Intellectual property is among a company’s most valuable competitive assets, and as such, Steptoe’s registered patent lawyers structure IP protection programs to both safeguard ideas as well as contribute to a company’s overall strategic position.
Our full-scope patent practice develops and enforces patent portfolios in the United States and coordinates the development and enforcement of patents internationally in the following core practice areas:
- Electronics
- Software
- Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Mechanical
- Business Methods
Grounded with a thorough knowledge of IP law that is bolstered by practical experience in academia and industry, our lawyers are able to skillfully guide clients through all phases of patent and technology protection:
- Counseling
- Strategic portfolio building – in the United States and internationally
- Prosecuting patent applications before the USPTO
- Post-grant proceedings (IPR/CBM/PGR)
- Due diligence investigations
- Clearance and freedom to operate studies
- Patent audits and portfolio assessments
- Defensive and offensive patent strategies, including litigation
- Litigation, including Section 337 actions
- Validity and infringement opinions
Beyond traditional legal counsel, we also work with clients to create an intellectual property asset-driven culture within their organizations. This entails engaging executive, new business, product development and manufacturing teams and other employees likely to create innovative ideas, and educating them as to how to identify possible patentable innovations. This collaborative, proactive counsel plus employee approach results in stronger and more cost-effective IP protection.
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Intellectual Property: Patent, New York (2022-2023)
- China Law & Practice, Shortlisted, Intellectual Property Firm of the Year (2021-2022)
- Legal 500 US, Patents: Litigation (International Trade Commission) (2020-2023)
- China Law & Practice, International Firm of the Year: Intellectual Property (2020)
- China Business Law Journal, China Business Law Award: IP (Patent) (2018-2022)
- IAM 1000, United States: DC Metro Area, Patent Litigation, Bronze (2019-2023)
- IAM 1000, United States: New York, Patent Prosecution, Bronze (2019-2023)
- IAM 1000, United States: New York, Patent Litigation, Bronze (2019-2023)
- IAM 1000, United States: Illinois, Patent Litigation, Silver (2019-2023)
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures $4 Million Trial Win for American Axle After Years-Long Patent Battle
February 2, 2024
Media Mentions
Law360 Quotes Boyd Cloern in Article About 7th Circuit’s Issue with $540M Motorola Trade Secret Win
December 5, 2023
Press Releases
July 20, 2023
Publications
A Comprehensive Overview of PTAB Trends for Biologics
June 26, 2023
By: Michael I. Green, Yun Zhang, Lawrence Kass, John J. Molenda, Ph.D.
Client Alerts
May 26, 2023