Firm and 18 Sterne Kessler Directors Earn Top Rankings in 2023 IAM Patent 1000 for World-Class Patent Work

Washington, D.C. (June 26, 2023) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox has once again been recognized in several areas of the IAM Patent 1000 guide, an annual publication considered “the definitive ‘go-to’ resource for those seeking world-class, private practice patent expertise.” Eighteen individual Sterne Kessler directors have also been ranked in the 2023 guide in several patent litigation and prosecution categories.

For the twelfth consecutive year, Sterne Kessler earned a “highly recommended” ranking in the categories of prosecution and transactions for the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. The firm also received a “Silver” Band recognition for litigation. Nationally, Sterne Kessler achieved top-tier placements for post-grant proceedings and prosecution.

Sterne Kessler is esteemed by the IAM Patent 1000 editors as “one of the preeminent patent groups for prosecution, litigation, appeals and PTAB work” as well as “one of the largest IP-focused firms in the United States” with more than 230 intellectual property professionals —including more than 60 who hold a Ph.D. The firm is noted for advising innovative companies on their prosecution needs over the past 12 months. On the litigation side, IAM highlights Sterne Kessler’s work on behalf of pharmaceutical companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals and Adapt Pharmaceuticals as well as consumer product giants, among others.

In addition to the firm’s rankings, 18 Sterne Kessler directors have been recognized for excellence in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area, with six of them also earning national recognition. The ranked directors are:

• Richard D. Coller III (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Tracy-Gene G. Durkin (DC Silver Band – litigation; DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; National Recommended – design patents)
• Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation; National Highly Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Donald J. Featherstone (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Jorge A. Goldstein, Ph.D. (DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions; National Recommended – life sciences prosecution)
• Michael Joffre, Ph.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation)
• Carla Ji-Eun Kim (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Michael Q. Lee (DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions)
• Michael B. Ray (DC Recommended – transactions)
• John Christopher “J.C.” Rozendaal (DC Silver Band – litigation)
• Robert E. Sokohl (DC Bronze Band – litigation; DC Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions)
• Michael D. Specht (DC Recommended – prosecution; National Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Eric K. Steffe (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Deborah Sterling, Ph.D. (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Robert Greene Sterne (DC Silver Band – litigation; DC Recommended – transactions; National Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Dennies Varughese, Pharm.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation)
• Jon E. Wright (DC Silver Band – litigation)
• Daniel E. Yonan (DC Silver Band – litigation; National Recommended – International Trade Commission)

View Sterne Kessler’s firm and individual rankings and profile here. The complete 2023 IAM Patent 1000 guide and more about the researchers’ methodology is available here.