Stefan V. "Steve" Stein Attorney At Law

Steve has limited his practice to intellectual property law for over 25 years. His practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, prosecution and licensing. He is designated as a board certified lawyer in Business Litigation, Civil Trial and Intellectual Property Law by The Florida Bar.

Steve has been lead trial counsel in numerous multimillion-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, the 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 and 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 nondisclosure 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.

Steve is not currently licensed to practice in Washington, DC.

• Education
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, B.E.E. (electrical engineering, with high honors)
  • Florida State University College of Law, J.D.
• Admissions
  • All State and Federal Courts in Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• Professional Associations & Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
  • 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
• Awards & Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chambers USA, Intellectual Property, Band 2, 2020
  • Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2021
    • Lawyer of the Year, Copyright Law, 2012, 2015, 2018
    • Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law, 2013, 2016
    • Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Patent, 2014
    • Lawyer of the Year, Intellectual Property Law, 2011
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2020
  • Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2012-2015, 2019
  • IPSTARS 2019/20 Edition, IP Star
  • Named to “World’s Leading Trademark Professionals” list by World Trademark Review, 2014, 2019 
  • Tampa Top Rated Lawyer, Intellectual Property, 2013
  • The Florida Bar Inaugural Certification Committee on Intellectual Property, 2010
  • Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni, Georgia Tech
  • Faculty Award, Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical Engineering, 1977
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Eta Kappa Nu
• Articles & Publications
  • "Protecting Your IP Assets (Parts 1 & 2)," Medical Product Outsourcing, 2005
• Presentations & Seminars
  • "U.S. Patent Reform: The America Invents Act's Impact on Med-Tech Innovation," Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium, 2012
  • "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