Hershkovitz & Associates - Alexandria, VA

Elite Patent Prosecution and USPTO Petition Practice in Alexandria

Navigating the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires more than just standard legal knowledge; it demands deep operational insight into the agency's internal policies, rules, and procedures. For corporations and foreign intellectual property firms managing highly complex patents, procedural bottlenecks or examiner disputes can delay or derail critical innovations. Hershkovitz and Associates PLLC, situated in Alexandria, Virginia, is a premier boutique IP law firm specializing in sophisticated patent prosecution, advanced petition practice, and post-grant proceedings. Founded in 2003 by Abe Hershkovitz, a military veteran and former Director of the USPTO Office of Petitions, the firm utilizes unparalleled agency experience to achieve results where other firms struggle.

Whether you are dealing with an abandoned patent application that needs revival, a high-stakes ex parte reexamination, or an intricate international filing coordination, having a highly qualified legal team is paramount. To secure broad protection and overcome difficult examiner rejections, it is highly recommended to hire a patent attorney who understands how the USPTO processes applications from the inside out. The professionals at Hershkovitz and Associates PLLC include former senior USPTO executives, administrative patent judges, and primary examiners, offering clients an invaluable strategic advantage.

Specialized USPTO Petition Practice and Advanced Procedures

The firm stands out within the intellectual property community for its extraordinary depth of expertise in USPTO petition practice. During his 27-year tenure at the USPTO, founder Abe Hershkovitz directed the office responsible for setting policy guidelines and rendering over 10,000 decisions annually on procedural disputes. Today, Hershkovitz and Associates PLLC utilizes this specialized knowledge to assist clients with complex procedural matters, including:

• Petitions to Revive: Successfully reviving abandoned applications and reinstating patents that expired due to non-payment of maintenance fees.
• Filing Date Disputes: Correcting administrative errors to secure earlier, critical priority filing dates.
• Expedited Examination: Utilizing accelerated programs, such as Fast Track, Track One, and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).
• Navigating Backlogs: Retrieving applications that have been delayed or lost in administrative bottlenecks.

Technical Precision in Patent Prosecution and Foreign Filings

The firm represents Fortune 500 companies, research universities, and prominent international IP firms in drafting and prosecuting patent applications. Their technical expertise spans diverse sectors, including electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, aerospace engineering, and green energy. By crafting precise, robust applications, they ensure clients secure defensible patents that hold up under market competition.

Furthermore, the firm has established strong business relationships with leading intellectual property firms throughout Europe and Asia. They regularly coordinate foreign patent filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), helping international clients navigate the U.S. patent system while assisting domestic innovators in expanding their intellectual property protections globally.

Reexaminations, Post-Grant Proceedings, and Expert Testimony

When patent validity is challenged, the firm provides formidable representation in ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings, as well as post-grant reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Their attorneys serve as expert witnesses in federal court litigation, providing clear, authoritative testimonies on USPTO regulations and patent prosecution history.