Sterne Kessler, Thomson Reuters Launch AI Patent Tool

Sterne Kessler and Thomson Reuters launched the Patent Claim Eligibility Analyzer on May 13, 2026, a new AI tool built for Section 101 patent litigation analysis.

The tool addresses one of the most resource-intensive tasks in patent law. Section 101 governs patent eligibility in the United States, and its analysis is time-consuming because key legal concepts lack clear definitions, courts apply the same test differently across similar inventions, and the process is heavily dependent on case precedent.

The Problem It Solves

Patent litigators on both sides of a case need fast, reliable eligibility assessments. Patent owners must understand a patent's vulnerability before filing a lawsuit. Defendants need a quick path to an early case dismissal.

Until now, this analysis took days to complete. The new tool aims to deliver results in minutes.

Daniel Block, director in Sterne Kessler's Electronics Practice Group and leader of Sterne Kessler Labs, stated: "For patent owners seeking to assert a patent, understanding its vulnerability under Section 101 is essential before litigation begins. For defendants, a fast, reliable eligibility assessment can reveal a path to an early win. Both sides want information fast."

How the Tool Works

The Patent Claim Eligibility Analyzer is built into CoCounsel Legal, Thomson Reuters' AI-powered legal platform. It analyzes patent claims, surfaces relevant case precedents, and explains why those cases apply to the matter at hand.

The tool is designed to mirror the approach courts take in analyzing Section 101. It gives attorneys a faster, precedent-backed starting point, while leaving final judgment to the legal professional.

Sterne Kessler is a Washington, D.C.-based intellectual property specialty firm. Thomson Reuters is a publicly traded company listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq under the ticker TRI. The firm serves professionals across legal, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, government, and media sectors.

How It Was Built

The development model for this tool was a direct collaboration between law firm practitioners and technology engineers, rather than the typical approach where a technology team builds a product and then consults lawyers afterward.

Thomson Reuters deployed engineers directly inside Sterne Kessler's workflow. The two teams co-built the tool through repeated short development cycles.

Steve Assie, General Manager for Global Large Law Firms at Thomson Reuters, described the process: "Our forward deployed engineers worked side by side with Sterne Kessler's IP litigators, embedded directly in their workflows, co-building in rapid iterations. That is a fundamentally different model from how legal technology is typically developed."

The tool began as an internal project at Sterne Kessler. It has since been developed into a market offering available within the CoCounsel Legal platform.

Significance for Legal Tech

This partnership marks the first attorney-built AI workflow within CoCounsel Legal. It signals a broader shift in how legal technology products may be developed going forward, with law firms contributing domain expertise directly into product design.

Sterne Kessler has specialized in intellectual property law for more than four decades. Its practitioners represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, startups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities.

Thomson Reuters combines legal content and technology across its product suite. Its news division, Reuters, is a global provider of journalism and financial information.

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and Fox

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and Fox is an intellectual property specialty law firm based in Washington, D.C. Founded over 40 years ago, the firm handles patent prosecution, litigation, and strategy across a broad range of industries. Its team includes attorneys, registered patent agents, technical specialists, and trademark paralegals. The firm serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups and universities.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) provides content and technology products for professionals in legal, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its legal platform, CoCounsel Legal, uses AI to support attorney workflows. Reuters, its news division, is a global provider of journalism and news.

Read more about Thomson Reuters:

Thomson Reuters eDiscovery Point

Thomson Reuters Corporation