Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly is a patent litigation attorney with a practice focused on complex intellectual property disputes, particularly in high-technology sectors. He is currently a partner at KellDann Law PLLC, having previously practiced at Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.. Kelly specializes in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, FinTech, and video game intellectual property. His technical background includes computer science, and he previously worked at a startup developing gigapixel resolution video cameras for drones.

Kelly demonstrates versatility in his practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent litigation, with an equal number of tracked appearances on each side. He notably represented Centripetal Networks, LLC, as appellate counsel and counsel for the patent owner, in the significant litigation against Cisco Systems, Inc.. This case involved a substantial initial verdict for Centripetal, which was subsequently vacated by the Federal Circuit, and the associated patents faced multiple challenges before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Kelly was integral in developing Centripetal's cybersecurity patent portfolio and defending it against PTAB attacks.

His experience extends to extensive work before the PTAB, handling Inter Partes Reviews (IPR) and Ex Parte Reexamination proceedings. In 2019, Patexia recognized him among both the most active and best-performing IPR attorneys. He frequently contributes to discussions on evolving patent law, including shifts in IPR practice, through presentations like the D.C. Bar's annual "Patent Law Year in Review".

Kelly earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and holds a B.S. in Computer Science, with honors, from Virginia Tech, where he also minored in Physics and Mathematics. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia, before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has been recognized as a "DC Rising Star" by the National Law Journal in 2023.