Eric K. Steffe is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group. Eric’s practice involves providing strategic counsel to his clients in various areas of patent law, with special emphasis on therapeutic antibodies, gene therapies, CRISPR, vaccines, diagnostics, antisense technologies, personalized medicine, and cell culturing/bioprocessing methods.

Eric has extensive expertise in inter partes review proceedings, patent reexaminations, managing complicated multi-family patent portfolios protecting pipeline and FDA-approved biotech products, preserving freedom to operate, interferences, and the IP issues arising out of industry collaborations and ongoing research. Additionally, his practice includes providing strategic advice to numerous companies seeking to launch products. Eric has published and lectured extensively in the field, testified before Congress as a legal expert regarding the Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) Act.

The Legal 500 has recognized Eric five times as a “Leading Lawyer” in the U.S. for his patent prosecution work; a distinction awarded to only ten other attorneys in the entire country. He was awarded the LMG Life Sciences, “Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year – District of Columbia” in 2018 and has been an LMG Life Sciences Star since 2017. Further recognition includes being named an IAM Patent 1000 leading practitioner for patent prosecution since 2014 and rankings in the Who’s Who Legal guide for patents since 2016.

Eric was previously the chairperson of the firm’s Patent Prosecution Practice and developed the concept for the firm’s popular publication the “Patent Prosecution Toolkit” for which he was the inaugural editor and author of several chapters.

Eric received his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, his M.S. in molecular genetics, and his B.S. in physics from the University of Georgia.

  • IAM Patent 1000, “Washington, D.C.: Recommended – Patent Prosecution” (2024 – 2014)
  • Who’s Who Legal, “IP – Patents” (2023 – 2016)
  • LMG Life Sciences, “Life Sciences Star” (2024 – 2017)
  • The Legal 500, “Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property – Patent Prosecution: Utility and Design Patents” (2019 – 2015)
  • Managing IP, “IP Star” (2024 – 2019)
  • LMG Life Sciences, “Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year – District of Columbia” (2018)
  • LMG Life Sciences, “Finalist – Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year – District of Columbia” (2019)

  • J.D., George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
  • M.S., Molecular Genetics, University of Georgia
  • B.S., Physics, University of Georgia

  • District of Columbia
  • United States Patent & Trademark Office

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science

Related News & Insights

From Eric K. Steffe

Articles

July 15, 2024

Proposed Terminal Disclaimers Rule Harms Colleges, Startups

Law360 Multiple Authors

Articles

May 17, 2024

United States Patent and Trademark Office Proposes Changes to Terminal Disclaimer Practice

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Marsha Rose Gillentine, Ph.D., Eric K. Steffe

In the News

November 6, 2023

Bristol-Myers To Buy Orum's Cancer Treatment Program

Law360

Firm News

September 21, 2023

LMG Life Sciences Ranks Sterne Kessler and Seven Directors for Patent Litigation and Prosecution

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Firm News

August 11, 2023

Six Sterne Kessler Directors Ranked in Who’s Who Legal: IP 2023 Global Guide

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Firm News

July 6, 2023

Sterne Kessler and 14 Directors Earn Top Rankings in Managing IP’s 2023 “IP Stars” Guide

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Firm News

September 22, 2022

Sterne Kessler and Seven Directors Recognized in LMG Life Sciences Rankings for the 10th Consecutive Year

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

In the News

September 12, 2022

Korean Co. Can't Be First To Invent CRISPR, PTAB Told

Law360

Articles

July 26, 2022

Collaborative Research and "Reverse" Obviousness-Type Double Patenting

Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal Multiple Authors

Firm News

July 26, 2022

Five Sterne Kessler Directors Named in 2022 Who’s Who Legal Guides

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

In the News

March 25, 2022

Fed. Circ. Revives ImmunoGen's Cancer Treatment Patent App

Law360

In the News

March 25, 2022

ImmunoGen Patent Application Suit Sent Back to Court (1)

Bloomberg Law

Articles

March 9, 2022

The CREATE Act of 2004: Observations and Open Issues After 18 Years

Westlaw Today Eric K. Steffe, Scott A. Schaller, Ph.D.

Firm News

September 29, 2021

Sterne Kessler and Seven Directors Earn Top-Tier Designations in 2021 LMG Life Sciences Rankings

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Articles

August 2, 2021

Has Ex Parte Sauerberg Gutted the Patent Act’s Safe Harbor Provision?

IPWatchdog Multiple Authors

Firm News

July 31, 2021

Four Sterne Kessler Directors Named in 2021 Who’s Who Legal Guides

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Articles

May 3, 2021

Can Process Confer Structure to Distinguish the Art after Biogen v. EMD Serono?

IPWatchdog Daniel K. Choo, Ph.D., Eric K. Steffe

Firm News

October 8, 2020

Sterne Kessler Client Wins 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR-Cas9 Technology

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Firm News

October 6, 2020

Firm and Seven Directors Recognized in 2020 LMG Life Sciences Rankings

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

In the News

September 11, 2020

In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms And Stories On Law360

Law360

Articles

September 4, 2020

Patent License Considerations After Fed. Circ. Enbrel Ruling

Law360 Eric K. Steffe, Marsha Rose Gillentine, Ph.D.

Client Alert

July 7, 2020

IP Hot Topic: Patent Prosecution Tool Kit

Carla Ji-Eun Kim

Reports

July 7, 2020

2020 Patent Prosecution Tool Kit

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Multiple Authors

Articles

July 7, 2020

Patenting the Product Label

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Eric K. Steffe, Marsha Rose Gillentine, Ph.D.

Articles

July 7, 2020

The Changing Face of Non-Obviousness

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Eric K. Steffe, Lori M. Brandes, Ph.D.

Articles

July 7, 2020

Patent Term Adjustment

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Eric K. Steffe, Lori M. Brandes, Ph.D.

Articles

June 23, 2020

Biopharma Patentees Must Navigate Inherent Obviousness

Law360 Multiple Authors

Firm News

June 16, 2020

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox and 15 Directors Earn Top Rankings in IAM Patent 1000

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Firm News

May 5, 2020

Sterne Kessler Ranked and 13 Directors Named “IP Stars” by Managing Intellectual Property

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Articles

April 27, 2020

Joint Research Considerations As Biotech Responds To Virus

Law360 Eric K. Steffe

Firm News

September 23, 2019

Director Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D. Receives Top Honor at 2019 LMG Life Sciences Awards

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C

Firm News

June 12, 2019

Sterne Kessler Prominent Again in Intellectual Asset Management Magazine’s "IAM Patent 1000"

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C

Firm News

June 4, 2019

Sterne Kessler Recognized as a “Top Tier” Firm by Legal 500 for Excellence in IP

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

In the News

May 29, 2019

University Of California Gets 5th CRISPR Patent

Law360

Firm News

May 20, 2019

Sterne Kessler Tops Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Firm Rankings – Eleven Directors Named "IP Stars"

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Articles

March 18, 2019

Biopharma Patent Applicants Should Consider a Rarely Used Strategy

Bloomberg Law Multiple Authors

Articles

October 19, 2018

Inventor's Case Highlights Appeal Option For Rejected Patent

Law360 Multiple Authors

Firm News

September 25, 2018

Sterne Kessler Recognized By LMG Life Sciences Among The Top IP Firms and Attorneys

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Articles

March 9, 2018

The New USPTO Examiner Manual And 102(e) Prior Art

Law360 David H. Holman, Ph.D., Eric K. Steffe

Articles

April 18, 2017

Divided Infringement After Eli Lilly V. Teva

Law360 Eric K. Steffe, Marsha Rose Gillentine, Ph.D.

Articles

February 12, 2017

Biologics and the Right to Exclude During the Patent Term Extension Period

Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property Eric K. Steffe, Marsha Rose Gillentine, Ph.D.

Client Alert

January 11, 2017

Federal Circuit Dismisses IPR Appeal for Lack of Standing

Multiple Authors

In the News

November 15, 2016

How To Prepare Patents That Can Survive AIA Reviews

Law360

News

September 1, 2016

Praxair Distribution, Inc. v. Ino Therapeutics (PTAB Aug. 25, 2016)

Federal Circuit Bar Association Reviewed Adjudicators Digest

Articles

August 1, 2016

The Politics of Patent Law: Why Patent Reform Failed in 2015 and Prospects for 2016

Landslide Magazine Eric K. Steffe

Articles

May 13, 2016

5 Ways To Avoid Obviousness-Type Double Patenting

Law360 Gaby L. Longsworth, Ph.D., Eric K. Steffe

Articles

April 22, 2016

The uncertain prior existence of disclaimed patent claims

Wolters Kluwer Eric K. Steffe

Articles

March 18, 2016

Patent Term Extension Considerations For Regulated Products

Law360 Eric K. Steffe, Gaby L. Longsworth, Ph.D.

Articles

March 17, 2016

The Impact of Reformulation Strategies on Pharmaceuticals, Biologics

BioProcess Online Multiple Authors

Articles

February 21, 2016

Congressional Outlook 2016: Patents

Law360 Eric K. Steffe

Articles

February 9, 2016

Drug Label, Method-of-Use Patents and Infringement by Inducement

Bloomberg BNA: Life Sciences & Industry Report Multiple Authors

Articles

January 15, 2016

Amending Claims in Post-Grant Proceedings and Information

Bloomberg BNA Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal Eric K. Steffe

Articles

December 28, 2015

What to Know About Patent Reform Bills as We Head Into 2016

Law360 Eric K. Steffe

Articles

November 13, 2015

Using Priority to Challenge § 112 Support and Pre-AIA Status in Post-Grant Proceedings Before the PTAB

Bloomberg BNA: Patent, Copyright & Trademark Journal Eric K. Steffe

In the News

October 29, 2015

ImmunoGen Cancer Patent Still Valid After Phigenix's Dispute

Bloomberg BNA

In the News

October 28, 2015

PTAB Upholds ImmunoGen’s Breast Cancer Drug Patent

Law360

Articles

January 13, 2015

Use IPR Decisions to Better Write and Prosecute Patents

Law360 Jason D. Eisenberg, Eric K. Steffe

Articles

July 15, 2014

The Federal Circuit Expands Obviousness-Type Double Patenting in Gilead v. Natco.

MSBA Annual IP Law Update 2014 Multiple Authors

Articles

June 20, 2014

Another Layer of Complexity

The Patent Lawyer Multiple Authors

Articles

June 15, 2014

Proceed With Caution

Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review Gaby L. Longsworth, Ph.D., Eric K. Steffe