Jorge A. Goldstein, Ph.D. is a founder of the firm and a director in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group. He is considered by his peers and clients to be one of the country’s pioneers in biotechnology patent law. Among his many awards, in 2017, Jorge was inducted into LMG Life Sciences Hall of Fame. He wrote the book U.S. Biotechnology Patent Law, first published in 2016, with an eighth, updated edition published in 2023. The book guides readers in understanding case law dealing with patents in biotechnology. His new book, Patenting Life, which is a history of biotechnology told through his own and others’ intellectual property cases, will be published in late 2024 by Georgetown University Press.
He has forty-six years’ experience in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the U.S. and foreign patent offices in scientific areas such as genomics, molecular and cell biology, recombinant DNA technology, immunology, transgenics, therapeutic methods, stem cells, pharmaceuticals and BioFETs (biological field effect transistors).
He has handled several and varied interferences over many years, including successful appeals to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has also been involved in inter partes reviews at the USPTO, as well as European oppositions, arbitrations in District Court, and in Appellate litigation both as counsel and expert witness. He is a multiply-accredited Certified Licensing Professional. As such, he has counseled clients on intellectual property strategy, trade secrets, licensing, research contracts, university-industry relations, federal licensing, due diligence, acquisitions, and employment agreements. He was lead counsel in the 1988 appellate case of In re Wands et al. 8 USPQ2d 1400 (Fed. Cir.), a pivotal decision on biotechnology enablement requirements. In addition, Jorge founded the firm’s IP and Human Rights Pro Bono Practice, which was recognized as the winner of the 2015 Financial Times’ Most Innovative North American Lawyers award in the “Innovation in a Social Responsibility Project” category.
Between 2012 and 2016, Jorge was Visiting Professor of Law at the Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he taught biotech patent law in the then only WIPO-certified regional master’s IP program in Latin America.
Jorge received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School with high honors, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University. He earned his B.S. in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Jorge’s achievements include:
- Chambers & Partners USA, “Senior Statespeople – Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution (District of Columbia)” (2024 – 2017)
- IAM Patent 1000, “Washington, DC: Highly Recommended – Patent Prosecution; Recommended – Transactions; National – Life Sciences Patent Prosecution” (2024 – 2023)
- Best Lawyers, “The Best Lawyers in America®” (2025 – 2008)
- IAM Global Leaders, “Global Leader” (2025 – 2020)
- Who’s Who Legal, “Thought Leaders USA: Patents & Life Sciences Patent Litigation” (2024 – 2023)
- IAM Patent 1000, “Washington, DC: Highly Recommended – Patent Prosecution; Recommended – Transactions” (2022 – 2017)
- Managing IP, “IP Star” (2024 – 2019)
- Who’s Who Legal, “IP – Patents & Life Sciences – Patent Litigation” (2024 – 2015; 2011)
- Super Lawyers, “Super Lawyers – Washington DC” (2024 – 2008)
- The Best Lawyers in America, “Washington DC Biotechnology Law ‘Lawyer of the Year'” (2025; 2021; 2018; 2013)
- Chambers & Partners USA, “Senior Statesmen – Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation (Nationwide)” (2019 – 2017)
- The Legal 500, “Recommended Lawyer in Intellectual Property – Patent Prosecution: Semiconductors and Technology-Related” (2018)
- LMG Life Sciences, “Finalist: Patent Strategy and Management Attorney of the Year – District of Columbia category” (2018 – 2017)
- LMG Life Sciences, “Life Sciences Star” (2018 – 2012)
- LMG Life Sciences, “Hall of Fame Inductee” (2017)
- The Best Lawyers in America, “Washington DC Patent Law ‘Lawyer of the Year'” (2017)
- Leaders League, “Innovation Technology & IP Rankings – Highly Recommended, Life Sciences” (2017)
- Chambers & Partners USA, “Band 2 – Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation (Nationwide)” (2017 – 2007)
- Chambers & Partners USA, “Band 2 – Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution (District of Columbia)” (2017 – 2006)
- National Law Journal, “IP Trailblazer and Pioneer” (2016)
- IAM Patent 1000, “Highly Recommended Lawyer – Patent Prosecution and Transactions” (2016 – 2013)
- Financial Times, “Most Innovative Lawyers in North America” (2015)
- Certified Licensing Professional (2014)
- IAM 250, “Leading Life Science Lawyer” (2010)
- Judge for Annual Law Practice Magazine EDGE Awards (2009 – 2008)
- Martindale AV Preeminent Peer Rating 5.0/5.0
- The Legal 500, “Key Figure in Interferences – U.S.” (2008 – 2007)
- Martindale Hubble Peer-Review Rating: AV
- George Washington University Law School, “Order of the Coif” (1982)
- Harvard University, “Excellence in Teaching of Chemistry” (1972;1974)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, “Class of 1902 Research Prize” (1971)
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, with high honors
- Ph.D., Chemistry, Harvard University
- B.S., Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Patent & Trademark Office
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Intellectual Property Law Association Biotechnology Committee
- Biotechnology Industry Association
- Spanish
- French
- German
Speaking Engagement
Therapeutic Antibody Patents in the United States: Complete Conception, Enablement, and Written Description of the Invention
Seoul, South Korea,
November 20, 2024
Hosted Event
Free Intellectual Property Legal Clinic for Small Businesses
Sterne Kessler's Office,
April 30, 2024 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Speaking Engagement
2024 Reservation Economic Summit
Las Vegas, NV,
Caesars Palace,
March 13, 2024 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Webinar
How to Use the Patent System to Benefit Indigenous and Local Communities
Virtual,
November 30, 2021 10:05 AM - 10:30 AM EST
Speaking Engagement
The Role of IP in the Commercialization of Latin American Technology in the Rest of the World
Barranquilla, Colombia,
November 19, 2019 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM EST
Speaking Engagement
Securing the Benefits of Traditional Cultural Expressions and Knowledge for Local Communities
Arlington, VA,
George Mason University,
June 19, 2018
Webinar
2018 IP Chat: Early Reports and New Ideas on Exhaustion
February 8, 2018 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Speaking Engagement
HUB of Marketing and Technology Transfer for the Americas
La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico,
May 22, 2017
The Role of Physician-Lawyers in the Future of Medicine
February 26, 2015
Myriad Genetics Before The U.S. Supreme Court – University of Pennsylvania Law School
April 10, 2013
Legal Developments in the Protection of Biotech Inventions
October 20, 2011