Sterne Kessler and 18 Directors Earn High Marks in the 2025 IAM Patent 1000

Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2025) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is once again recognized among the nation’s top intellectual property law firms in the 2025 IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. The firm earned top rankings across key practice areas in the DC Metro area and nationally, including patent litigation, patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and patent transactions. In addition, 18 Sterne Kessler directors were ranked across several categories in the guide, reflecting the depth and breadth of the firm’s expertise.

The editors comment, “No stranger to excellence, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox has firmly established itself in DC as a home for global industry leaders looking to build, secure, and protect their most valuable innovations.”

For the 14^th consecutive year, Sterne Kessler is “highly recommended” for both patent prosecution and patent transactions in DC. The firm also earned “silver” band recognition for patent litigation. Nationally, Sterne Kessler moved up in the ranks for post-grant proceedings with a “highly recommended” ranking and is “recommended” for patent prosecution.

The ranked directors include:

• Richard D. Coller III (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Tracy-Gene G. Durkin (DC Silver Band – litigation; DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; National Recommended – design patents)
• Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation; National Highly Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Donald J. Featherstone (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Jorge A. Goldstein, Ph.D. (DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions; National Recommended – life sciences prosecution)
• Michael Joffre, Ph.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation)
• Carla Ji-Eun Kim (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Michael Q. Lee (DC Highly Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions)
• Michael B. Ray (DC Recommended – transactions)
• John Christopher “J.C.” Rozendaal (DC Silver Band – litigation)
• Robert E. Sokohl (DC Silver Band – litigation; DC Recommended – prosecution; DC Recommended – transactions)
• Michael D. Specht (DC Recommended – prosecution; National Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Eric K. Steffe (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Deborah Sterling, Ph.D. (DC Recommended – prosecution)
• Robert Greene Sterne (DC Silver Band – litigation; DC Recommended – transactions; National Recommended – post-grant proceedings)
• Dennies Varughese, Pharm.D. (DC Bronze Band – litigation)
• Daniel E. Yonan (DC Silver Band – litigation; National Recommended – International Trade Commission)
• William H. Milliken (DC Bronze Band – litigation)

View Sterne Kessler’s full editorial and profile in the 2025 IAM Patent 1000.

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Based in Washington, D.C. and renowned for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, enhancement, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, technical specialists, specialized trademark paralegals, and law clerks include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law, tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating. Visit the firm online at sternekessler.com.