Responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of protecting Stanford’s intellectual property that is disclosed to the Office of Technology Licensing (OTL). Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the organization and the day-to-day operations. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, and professional development of OTL employees. Provide expertise on IP protection, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other forms of IP. Oversee the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of Stanford’s IP by outside counsel and annuity firms, including managing the attorney-client relationship by maintaining effective working relationships, setting performance expectations, and monitoring quality. Establish cost control mechanisms, and monitor and manage patenting costs for the IP portfolio. Develop best practices and processes for procuring and managing IP protection. Assess patentability and conduct IP landscape searches, identifying any potential prior art and freedom to operate issues. Coordinate and oversee IP-related litigation on behalf of the OTL. Develop and maintain effective communications and working relationships to ensure that drafting and prosecution strategies are aligned with overall IP commercial strategy. Ensure effective communication and collaborative working relationships between the patent staff and other OTL functions, including licensing, sponsor compliance, finance, business development and marketing, and any IP-related reporting needs of the OTL. Keep current on trends and developments in IP law affecting all forms of IP protection, recommending protection and enforcement strategies accordingly. Provide educational materials and presentations on IP-related matters, case law, and current trends on an ongoing basis.

Specialize in IP portfolio management and counseling, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications, in both the United States and worldwide, providing a full spectrum of protection for client inventions and technology. Activities include significant direct client contact with cutting edge Silicon Valley based companies for client and inventor counseling and education, invention identification, invention disclosure, portfolio analysis, development, exploitation, infringement clearance, infringement analysis, IP risk analysis, freedom to operate, licensing, trade secrets, know-how, trademark, copyright, and strategic advancement of domestic and international filing programs.

Specialize in IP portfolio management and counseling, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications, in both the United States and worldwide, providing a full spectrum of protection for client inventions and technology. Activities include significant direct client contact with cutting edge Silicon Valley based companies for client and inventor counseling and education, invention identification, invention disclosure, portfolio analysis, development, exploitation, infringement clearance, infringement analysis, IP risk analysis, freedom to operate, licensing, trade secrets, know-how, trademark, copyright, and strategic advancement of domestic and international filing programs.

A founding partner of Tabarrok & Zahrt LLP. Specialized in portfolio management, preparation, and prosecution of patent applications, in both the United States and worldwide. Activities included significant direct client contact with cutting edge Silicon Valley based companies for client and inventor counseling and education, invention identification, invention disclosure, portfolio analysis and development, infringement clearance, infringement analysis, IP risk analysis, and strategic advancement of domestic and international filing programs.

Significant work with portfolio management, patent preparation, and patent prosecution of domestic and international patent applications. Substantial client contact including inventor counseling and education, invention identification, invention disclosure, portfolio analysis and development, infringement clearance, infringement analysis, IP risk analysis, and strategic advancement of domestic and international filing programs. Additionally, updated and significantly improved the Firm’s hiring procedures, and administered the Firm’s interview and hiring program. Mentored and trained new hires and novice patent attorneys.

This unique growth opportunity provided me daily access to the knowledge and skills of former chief patent counsels, under their direct supervision, providing invaluable legal and patent prosecution advice as I worked on writing patents and responding to office actions for industry leading Silicon Valley based companies.

Managed the full gamut of day to day operations of a successful small business with multiple locations.