IAM Patent 1000 Recognizes 13 Ballard Spahr IP Attorneys, Four Offices in 2026 Edition

Thirteen Ballard Spahr Intellectual Property attorneys and four of the firm's offices have been recognized in the 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, an industry guide to the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the world.

Ballard Spahr’s Patents team offers industry-wide services in patent prosecution and patent portfolio development and management, as well as collaboration in transactions. Advanced scientific degrees, USPTO and industry experience, and superb legal skills all contribute to dynamic strategies for commercializing and protecting clients' ideas. Members of its Intellectual Property Litigation team work with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individual inventors to develop, commercialize, defend, and enforce their intellectual property rights.

The firm’s Atlanta office achieved the top-tier ranking of Gold this year, rising from its previous status of Highly Recommended. In addition, the firm earned Silver band rankings in Arizona and Pennsylvania (Litigation), and was recognized as Recommended in New York (Prosecution) and Pennsylvania (Prosecution). Per the guide, “Ballard Spahr’s patent practice is built to cover the full commercial life of intellectual property, from initial protection and portfolio design through to licensing, diligence, enforcement and disputes. What gives the team its shape is not simply technical depth, though that is clearly present, but the extent to which patent advice is tied to market position and commercial use.”

Of note among this year’s individual rankings, patent litigator Caryn Borg-Breen, Ph.D. elevated her ranking from Recommended to Silver. The complete list of featured Ballard Spahr attorneys includes:

Individuals: Patents

• Brian W. LaCorte—Recommended, Arizona

Individuals: Litigation

• Robert R. Baron, Jr.—Silver, Pennsylvania
• Caryn Borg-Breen, Ph.D.—Silver, Pennsylvania and DC Metro Area
• Richard W. Miller—Silver, Georgia
• Lynn E. Rzonca—Silver, Pennsylvania
• Kenneth H. Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.—Bronze, New York

Individuals: Patent Prosecution

• Margaret “Peg” Sonnenfeld (Brivanlou), Ph.D.—Recommended, New York
• Charley F. Brown—Recommended, Georgia
• Jonas Jarvholm, Ph.D.—Recommended, Georgia
• Scott D. Marty, Ph.D.—Recommended, Georgia
• Brian C. Meadows—Recommended, Georgia
• D. Brian Shortell, Ph.D.—Recommended, Georgia
• Marcus Simon—Recommended, Utah
• Kenneth H. Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.—Recommended, New York

Individuals: Transactions

• Kenneth H. Sonnenfeld, Ph.D.—Recommended, New York

IAM determines its Patent 1000 results on feedback gathered from written submissions and 900 interviews conducted with practicing patent attorneys and in-house counsel over a five-month period. It makes its selections on the basis of depth of experience, market presence, and sophistication of work. For further information, please see its methodology.

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