Rob Ward is an intellectual property lawyer focused on the protection of inventions and trademarks, as well as the defense and enforcement of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets for clients throughout the country and internationally. His practice encompasses patent prosecution, trademark prosecution, trademark protection, patent litigation, and client counseling in connection with protecting innovations and new products; this may include product and trademark clearance searches and clearance opinions. Rob, a registered professional engineer (electrical engineering) with first-hand industry experience prior to law school, is known for his down-to-earth, business-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Rob works with clients ranging from individual inventors and startup companies to universities and large, multinational corporations in various technology fields, including electrical, mechanical, chemical, computer software and hardware systems, medical devices, oil and gas, and consumer products, to ensure their intellectual property is properly protected. Rob has represented startup companies in obtaining angel and venture capital funding, including crowdfunding, and has developed strategic and meaningful patent and trademark portfolios to protect such companies and to provide product line exclusivity. He has advised on non-compete agreements, developed and implemented company-wide trade secret protection programs, and IP policies and procedures.

Rob’s practice covers all areas of IP law and IP litigation with an emphasis on patents and trademarks, including:

• Patent litigation enforcement and defense in federal courts throughout the United States
• Patent and trademark preparation and prosecution
• Licensing
• Legal opinions on patentability, patent infringement, and patent validity
• Acquisition and protection of strategic intellectual property assets and maximizing return on these assets
• Promoting strategic relationships with third parties to maximize return on intellectual property
• Obtain rights to key, third-party intellectual property
• Establishing corporate intellectual property programs to ensure that valuable innovations and trade secrets are identified and properly protected in a timely manner

Rob has prepared and prosecuted numerous patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. He has also directed the filing of patent and trademark applications in numerous foreign countries – throughout Europe, Asia, and North America – and instituted intellectual property enforcement proceedings in various jurisdictions around the world, including judicial and administrative proceedings, and IP customs enforcement proceedings.