Mark Rygiel is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Mechanical and Design Practice Group with over two decades of experience helping medical device and consumer product companies develop and execute intellectual property (IP) strategies aligned with core business objectives. Recognized by Legal 500 as a “Highly Recommended Lawyer” for patent prosecution and post-grant proceedings, Mark is known for delivering practical, results-driven patent counsel to sophisticated clients managing complex innovation pipelines.
Mark focuses on building, managing, and optimizing large, global patent portfolios for industry-leading companies, particularly in the medical devices and consumer products industries. He works closely with business and R&D leaders to align patent strategy with product development, competitive positioning, and long-term market goals. A key aspect of his practice is analyzing competitor technologies and commercial products to identify risks, uncover strategic opportunities, and guide targeted patent portfolio development. He is particularly experienced in actively mining portfolios to strengthen coverage around high-value products and to enable effective enforcement, licensing, and competitive leverage.
In addition to patent prosecution, Mark has extensive experience in post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and patent offices outside the U.S., including inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and reexamination. He has served as lead and second chair counsel in numerous high-stakes matters, helping clients protect key patent assets and mitigate competitor threats. His practice also includes freedom-to-operate (FTO) and patent validity analyses, strategic IP due diligence for transactions, and the negotiation of complex settlements and patent licensing arrangements in competitive markets.
Mark is a frequent speaker on advanced patent portfolio management strategies.
Prior to entering law, Mark worked as a business and information technology consultant, designing manufacturing process systems for industrial clients, and gained early engineering experience in the medical device sector at a global respiratory device company. This combination of technical and business experience informs his practical, commercially focused approach to patent and intellectual property strategy.
- Currently managing prosecution of a global patent portfolio for a $7B+ multinational medical device company focused on wearable monitors and related technologies. The portfolio is strategically developed to align with key commercial products and evolving competitive dynamics, including targeted claim development informed by ongoing analysis of competitor systems. Resulting patent assets have contributed to the company’s strong market position and have been leveraged in patentability challenges and competitive enforcement in the United States and Europe.
- Led a multi-patent enforcement and licensing campaign for a leading global consumer products manufacturer, resulting in significant licensing fees and competitive advantages for the client. The effort involved strategic assertion of a diverse portfolio against multiple competitors, coordinated negotiations, and development of tailored licensing frameworks. The campaign strengthened the client’s market position while establishing an ongoing revenue stream tied to its core product innovations.
- Has served as lead patent counsel for more than 20 years to a premier global footwear and apparel company, overseeing worldwide patent portfolio development and providing strategic IP counseling across a broad range of product categories. The portfolio is structured to protect commercially significant innovations, support competitive differentiation, and advance the company’s long-term innovation and market leadership objectives.
- Successfully defended five U.S. patents for a major global paper-based consumer goods and personal care corporation as lead counsel at the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) against inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by a direct competitor. The patents protected multiple successful commercial products for the company.
- Manages patent strategy and worldwide patent filings for a surgical medical device startup, helping build and protect a portfolio aligned with the company’s core technologies and business goals. The representation includes ongoing counseling on intellectual property issues arising from product development, commercialization, and competitive market dynamics.
- The Legal 500, “Highly Recommended Lawyer – Patent Prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)” (2017)
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
- District of Columbia
- Pennsylvania
- United States Patent & Trademark Office