A former patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Philip J. Eklem focuses his practice on patent prosecution, portfolio management, and strategic client counseling. Phil is also involved in inter partes review (IPR) and covered business method review (CBM) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the USPTO, as well as district court litigation and investigations before the International Trade Commission (ITC).
Phil advises clients through all stages of patent application preparation and prosecution, including inventor interviews, application drafting and filing, responding to office actions, examiner interviews, and appeal.
He also works with clients to plan and execute domestic and international prosecution and portfolio management strategies for multifaceted patent portfolios in various technology areas. Phil’s experience spans several areas of technology, including mechanical and electrical systems, medical devices, aeronautics, automotive systems, construction machinery, and graphical user interfaces.
Phil has also been involved in several IPR and CMB proceedings before the PTAB on behalf of petitioners as well as patent owners. Most of Phil’s experience before the PTAB has been in connection with related district litigations and ITC investigations, involving various mechanical and electrical technologies.
While serving as a patent examiner, Phil evaluated the patentability of various mechanical devices and systems in the areas of exhaust after-treatment and emissions mitigation, power plants, and energy recuperation systems. In another area of focus, Phil examined alternative energy systems in the areas of wind energy, solar-thermal energy, geothermal energy, ocean thermal energy, and tidal energy (e.g., buoyancy devices).
Previously, Phil worked as a project engineer in an emissions test lab for Mercedes-Benz Research and Development, North America. In this role, he managed test vehicle procurement and data entry for the EPA-mandated CAP2000 in-use vehicle test program.
Education :
- Georgetown University Law Center J.D., 2017
- University of Michigan B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, 2011
Admissions :
- Virginia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Cost
Rate : $$$