About J. David
J. David Hadden trained first as a physicist, then as a lawyer. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Yale University in 1986, followed by an M.A. from Princeton University in 1987. He returned to Yale for law school and received his J.D. in 1994. That mix of technical and legal education frames the work he has done throughout his career.
After law school he entered practice in intellectual property. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in California. He is listed as an attorney at Fenwick & West LLP, where he has handled matters that require both technical literacy and courtroom experience. His background in physics gives him a practical footing when dealing with complex patent claims and technical disclosures.
Hadden’s work spans patent prosecution and litigation. He prepares and prosecutes patent applications that cover technologies with detailed engineering and scientific content. He also represents clients in appeals and in post-grant procedures before the USPTO. When matters advance to the Federal Circuit, he has handled appellate briefs and oral argument preparation. He works on claim construction and validity disputes, as well as issues that arise in licensing negotiations and counseling on patent portfolio management.
Colleagues describe his approach as methodical. He breaks down technical problems in stages, translates them into patent claim language, and tests those claims against prior art. That process often requires lengthy review of scientific literature and collaboration with inventors. He has represented clients from startups to larger technology companies, though the specific client roster is not listed here.
Outside the courtroom and the patent office, Hadden’s combination of physics training and legal experience informs how he reviews invention disclosures and advises on patent strategy. He often works with technical teams to sharpen claim scope so that it is defensible in litigation and useful in commercial terms. His work in appeals has given him familiarity with Federal Circuit precedent that can inform prosecution tactics at the USPTO.
He continues to practice at Fenwick & West LLP and maintains registrations that allow him to appear before federal appellate courts and the patent office. He currently focuses his practice on patent prosecution, appeals, and USPTO proceedings.
