Randall R. RADER

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Former Chief Judge

For over 25 years, Judge Rader has been a leading thought leader in the field of intellectual property law 

and jurisprudence. His work as Chief Judge, his publications and his work teaching patent law globally to 

students, judges and government officials has left an indelible mark on the field of IP law and the protection 

of IP rights throughout the world. 

Judge Rader has authored approximately 1000 patent decisions and decided over 3000 patent cases as well

as approximately 4000 IP cases in total. Judge Rader was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals

for the Federal Circuit by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 and assumed the duties of Chief Judge on 

June 1, 2010. He was appointed to the United States Claims Court (now the U. S. Court of Federal Claims) 

by President Ronald W. Reagan in 1988. Before appointment to the Court of Federal Claims, former Chief 

Judge Rader served as Minority and Majority Chief Counsel to Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee 

on the Judiciary. From 1975 to 1980, he served as Counsel in the House of Representatives for representatives 

serving on the Interior, Appropriations, and Ways and Means Committees. Judge Rader stepped down from 

Chief Judge position on May 30, 2014 and retired from the bench on June 30, 2014. 

Since leaving the bench, Judge Rader has founded the Rader Group, focusing on arbitration, mediation, and 

legal consulting and legal education services. Since 2014, Judge Rader has presided over major arbitration 

under UCC rules in Paris; conducted mediations to settle ongoing litigation; joined law faculty at Tsinghua 

University; conducted full-credit course at leading law schools in D.C., Seattle, Santa Clara, Bangkok, Seoul, 

Tokyo, Munich, consulted with major corporations and law firms on IP policy and litigation, and advised foreign 

governments on international IP standards. He continues to advocate improvements in innovation policy through 

speaking engagements worldwide. 

Judge Rader's most prized title may well be "Professor Rader." As Professor, Judge Rader has taught courses 

on patent law and other advanced intellectual property courses at The George Washington University Law School, 

University of Virginia School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center, 

and other university programs in Tokyo, Taipei, New Delhi, and Beijing. He received a B.A. in English fromBrigham 

Young University in 1974 and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1978. Judge Rader has 

received the Gold Medal of LES International in 2014 and has been inducted into the IAM IP Hall of Fame in 2011.