Sterne Kessler Elects Six New Directors in 2024

Washington, D.C. (January 4, 2024) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is proud to announce that six attorneys have been elected to the directorship effective January 1, 2024. The six attorneys who have been promoted to director are: David W. Haars; Christopher M. Gallo, Ph.D.; Christopher R. O’Brien; Richard A. Crudo; Chase Hammond; and Timothy L. Tang.

“It is an honor to congratulate our six new directors on this well-deserved milestone. Their individual expertise, unwavering commitment to excellence, and dedication to positive client outcomes make us proud to welcome each of these talented attorneys into the directorship. We look forward to witnessing their further contributions to the advancement and success of our firm,” said managing director Michael B. Ray.

Read more about Sterne Kessler’s new directors:

• David W. Haars, is an associate in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group. David’s practice focuses on post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), as well as U.S. district court litigation and International Trade Commission (ITC) litigation.  David’s experience includes representing both patent owners and petitioners in inter partes review proceedings at the PTAB. David also regularly represents both Complainants and Respondents across a wide range of technologies in Section 337 investigations before the ITC. David also has experience in various other areas of patent law including patent prosecution (drafting and prosecuting patent applications), opinion drafting (infringement and validity), due diligence investigations, patent portfolio evaluations, and issues related to Standard Essential Patents. David earned his J.D., from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He received his B.S. in wireless electrical engineering from Auburn University.
• Christopher M. Gallo, Ph.D., is counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group, focusing his practice on patent counseling and post-grant proceedings in the life sciences, biotechnology, and biopharmaceutical spaces, including technologies such as cell and gene therapies, biologics, polymorphs, drug salts, methods of drug and biologic synthesis and manufacture, pharmaceutical formulations, and methods of treatment. Christopher’s experience includes advising clients spanning from early-stage start-ups to large corporations on intellectual property issues arising during product research and development, product clearance, patent portfolio acquisitions, and patent enforcement proceedings. Christopher also has significant experience handling patent litigation before federal courts (including litigations brought under the Hatch-Waxman Act) and the United States International Trade Commission. Christopher earned his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics from the University of Virginia, and his B.S. in biology from Pennsylvania State University.
• Christopher R. O’Brien, is counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group. Chris’ practice focuses on developing a deep understanding of a broad range of technologies and business needs to solve clients’ complex legal issues. Chris’ practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property law, including patent litigation at the International Trade Commission (ITC) and District Court. He has also represented clients in over 60 post-grant proceedings at the USPTO’ s Patent Trial and Appeal Board as well as provided counsel to clients on portfolio analysis and due diligence. His primary areas of technical experience include: semiconductor fabrication, microprocessors, light emitting diodes, medical devices, wireless communications, computer hardware and software, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. Chris earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and his B.S. in electrical engineering from Texas AM University.
• Richard A. Crudo, is counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics and Trial & Appellate Practice Groups.  Recognized as “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers, Richard has more than a decade’s worth of experience litigating patent cases.  He has represented clients from a broad range of industries—including the computer software and hardware, medical device, biotech, information technology, financial services, and smartphone industries—in high-stakes cases before the Supreme Court, the Federal Circuit, and the district courts. And, while Richard focuses primarily on briefing and arguing appeals, his practice encompasses all stages of litigation, from pleadings and discovery to dispositive motion practice and trial. Complementing his appellate and district court experience, Richard also litigates, on behalf of both petitioners and patent owners, post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Richard earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, his M.S. in physics from the University of Connecticut, and his B.S. in physics from the University of Arizona magna cum laude.
• Chase Hammond, is counsel in Sterne Kessler’s Mechanical & Design Practice Group. His practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of utility and design patent applications in the US and abroad. He has experience preparing and prosecuting applications in the fields of materials science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. Specifically, he has experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in technology areas including consumer products, optical lenses, light emitting diodes, electrochromic, batteries, glass, glass ceramics, athletic apparel, athletic equipment, beverage dispensing systems, agricultural systems, and medical devices. Chase’s practice also includes counseling clients on existing patent rights. He has prepared invalidity opinions, performed patent landscape and freedom to operate analyses, and worked on due diligence investigations. He also has experience in post-grant proceedings including ex parte reexaminations and inter partes reviews. Chase earned is J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School and his B.S. in materials science and engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
• Timothy L. Tang, is an associate in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group. His practice focuses on patent prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and patent office litigation at the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Tim’s experience covers a broad variety of technical fields, including wired and wireless communications, communications theory, digital signal processing, data compression, database management, computer-networking, business methods, consumer electronics, computer-based applications, and Internet applications. Tim received his B.S. in electrical engineering, summa cum laude, from the University of Florida. He received his J.D., cum laude, from the George Mason University School of Law.

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Based in Washington, D.C. and renowned for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, transfer, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, students, and technical specialists include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners hold over 50 masters and over 60 doctorate degrees in science or engineering and represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating. Visit the firm online at sternekessler.com.