Bruce H. Bernstein

Bruce Bernstein was one of the founders of the firm, and, for more than 35 years, Bruce was one of the co-managing partners. Bruce has been involved in virtually all aspects of IP law during his career, has travelled to Asia extensively, and in total has spent more than four years in Japan working with firm clients there.

Bruce majored in Applied Physics at Tufts University, where he was privileged to have had a Nobel Prize winner (Dr. Allan Cormack-CT scanner) as his academic advisor, mentor, and later friend, and a Hall of Famer (Tom Penders) as his basketball coach. In fact, his college team has been inducted into both the New England College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Tufts University Hall of Fame.

Early in his professional career, from 1973-78, Bruce attended law school (at Georgetown University) in the evenings and worked as an Examiner at the USPTO, examining both electrical and mechanical arts (connectors and special receptacles).  While there he was selected for two special details – one as a law clerk to Judge Joseph Williamowsky at the USPTO Board of Appeals, and one as a special assignment working for the Assistant Commissioner of Patents, analyzing the effect of Examiner appeal conferences on appeal outcomes. 

After joining the firm in 1979, Bruce was involved in patent prosecution and then spent several years involved in patent and trademark litigation, both at the District Court level and before the USPTO and the International Trade Commission.  Thereafter, Bruce became head of the G&B patent prosecution group for more than twenty-five years, specializing in licensing negotiations, hundreds of validity and infringement opinions and evaluations, general IP counselling involving monetization and related business issues, and high level USPTO work (reexaminations, IPR’s and appeals).  He has conducted many licensing (and sales) negotiations, on behalf of both licensees and licensors, and has been actively involved in joint development agreements, due diligence, IP evaluations, and overall IP/business strategy.

As a result of his own varied business experience (Bruce managed several small businesses early in his career and later became an active investor in a number of companies), Bruce brings a practical business perspective to his IP, technical and legal knowledge in order to advise clients on a variety of IP and related legal issues.  His present work involves a variety of patent and trademark issues, and clients rely on him for his long experience and creativity in crafting effective IP strategies.

Notable

• Recognized by IAM as one of the world’s top 300 IP strategists in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
• Travelled to Japan well in excess of 100 times
• Lecturer to JIPA, LES and LESI audiences
• Legal Advisor to companies worldwide on patent monetization and defense strategies
• Lexology, IP Thought Leader 2026