Michael B. Ray is managing director of Sterne Kessler, a position which he has held since 2007. In addition to his executive responsibilities at the firm, Mike continues to practice in the firm’s Electronics Practice Group. From a foundation that includes many years of preparation and prosecution of patent applications, patent analysis and opinions, he provides clients with strategic intellectual property counseling and risk assessment. This includes patent portfolio development, legal opinions, and litigation-related strategy and negotiations. Mike also has many years of experience in patent post-grant proceedings (post-grant review and inter partes review) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and reexamination proceedings before the Central Reexam Unit (CRU) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
With this depth of experience, Mike is a go-to attorney for IP due diligence analyses in conjunction with mergers, acquisitions, and technology licensing. He has also acted as the de facto IP counsel for several leading-edge technology companies, where he developed programs to protect IP assets, assure ownership, and secure freedom to operate. In addition, Mike has counseled numerous emerging companies and helped them adopt IP best practices.
Mike has done significant work in a variety of electrical, computer, and mechanical technologies, with particular passion for medical devices, industrial equipment, and automotive and motorcycle-related technologies.
Mike currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law where he teaches a Master Class on Patent Office Litigation (i.e., reexamination and post-grant proceedings under the America Invents Act). He previously served as an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law where he taught classes on patent law and practice. He has also lectured on the topic of reducing legal costs.
Mike earned his J.D. from University of New Hampshire School of Law, Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property and his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of New Hampshire.
- IAM Patent 1000, “Washington, DC: Recommended – Transactions” (2024 – 2020)
- IAM Patent 1000, “Washington, DC: Recommended Lawyer – Patent Prosecution and Transactions” (2019 – 2014)
- Managing IP, “IP Star” (2024 – 2013)
- Leaders League, “Innovation Technology & IP Rankings – Tier One, Patent Prosecution” (2017)
- Highly Recommended Lawyer – Patent Prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)” (2018 – 2017)
- J.D., University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
- B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of New Hampshire
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- United States Patent & Trademark Office
- University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, Dean’s Advisory Board
- American Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association