Overview
Robert Stoll is a former United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent commissioner who applies more than 35 years of experience in intellectual property prosecution to advising clients on protecting inventions and the complexities of foreign and domestic intellectual property laws. He also advocates generally for the critical role of intellectual property in economic growth and job creation. Bob advises clients about potential legislative and rule changes and helps them advocate their interests before the administration and the legislature. Bob frequently testifies in court as an expert witness in prosecution at the USPTO.
Patent Prosecution
Bob manages patent prosecution for multinational corporations, conducts portfolio analyses and provides opinions on patent issues. He troubleshoots problems that arise in the prosecution of patent cases. He advises on post-grant procedures before the USPTO and engages in policy work related to intellectual property. Bob also represents other attorneys and firms before the Office of Enrollment and Discipline at the USPTO.
USPTO Commissioner
Bob retired from the USPTO as commissioner for patents in 2011 after a distinguished 34-year government career, having started at the USPTO as an examiner. He was instrumental in the passage of landmark patent legislation, the America Invents Act, and is lauded for his efforts to reduce patent pendency and improve patent quality. As Commissioner, Bob managed 8,000 employees at the USPTO and was responsible for all of the functions relating to the grant of a patent in the Office.
As the agency head of the Office of Legislation and International Affairs at the USPTO, Bob developed and delivered education programs worldwide to foreign officials and to the public. He was influential in the development and analysis of legislation concerning all areas of intellectual property and was one of the country’s leaders in establishing the U.S. government’s positions on international issues related to intellectual property. He also helped develop and plan USPTO strategic goals, objectives and priorities and served as a liaison with patent and trademark bar groups and academic and scientific communities.
Related Legal Services
Credentials
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Education
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
J.D.
University of Maryland
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- American Intellectual Property Law Association — Board of Directors, 2018-21
- American Bar Association — Intellectual Property Section
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
Firm Leadership
- Deputy Leader, Intellectual Property Practice Group
Honors
- Elected as a Member of the Board of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) for a three-year term (2018-21)
- Chambers USA — District of Columbia, Intellectual Property: Patent Prosecution, 2021-23
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) — Global Leader, 2022-23
- Best Lawyers® — Patent Law, 2020-24
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 — 2015-16, 2018-23
- Patent Strategy 300 — 2015-16, 2018-22
- Who’s Who Legal — IP – Patents, 2017, 2021, 2022
- Managing Intellectual Property — "IP Star," 2020-22
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit — Advisory Counsel Member, 2013, 2016, 2019 (three-year terms)
- National Law Journal — IP Trailblazer, 2016
- American Intellectual Property Law Association — Fellow, 2015
- Managing Intellectual Property — Lifetime Achievement in Intellectual Property Award, 2012
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.