‘Needle Barely Moved’ for Woman-Led Patent Trials, Report Says

Women continue to face barriers in leading patent trials after a decade of almost no growth kept their share of first chair roles under 10%, according to a report by a long-time female patent trial lawyer.

The share of first chairs filled by women increased to 9.9% in 2019 from 8.1% in 2010, said the report by Patricia A. Martone, affiliate fellow for the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy at the New York University School of Law. Client gender bias, limited availability of quality mentoring, and motherhood were among the progress-hindering obstacles cited by Martone, who spent decades ...