Overview

John Phillips’ practice focuses on inter partes and ex parte post-grant work, due diligence and freedom to operate investigations, patent opinions, and strategic patent prosecution.

John has extensive experience in post-grant proceedings, having appeared in over 150 proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He is also a member of the Communications Committee and Publications Sub-Committee of the PTAB Bar Association, as well as a member of the Editorial Board for the PTAB Bar Association Law Journal, a collaboration with the Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property.

John represents a wide range of clients, from individuals and startups to mid-sized and large corporations. His areas of technical experience include internet-related technologies, computer software, telecommunications, electronics, medical devices, e-commerce, computer graphics, advanced materials, oceanography, hydrocarbon recovery, enterprise software systems, 3D computer graphics, electronic imaging, user-interfaces, electronic messaging, digital rights protection, database technology, computer networking, and avionics.

John was previously general counsel for MercExchange, LLC, and Navlet.com, Inc. (2000-2001), an associate and law clerk with Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto (1990-1993), a staff electrical engineer with Johns Hopkins University’s applied physics laboratory (1988-1989) and a research and development engineer with Scripps Institution of Oceanography (1985-1988).

In his spare time, John enjoys reading non-fiction, paddle boarding, listening to opera, and hanging with his golden doodle, Hazel.

Professional associations

  • Member, Communications Committee, PTAB Bar Association, 2016-Present
  • Member, Publications Sub-Committee, PTAB Bar Association, 2016-Present

    • Pro bono activities

    John is involved in many charitable causes. He currently serves on the board of advisors for Workshops for Warriors, a charitable organization whose mission is to train combat veterans for careers in advanced manufacturing, and he provides pro bono legal services for adoptive parents through the Alliance for Children’s Rights. He also routinely represents solo inventors on a pro bono basis, obtaining patents on inventions for magnetic shoelaces, a modified baby bottle, and an intelligent fertility thermometer, among others.