Kevin Emerson Collins

Kevin Emerson Collins is a Professor of Law and Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program at Washington University School of Law, specializing in patent, copyright, and trademark law with emphasis on software, biotechnology, and architectural innovation.

His educational credentials include:

• J.D. from Stanford Law School (2002)
• M.Arch. from Columbia University School of Architecture (1994)
• B.A. from Yale College (1990)

Professor Collins' research bridges legal doctrine and technological advancement, examining patent eligibility boundaries for software and biotechnology while pioneering scholarship on architectural intellectual property protection through patents, copyrights, and trade dress. His dual background as a licensed architect and lawyer informs his unique analysis of how physical and digital innovations intersect with intellectual property frameworks.

His 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on structural challenges in patent law, particularly software patent eligibility and biotechnology patent scope, alongside groundbreaking work on architectural IP. This body of work reveals evolving legal interpretations of abstract ideas, disclosure requirements, and functional claiming within patent doctrine.

His professional recognition includes:

• Stanford/Yale Junior Faculty Forum selection (2007)

As program director, he oversees curriculum development for courses including Patent Law, Advanced Patent Law, and The Intellectual Property of Architecture, while mentoring students in IP specialization. His prior clerkships with Judge Sonia Sotomayor and Judge Raymond Clevenger III provided foundational experience in appellate patent jurisprudence.

The Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program under his leadership serves as an academic hub for interdisciplinary research on emerging IP challenges in digital and biotech innovation, hosting scholars and practitioners exploring the legal frontiers of technological advancement.