EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND:

Steve has limited his practice to Intellectual Property law for over 25 years. His practice focuses on Intellectual Property litigation, prosecution and licensing.

Steve has been lead trial counsel in numerous multi-million dollar intellectual property law cases, including bench and jury trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. He frequently provides expert testimony and serves as local counsel in Florida for law firms throughout the country.

He has attained recognition as an Advocate under the National College of Advocacy's Achievement Recognition Program. For specific cases, he has been admitted pro hac vice in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, New York, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Kansas and Ohio.

Steve is a second-generation patent attorney registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In 1982, he became a registered professional engineer (Electrical Engineering, Florida). His patent, trademark and copyright prosecution practice centers on high-tech electrical, electronic, computer hardware & software and Internet technologies. He also has extensive experience in medical devices from instrumentation to medical valves.

Steve routinely works on intellectual property licensing transactions, including confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements; exclusive and nonexclusive licenses; software agreements; research and development agreements; joint venture agreements; and manufacturing and supply agreements. He also conducts due diligence for mergers and acquisitions involving intellectual property, dealing with issues such as scope-of-protection, invalidity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate investigations and opinions.

EDUCATION:

• Georgia Institute of Technology, B.E.E. (with high honors, Electrical Engineering)
• Florida State University College of Law, J.D.

PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS:

• Board Certified in Intellectual Property
• Board Certified in Business Litigation
• Board Certified in Civil Trial
• Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2011
• "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2010
• Florida Bar Inaugural Certification Committee on Intellectual Property
• Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni, Georgia Tech
• Faculty Award, Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical Engineering, 1977
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Eta Kappa Nu
  

MEMBERSHIPS:

• Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Board Member, 2005-2008
• Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium, Board Member
• J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn of Court, Master
• International Trademark Association
• American Bar Association, Litigation and Intellectual Property Sections
• University of South Florida, Adjunct Professor
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Family Service Centers, Board Member
• American Association for Justice

COURT ADMISSIONS:

• All State and Federal Courts in Florida
• U.S. Appeals Court, Federal Circuit
• U.S. Appeals Court, Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

• Copyright Law and the Internet, Tampa Bay Advertising Federation Seminar, 2008
• Turning Your Innovations Into a Successful Business, Innovators Network Breakfast Seminar, 2008
• Intellectual Property Update - Safeguard Your Clients' Intangible Assets, National Business Institute, 2007
• Intellectual Property Protection, Annual Convention of the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium, 2006
• Leading Issues in Technology, Florida Association of Educational Data Systems Annual Conference, 2005
• Florida Technology, Florida Law Network Annual Convention, 2005
• Intellectual Property Protection in the United States, Florida Trade Delegation to Canada, led by Gov. Jeb Bush, 2004
• Using Technology in Discovery, Half Moon Seminars, 2003
• Surfing in Uncharted Waters, Technology and Litigation in Federal Court, Stetson Law School and the Federal Bar Association, 2002
• Patent Protection for Inventions and International Intellectual Property Protection and Licensing, Hillsborough County Bar Association and Stetson Law School, 2002
• Trademarks and Copyrights in Promotions, School of Business, University of South Florida, 1998
• Understanding Basic Trademark and Copyright Law, Internet Research in Florida & Intellectual Property Litigation, Lorman Educational Services, 1996
• Copyright Protection for the Look and Feel of Computer Programs, South Florida Intellectual Property Law Association, 1996
• Litigating Copyrights in the Entertainment Industry, The Florida Bar, 1992
  

PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND BOOKS:

• "Protecting Your IP Assets (Parts 1 & 2)," Medical Product Outsourcing, 2005