Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Elects Five New Directors (2018)

WASHINGTON, DC (January 10, 2018) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to announce the election of five new directors – Daniel Gajewski, Miklos Gaszner, M.D., Ph.D., Adam LaRock, Trey Powers, Ph.D., and Deirdre Wells – effective January 1, 2018.

“As we usher in the 40th anniversary year of our firm’s founding, the election of these five accomplished attorneys to our directorship comes at an exciting time in patent law. We value the contributions they have already made to the firm and welcome them enthusiastically to our directorship,” said Managing Director, Michael B. Ray.

• Daniel Gajewski is a director in the Mechanical Group. His work centers on utility and design patent application prosecution, and challenges to issued patents of both types. Dan specializes in developing full product-based patent protection strategies for his clients. He is well-versed in the design idiosyncrasies of the most high-value foreign jurisdictions, and works closely with local counsel in any country in which his clients seek design protection. His post-grant work with issued patents also spans both design and utility patents. He has experience challenging the validity of issued patents on behalf of his clients to protect their freedom to operate, as well as defending the patents of his clients when challenged by others. Dan earned his J.D. from The George Washington University and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo.
• Miklos Gaszner, M.D., Ph.D. is a director in the Biotechnology/Chemical Group. Miklos advises biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies on the development and execution of global patent strategy. He is experienced in U.S. and international patent procurement, invalidity, noninfringement, and patentability opinions, as well as freedom-to-operate and due diligence investigations. Miklos has technical expertise in therapeutic antibodies, including antibody engineering; production and formulation; cancer treatment, including immuno oncology therapies and cancer vaccines; HIV vaccines; RNA based therapeutics, including antisense RNAs and therapeutic mRNAs; recombinant microorganisms; metabolic engineering; influenza vaccines; and food supplements. Miklos holds a J.D. degree from the American University, as well as a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton University and a M.D. degree from Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University.
• Adam LaRock is a director in the Trial & Appellate Group. Adam concentrates his practice on complex patent litigation, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical patent litigation under the Hatch-Waxman Act. Adam has worked on cases involving pharmaceuticals (new drug compounds, enantiomers, prodrugs, salt forms, solid state forms, combinations, formulations, methods of treatment), electromechanical apparatuses, diagnostic gene testing, and near-field communication devices. He has experience in all stages of district court litigation, from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal. Adam holds a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire, as well as a B.S. in chemistry from Clarkson University.
• R. Wilson “Trey” Powers III, Ph.D. is a director in the Trial & Appellate and Biotechnology/Chemical Groups. He has served as counsel on over 45 inter partes review and post grant review proceedings and has extensive experience litigating before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Trey also works with clients on a variety of other matters, including district court litigation, strategic IP counseling, licensing, International Trade Commission investigations under §337, evaluating patent portfolios, drafting patent applications, and prosecuting interferences. He also manages the preparation of invalidity, non-infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions. In assisting his clients, Trey draws on significant technical experience in the areas of molecular and cellular biology, aging research, surgery, stem cell biology, microbiology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and other areas of biotechnology. He holds a J.D. from the American University, a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in biology from the University of Virginia.
• Deirdre Wells is a director in the Trial & Appellate Group. Her practice is focused on patent litigation before federal district courts and before the International Trade Commission as well as appeals to the Federal Circuit. She has represented clients in a broad range of areas, including Hatch-Waxman Paragraph IV pharmaceuticals, chemical arts, medical devices, biotechnology, data storage devices, internet search technology, electrical connectors, wireless broadband technology, telephone systems, and mobile content delivery. Deirdre also has experience analyzing IP portfolios, representing clients in trademark and Lanham Act litigation, and formulating inter partes reexamination requests. Deirdre holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, as well as a B.A. in biology and French from The College of the Holy Cross.

About Sterne Kessler

Founded in 1978 and based in Washington, D.C., Sterne Kessler is dedicated exclusively to the protection, transfer and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Our team of attorneys,registered patent agents, students and technical specialists include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of intellectual property law. Most of our professionals hold an advanced level degree, including 50 masters degrees and more than 55 with a doctorate in science or engineering — credentials wide and deep enough to fill the faculty of a science-oriented university.