Steven's 30+ years of effectively handling complex, global patent disputes across diverse technologies and significant experience in contested U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proceedings make him an asset to clients navigating intellectual property litigation and protection.

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Steven represents clients across a wide range of technologies, concentrating in life sciences, ATMPs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, polymers, electronics, and mechanical devices.

His extensive experience includes handling patent infringement cases for both patent owners and accused infringers, participating in bench trials, jury trials, arbitrations, mediations, and multiparty settlement negotiations. He coordinates foreign proceedings as part of multinational patent disputes, ensuring comprehensive protection and enforcement of intellectual property worldwide.

Steven helps clients to navigate contested USPTO proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including interferences, Inter Partes Reviews, Post Grant Reviews, and appeals. He also represents clients in appeals to the Federal Circuit. Clients often cite his thorough preparation and strategic foresight as significant benefits of his representation.

In addition to patent litigation, Steven defends law firms and patent attorneys against allegations of malpractice, representing them in internal investigations, pre-litigation counseling, litigation, arbitration, mediation, and settlement negotiations.

  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Appeal Nos. 2022‑1594, ‑1653 (Federal Circuit).
  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Patent Interference No. 106,115 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College v. ToolGen, Inc., Patent Interference No. 106,126 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, Patent Interference No. 106,133 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Appeal No. 2017‑1907 (Federal Circuit).
  • ACCO Brands Corporation v. Fellowes, Inc., Appeal No. 2015-1045 (Federal Circuit).
  • IAM Patent 1000 (2020, 2022-2023)
  • IAM Patent 1000, Individuals Litigation (Silver) (2025)
  • IAM Patent 1000, Recommended for Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2022, 2025)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property Litigation (2009-2013, 2016-2019)
  • The National Law Journal, Intellectual Property Trailblazer (2018)
  • AV Rating® by Martindale-Hubbell

Steven represents clients across a wide range of technologies, concentrating in life sciences, ATMPs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, polymers, electronics, and mechanical devices.

His extensive experience includes handling patent infringement cases for both patent owners and accused infringers, participating in bench trials, jury trials, arbitrations, mediations, and multiparty settlement negotiations. He coordinates foreign proceedings as part of multinational patent disputes, ensuring comprehensive protection and enforcement of intellectual property worldwide.

Steven helps clients to navigate contested USPTO proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including interferences, Inter Partes Reviews, Post Grant Reviews, and appeals. He also represents clients in appeals to the Federal Circuit. Clients often cite his thorough preparation and strategic foresight as significant benefits of his representation.

In addition to patent litigation, Steven defends law firms and patent attorneys against allegations of malpractice, representing them in internal investigations, pre-litigation counseling, litigation, arbitration, mediation, and settlement negotiations.

  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Appeal Nos. 2022‑1594, ‑1653 (Federal Circuit).
  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Patent Interference No. 106,115 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College v. ToolGen, Inc., Patent Interference No. 106,126 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, Patent Interference No. 106,133 (DK) (Patent Trial and Appeal Board).
  • Regents of the University of California, et al. v. The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and President and Fellows of Harvard College, Appeal No. 2017‑1907 (Federal Circuit).
  • ACCO Brands Corporation v. Fellowes, Inc., Appeal No. 2015-1045 (Federal Circuit).
  • IAM Patent 1000 (2020, 2022-2023)
  • IAM Patent 1000, Individuals Litigation (Silver) (2025)
  • IAM Patent 1000, Recommended for Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2022, 2025)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property Litigation (2009-2013, 2016-2019)
  • The National Law Journal, Intellectual Property Trailblazer (2018)
  • AV Rating® by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Vice chair, Patent Litigation Committee, Federal Circuit Bar Association (2014-2015)
  • Co-chair, Patent Litigation Committee, Federal Circuit Bar Association (2016-2019)
  • Co-chair, PTO Pro Bono Committee, Federal Circuit Bar Association (2017-Present)
  • Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association
  • Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member, PTAB Bar Association
  • Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Member, American Chemical Society
  • Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, J.D., high honors, 1986, Staff Member and Notes and Comments Editor, Chicago-Kent Law Review (1985-1986)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S.Ch.E., high honors, 1982, Tau Beta Pi

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • Speaker, “Protecting & Leveraging Innovation in the Life Sciences,” Life Sciences Patent Network (LSPN) North America Spring 2025 Conference, May 6, 2025.
  • Speaker, “Balancing Innovation and Competition: Patent Thickets, Continued Litigation, and New Economic Considerations for Settlements,” June 29, 2022.
  • Speaker, “The Future of Patent Thickets: Balancing Innovation and Competition in the Biologic Ecosystem,” June 22, 2021.