Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.c.

What Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.c. does

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered intellectual property and technology law firm organized as a professional corporation. It provides specialized legal services to enterprise clients across pharmaceuticals and life sciences, media and entertainment, and technology sectors, with media-client relationships dating to 1993. The firm maintains its principal office at 901 New York Avenue NW and opened its first satellite office in Boston in March 2019 under Partner Dan Shores. It serves a roster that includes Fortune 50 enterprises (The New York Times, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, Fox, Netflix, Bloomberg, Pfizer, Mylan, Coherus Biosciences, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster) and a long tail of emerging-company innovators requiring sophisticated IP counsel.

The firm's core offerings are legal services rather than a software product. Practice areas include patent prosecution (U.S. and international via PCT, EPO, and foreign filings), intellectual property litigation in federal courts, the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation, trade secret litigation, post-grant proceedings (IPR/PGR), licensing and transactions, portfolio management, and media and constitutional law counseling. Technical depth is a defining feature: attorneys hold advanced scientific credentials (PhDs in biochemistry, electrical/computer engineering, materials science), prior service as USPTO patent examiners, and industry experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, AI/ML, and wireless communications. Reported operational scale includes more than 12,000 U.S. granted patents prosecuted, 60+ Hatch-Waxman litigation matters, and 80+ patent infringement suits defended for media clients.

The firm operates a professional services revenue model with fees generated through billable hours (hourly rates) and fixed fees for specific matters. All engagement is direct, with no intermediary or reseller channels; clients are served through long-running attorney-client relationships acquired via industry reputation, peer and client referrals, third-party legal rankings (Chambers USA, IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, Legal 500, Best Lawyers), and thought-leadership activity (Law360 / JD Supra publications, ABA / AUTM / LES / AIPLA speaking engagements, and the firm's RFEMerge blog). Geographically, the firm serves U.S. clients out of Washington and Boston with international patent prosecution capabilities spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Name

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.c.

Legal name

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck P.C.

Website

https://rothwellfigg.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered intellectual property and technology law firm serving pharmaceutical, media, and technology clients with patent prosecution, IP litigation, Hatch-Waxman litigation, and emerging AI copyright and patent matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI), Standards-Essential Patents (SEP) & FRAND Advisory (BPAHAMAL)

Keywords

• Intellectual property law
• Patent prosecution
• Patent litigation
• Hatch-Waxman litigation
• Technology law

Headquarters

HQ city

S Central Washington Co

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Fees: Rothwell Figg generates revenue through billable hours for legal services including IP litigation, patent prosecution, Hatch-Waxman litigation, trademark prosecution, trade secret litigation, and regulatory matters. Fees are structured as hourly rates or fixed fees for specific matters. The firm serves enterprise clients including pharmaceutical companies, media conglomerates, and technology companies requiring sophisticated IP counsel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. is an intellectual property and technology law firm that provides specialized legal services including patent prosecution, IP litigation, Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation, trademark prosecution, trade secret litigation, and post-grant proceedings before the USPTO PTAB. The firm combines technical expertise (with attorneys holding advanced scientific degrees and prior patent examiner experience) with deep specialization in IP law to serve enterprise clients across pharmaceutical, media, technology, and medical device industries.

Product overview

Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. is an intellectual property and technology law firm offering comprehensive legal services rather than a software product. The firm's practice centers on patent prosecution and litigation, with particular expertise in Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical litigation, trade secret matters, and copyright enforcement. Core offerings include Patent Prosecution (strategic application drafting and prosecution management), IP Litigation (patent, copyright, trademark disputes in federal courts and PTAB), Hatch-Waxman Litigation (pharmaceutical patent challenges), Trade Secret Litigation, Portfolio Management, and Media/Constitutional Law. The firm handles matters spanning emerging technologies including AI, blockchain, 5G, and life sciences. With offices in Washington, D.C. and Boston, the firm serves clients ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies across all fields of innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Prosecution Strategic drafting of patent applications and prosecution management through patent offices worldwide, covering technologies from electrical/mechanical engineering to biotechnology and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. Includes both U.S. and international patent prosecution.
• IP Litigation Comprehensive intellectual property litigation services including patent, copyright, and trademark disputes in district courts, Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Hatch-Waxman Litigation Specialized litigation under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act for pharmaceutical clients, primarily representing generic manufacturers in patent challenges. The firm has handled 60+ such cases.
• Trade Secret Litigation Comprehensive trade secret dispute resolution including proactive prevention strategies, aggressive litigation, and enforcement for complex technologies and proprietary information.
• Portfolio Management Strategic management and protection of patent, trademark, and copyright portfolios, including filing decisions, enforcement strategies, and global protection planning.
• Media and Constitutional Law
• Copyright Litigation Litigation representing media companies in copyright infringement cases, particularly against AI companies for unauthorized use of copyrighted content.
• Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Post Grant Review (PGR) Post-grant proceedings before the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board for challenging or defending patents.
• Licensing and Transactions IP licensing negotiations, transactions, and strategic counseling for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and technology companies.
• International Filings Global patent prosecution capabilities through PCT applications, EPO filings, and international patent protection across multiple jurisdictions.
• Artificial Intelligence Legal Services Legal counsel on AI-related intellectual property issues including patent prosecution for AI inventions, AI copyright litigation, and AI inventorship guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 U.S. granted patents prosecuted
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WilmerHale: Large general practice firm with a top-tier IP litigation practice (including Hatch-Waxman and Federal Circuit work); overlaps with Rothwell Figg on high-stakes pharmaceutical and technology patent litigation while serving a much broader client base.
• Fish & Richardson: One of the largest IP-focused firms in the U.S. with national footprint and deep patent prosecution, licensing, and litigation practices; broader scale and more offices than Rothwell Figg make it a broad incumbent competitor.
• Cooley LLP: Full-service firm with a leading life sciences and technology IP practice that handles patent prosecution, Hatch-Waxman litigation, and biotech matters; competes for the same high-end pharma and tech clients.
• Mintz: Full-service firm with a sizable IP litigation practice, including Hatch-Waxman and biosimilar work for pharmaceutical clients; competes for similar enterprise life sciences and technology engagements.
• Goodwin Procter: Major full-service firm with a strong IP and life sciences practice handling patent litigation and prosecution for biotech and pharma clients; overlaps with Rothwell Figg on Hatch-Waxman, biosimilar, and technology patent matters.
• Sidley Austin: Global full-service firm with a substantial IP litigation and prosecution group including significant Hatch-Waxman and life sciences capabilities; competes for the same enterprise pharma and tech clients as Rothwell Figg with broader service offerings.

Direct peers

• Finnegan: Washington, D.C.-headquartered IP boutique with one of the largest patent prosecution and litigation practices in the U.S.; competes directly with Rothwell Figg for Hatch-Waxman, PTAB, and high-tech patent work.
• Patterson + Sheridan: IP boutique firm focused on patent prosecution and litigation with technical specialists; directly comparable peer for prosecution-heavy patent work targeting technology and life sciences clients.
• Sterne Kessler: D.C.-based IP boutique specializing in patent prosecution and post-grant proceedings before the USPTO; directly comparable peer for prosecution-heavy patent work and PTAB representation.
• Oblon: D.C.-based IP boutique situated near the USPTO, focused on patent prosecution, licensing, and IP litigation; directly competes with Rothwell Figg in prosecution and Hatch-Waxman-adjacent pharmaceutical patent matters.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RothwellFiggIP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwr7dZQ5i1L38pOnYukOeVw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/RothwellFigg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rothwell-figg-ernst-&-manbeck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.c.