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Rob Sterne
Founding Director at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Robert Greene Sterne, commonly known as Rob Sterne, is a prominent figure in the field of intellectual property law and a founding director of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. Here's a comprehensive overview of his career and achievements:
Professional Background
Rob Sterne is a director in the Electronics Practice Group at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, where he also co-chairs the firm's PTAB Trials practice.1 He founded the firm at the young age of 26, just one year after graduating from law school, with a vision to create a different kind of law firm that emphasized scientific and technical knowledge.17
Expertise and Practice Areas
Sterne's extensive practice covers various aspects of patent law, including:
- USPTO litigation
- Federal Circuit and Supreme Court appeals
- District court litigation
- International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings
- Patent licensing and monetization
- PTAB proceedings
He is particularly renowned for his expertise in PTAB proceedings, consistently handling one of the highest numbers of cases before the PTAB.1
Notable Achievements and Recognition
Rob Sterne has received numerous accolades for his contributions to intellectual property law:
- Recognized by the Financial Times as one of the "Top Ten Most Innovative Lawyers in North America 2015"
- Named one of the "Top 25 Icons of IP" by Law360
- Identified as one of the country's "IP Trailblazers & Pioneers 2014" by the National Law Journal
- Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" in the U.S. for reexamination and post-grant proceedings by The Legal 500 since 20171
Significant Cases
Sterne has been involved in several landmark patent cases, including:
- Co-counsel in KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court case on patent obviousness
- Patent reexamination counsel for i4i in Microsoft Corp. v. i4i Limited Partnership
- Lead attorney in In re Beauregard1
Leadership and Contributions
Beyond his legal practice, Rob Sterne has made significant contributions to the IP community:
- Serves as an IP strategic advisor to startups, emerging companies, and investors
- Authored leading articles on board of director IP responsibility and the role of chief intellectual property officers
- Developed a conference series titled "New IP Financial Models: Innovation, Wall Street, and Patents"
- Co-chaired The Sedona Patent Litigation Conference
- Created and chaired the American Intellectual Property Law Association's Mid-Winter Institutes on computer-related technology
- Co-chairs PLI's yearly USPTO Post-Grant Patent Trials conference1
Recent Appointments
In September 2024, Rob Sterne was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Sedona Conference, further cementing his status as a leader in the IP law community.56
Rob Sterne's LinkedIn username is robertgreenesterne, where he shares insights and updates about his work and the field of intellectual property law.234