Bar Association. This statistic covers post-grant proceedings from the board’s inception in 2012. Notably, this proportion stands in contrast to the fact that women constitute up to 30% of all patent attorneys. This disparity raises questions about the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in PTAB proceedings and may prompt further examination and discussion within the legal community on gender equality and diversity in patent law practice.