Rob focuses on patent portfolio development, trade secret protection, and also advises clients on intellectual property protection strategies. His clients include inventors, start-up companies in various stages, universities, and large companies.

Rob enjoys working with emerging companies, and has partnered with various start-ups that have grown their patent portfolios significantly and are now global businesses. He has also represented clients in appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB).

A particular strength that Rob has is in drafting and prosecuting applications directed to physics-based technologies such as those incorporating optics, imaging, and laser systems. These technologies often enable biomedical applications, which have represented a significant portion of his practice. Prior to joining private practice, Rob worked for nine years in engineering and medical device companies. His contributions included developing photonics automation systems and applications and authoring many feasibility studies relating to photonic device automation. He later joined a start-up that became Abbott Medical Optics (now part of Johnson & Johnson Vision), where he assisted in developing femtosecond laser systems for eye surgery applications, furthered FDA compliance activities, and managed a systems test engineering group.

Rob has presented on topics including IP basics, optics and photonics in healthcare technologies, and compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Bayh-Dole Regulations. He has also advised technology transfer offices and recipients of SBIR/STTR grants and other types of Federal funding on their compliance programs.

Rob is an active member of Optica, where he continues to advance his knowledge of physics and optics, and he has been named a Best Lawyers “One to Watch” for patent law.