Keith Wood is a Principal at Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds and an experienced intellectual property practitioner with more than 25 years of practice in U.S. and international patent law.
His work focuses on patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and strategic intellectual property counseling, with particular emphasis on Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Keith received his undergraduate degree in Physics from Harvard University, where he developed a strong foundation in analytical reasoning and applied scientific research. This technical training informs his sophisticated approach to patent prosecution and enables him to address complex legal and technical issues arising in patent litigation and administrative proceedings. He draws upon his extensive prosecution experience to provide careful, well-reasoned analysis in support of both contentious and non-contentious IP matters.
Keith advises clients on the acquisition, development, and management of patent rights across multiple jurisdictions, including the coordination of large and technically diverse patent portfolios. His practice includes counseling start-ups, universities, and multinational companies on the creation of patent portfolios that align with long-term research, development, and commercialization objectives. He has represented clients in numerous IPR proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), applying a methodical and evidence-driven approach informed by his deep familiarity with USPTO practice.
Post-Grant Proceedings and Appellate Experience
Keith is a member of the firm’s IPR and litigation teams and has participated in multiple successful IPR proceedings involving technologies deployed by a multinational networking and
telecommunications company, as well as proceedings involving an American multinational automobile manufacturer. He has also contributed to several appeals in, and presented oral argument before, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In recognition of his analytical rigor and effectiveness in post-grant advocacy, Keith was ranked in the Top 250 Best Performing Attorneys (Patent Owner) in Patexia’s 2023 PTAB Intelligence Report.
Experience
Representative Litigation Matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:
- Member of litigation team that represented a university spinoff patent owner in successfully obtaining denial of institution of multiple Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) petitions filed at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board by an American multinational automobile manufacturer.
- Member of litigation team that represented a large telecommunications company patent owner in responding to a series of Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) petitions filed at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board by a multinational networking and telecommunications company.
- Member of litigation team handling a Motion to Amend (MTA) in an IPR before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
- Member of litigation team in multiple appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit with successes related to remands to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in view of the Arthrex appointments clause constitutional case.
Representative Patent Prosecution Matters:
- Represented an acoustics company in evaluating and expanding its patent portfolio.
- Represented an optical medical device company in developing its patent portfolio.
- Prosecuted patent applications directed to advanced technologies such as microfluidics, graphene, and nanopores for several major universities.
- Prosecuted patent applications related to fluid filtration and electrostatic chucks for semiconductor manufacturing client.
- Prosecuted complex software patent applications for small companies, large companies and universities.
- Assisted foreign counsel with obtaining U.S. national stage protection of their foreign clients’ patent portfolios.
- Prosecuted patent applications for diverse technologies, including mechanical systems and laser sensors.
- Prosecuted U.S. and foreign patent portfolios for companies in fields such as medical devices and very low temperature refrigeration.
Representative Strategic Counseling Matters:
- Conducted IP due diligence for successful acquisition of a privately held acoustics company.
- Conducted IP Due diligence for successful acquisition of a sensor company by Japanese multinational electronics company.
- Counseled clients on the importance of design patent and trademark protection as valuable additions to their overall IP protection and patent portfolios.
- Conducted IP due diligence related to investments and public offering of a medical device manufacturer.
- Counseled numerous companies on patentability matters across many technology sectors.
- Performed competitive assessments and monitoring of IP portfolios for clients interested in strategic growth and positioning of their businesses.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Massachusetts
Education
- A.B. in Physics, Harvard College
- J.D., Boston College Law School
Practice Areas
- IP Audits
- IP Diligence
- IP Litigation
- Patents
- Post-Grant Proceedings
- Trademarks
Technologies
- Chemical Engineering
- Clean Technology
- Energy Storage
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Devices
- Semiconductors
- Software
- Telecommunications
Speaking Engagements
- "Patenting Strategies for Entrepreneurs," Speaker, MDG Boston, April 8, 2025
- "Innovating the Future: Cleantech and Energy Storage Panel Discussion," Moderator, Cambridge Innovation Center, February, 2025
- "Patenting Strategies for Entrepreneurs," Speaker, UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, January 15, 2025
- "Clean Green Challenge Pitch Competition," Moderator of Fireside Chat, UML iHub, April 4, 2024
- "Getting from Here to There - Advancing Your Sustainability Solution," UML iHub, Panel Moderator, September 19, 2023
Professional Associations
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Boston Intellectual Property Law Association (BIPLA)
- 2025 - 2026 - Vice President
- 2024 - 2025 Treasurer
- 2023 - 2024 Board Member
- Past co-chair of the International and Foreign Practice Committee
- MIT eForum of Cambridge, Past Committee Chair, Energy Special Interest Group (Energy SIG)