FOUNDING PARTNER
JOSEPH R. KEATING, ESQ.
Mr. Keating has represented Japanese companies in U.S. patent prosecution, licensing and litigation matters for more than 25 years and even worked inside of the intellectual department of a major Japanese electronics company.
Based on his experience working with Japanese companies, Mr. Keating founded Keating & Bennett, LLP in 2000 for the sole purpose of serving Japanese companies U.S. patent needs in unique and flexible ways not provided by other law firms. Mr. Keating represents our Japanese clients in all aspects of intellectual property representation including patent prosecution, opinions regarding infringement and validity of patents, patent licensing and negotiation, and various patent litigation activities.　
After receiving a degree in Electromechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, Mr. Keating began his patent career as an Examiner in the U.S. Patent Office, specializing in electromechanical inventions.
After four years as a U.S. Patent Examiner and after graduating from The Catholic University School of Law in Washington, D.C., Mr. Keating joined a prominent patent law firm in Alexandria, Virginia, where he began working closely with Japanese companies and their IP department members. Upon moving to New York City and becoming a member of the New York State Bar, Mr. Keating joined another prominent patent law firm where he provided patent prosecution and patent opinion services to several Japanese companies, and supervised the training of an IP Manager from a large Japanese electronics company. Mr. Keating also served as the Chairman of the New York Office’s Electromechanical Patent Group.
Mr. Keating has taught patent claim drafting at the Practicing Law Institute and has frequently lectured in Japan regarding U.S. patent matters and frequently visits Japan to better service our Japanese clients.
​
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email : jkeating@kbiplaw.com
Phone: 703-967-4222
ATTORNEYS
CHRISTOPHER A. BENNETT, ESQ.
Attorney at K&B since 2000
Mr. Bennett’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, client counseling, opinions regarding infringement and validity of patents, and various litigation matters in a broad range of mechanical and electrical technologies. Mr. Bennett has primarily represented Japanese companies for more than 20 years, and has prosecuted several thousand patent applications to patent issuance. Mr. Bennett is a registered patent attorney and a licensed member of the Virginia State Bar.
After receiving a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech, Mr. Bennett began his patent career as an Examiner in the U.S. Patent Office, specializing in electromechanical inventions.
After ten years as a U.S. Patent Examiner (six years as a Primary Examiner) and after graduating from the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, Mr. Bennett joined and helped found Keating & Bennett, LLP in 2000. For over 20 years, Mr. Bennett has provided personalized and flexible representation and support to our clients. In addition, Mr. Bennett has hosted and trained over 30 members from our Japanese clients, and frequently travels to Japan to expand our close cooperation with our clients.
​
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email : cbennett@kbiplaw.com
Phone: 571-313-7440, ext. 107
PETER M. MEDLEY, ESQ.
Attorney at K&B since 2002
Mr. Medley is a U.S. Patent Attorney excelling in all aspects of patent prosecution, including appeals and post-grant procedures such as reexaminations, reissues, interferences, and Inter Partes reviews.
Mr. Medley has assisted clients in managing high-tech patent portfolios that include both U.S. and non-U.S. patents that cover a wide variety of complex technologies, including electronic devices, electrical connectors, semiconductor processes, software, medical devices, and power converters. Mr. Medley’s practice also includes counseling clients about licenses, confidentiality agreements, joint defense agreements, and invalidity, non-infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions.
Before joining Keating & Bennett, LLP, Mr. Medley was a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent & Trademark Office for four years where he examined applications in the electrical arts, including electrical motor structure and piezoelectric devices. Mr. Medley earned a B.S. in physics with highest honors and an M.S. in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, which he attended at night while working full-time at the USPTO.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: pmedley@kbiplaw.com
Phone: 571-313-7440, ext. 101
STEPHEN R. FUNK, ESQ.
Attorney at K&B since 2005
Mr. Funk is a registered Patent Attorney specializing in prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a wide array of technologies including marine vessels, motorized vehicles, battery packaging, healthcare, ink jet printing, and optics. Mr. Funk also counsels clients on issues of infringement and validity. Before joining Keating & Bennett, LLP, Mr. Funk worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for 15 years as a patent examiner examining patent applications in the surgical and printing fields. While at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Mr. Funk worked with the Special Programs Unit of Technology Center 2800 where he gained valuable knowledge of internal U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policies regarding petitions, reexamination applications, and reissue applications. Mr. Funk earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech and a law degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C. He is a member of the Virginia Bar.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: sfunk@kbiplaw.com
Phone: 571-313-7440, ext. 102
ERIK PRESTON, ESQ.
Attorney at K&B since 2008
Mr. Preston is a U.S. patent attorney specializing in prosecuting patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a variety of technologies including dynamoelectric machines and generators, wireless communications, semiconductors manufacturing, display devices, audio encoding, industrial machines, etc. Before joining Keating & Bennett, LLP, Mr. Preston worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for almost four years, first as a Patent Examiner in Technology Center 2800 and then later as a PCT examination contractor.
Mr. Preston earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Design & Technology from Northern Illinois University with a minor in Japanese Language and Culture, and later earned his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. While attending Northern Illinois University, Mr. Preston worked for two years as a motor control applications engineer on a federally funded ultrasonic ground imaging system. Upon receiving his B.S., Mr. Preston moved to the Kanto region of Japan for the summer of 2004 where he taught English classes for NOVA of Japan.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: 571-313-7440, ext. 128
GERALD STEVENS, ESQ.
Attorney at K&B since 2016
Mr. Stevens is a patent attorney and licensed member of the Pennsylvania State Bar, focusing on U.S. patent prosecution and assisting clients with patent portfolio planning and strategy related to patent negotiation, licensing, and litigation. Mr. Stevens also travels to Japan to meet with our Japanese clients and provides lectures to keep our clients apprised of common practices and trends in U.S. patent prosecution. Mr. Stevens is dedicated to assisting our clients in obtaining patents and formulating patent strategies to further their business goals.
Before joining Keating & Bennett, Mr. Stevens earned a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Temple University and worked for nine years as a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent Office, examining patent applications relating to electrical circuits and devices. Over the course of his career, Mr. Stevens has prosecuted hundreds of patent applications and is very knowledgeable in the processes and inner workings of the U.S. Patent Office.
Mr. Stevens also has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a technical background with diverse engineering experience. Mr. Stevens has experience in manufacturing engineering including the planning and maintenance of robotic cells and progressive presses at a stamping and metal assembly plant of a major U.S. auto manufacturer; design and testing of battery powered scooters, battery powered wheel chairs, and powered lift chairs to meet ANSI/RESNA standards at a major U.S. mobility products company; and design, manufacture, and competitive analysis of electronic components at a U.S. subsidiary of a major European electrical and electronic component company.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: gstevens@kbiplaw.com
Telephone: 571-313-7440, ext. 130