Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, intellectual property law, 2012-2016
IAM Patent 1000 – The World's Leading Patent Professionals, patent litigation, annually since 2013
Recognized as one of "IP Stars" in Pennsylvania by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, 2013-2020
Named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, annually since 2004
AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Activities
Philadelphia Bar Association
Past Chair, Business Litigation Committee
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Pro Tem, Commerce Litigation Division, assisting the court when asked in the management of settlement discussions and mediations
University of Pennsylvania Inn of Court, Barrister (2002-2004)
Participant in Leadership, Inc., Philadelphia's premier leadership-training organization, and in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Community Partnership Program
Publications
Co-author, "Federal Circuit Narrows Availability of CBM Patent Review," Ballard Spahr Alert, November 22, 2016
Co-author, "Pa. Superior Court Affirms Punitive Damage Award in Breach of Noncompetition Agreement," Ballard Spahr Alert, September 21, 2016
Co-author, "The Defend Trade Secrets Act Signed into Law," Ballard Spahr Alert, May 11, 2016
Co-author, "President Obama Signs Defend Trade Secrets Act into Law," Ballard Spahr Alert, May 11, 2016
Co-author, "Amended PTAB Rules Give Patent Owners a Boost," Ballard Spahr Alert, April 1, 2016
Co-author, "Pharmaceutical Companies Get Off-Label Marketing Victory," Ballard Spahr Alert, August 11, 2015
Co-author, "Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Royalties after Licensed Patent Expires," Ballard Spahr Alert, June 23, 2015
Co-author, "Federal Circuit Sides with USPTO in First Review of AIA Final Decision," Ballard Spahr Alert, February 5, 2015
Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Delivers Important Ruling in Teva v. Sandoz Case," Ballard Spahr Alert, January 21, 2015
Co-author, "Federal Court Ruling in Pa. Narrows Computer Fraud and Abuse Act," Ballard Spahr Alert, March 25, 2014
Co-author, "Third Circuit Clarifies Time Limits for Joint Authorship Copyright Claims, and Bars District Courts from Canceling Copyright Registrations," Ballard Spahr Alert, January 31, 2014
Co-author, Biopatent Law: European vs. US Patent Law, SpringerBriefs in Biotech Patents, 2014 edition
Co-author, "Inter Partes Review: It's No Party for University Patent Owners," Biotechnology Law Report, April 2014, 33(2): 52-53
Co-author, "USPTO Clarifies Standard for Review of Financial Services Patents," Ballard Spahr Alert, November 5, 2013
Co-author, "Tell it to the Judge, Federal Circuit Rules: The Judge—Not Jury—Decides Threshold Issue of Willful Infringement in Patent Cases," Ballard Spahr Alert, June 18, 2012
Co-author, "Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Applies Only to Hackers, Not Thieving Workers, 9th Circuit Rules," Ballard Spahr Alert, April 13, 2012
Co-author, "Second Circuit Ruling Affects Copyrighted Works Produced Abroad," Ballard Spahr Alert, August 19, 2011
Co-author, "Seventh Circuit Ruling Affects State, State University Challenges and Appeals of TTAB Decisions," Ballard Spahr Alert, August 12, 2011
Co-author, "Supreme Court Tightens Test for Patent Infringement by Inducement," Ballard Spahr Alert, June 1, 2011
Co-author, "Licenses Do Not Automatically Transfer in the Merger or Sale of a Business," Ballard Spahr Alert, October 2, 2009
Co-author, "Watch that Text: Unsolicited Text Messages Can Be Unlawful under Telephone Consumer Protection Act," Ballard Spahr Alert, June 24, 2009
"A Trade Secrets Practice with Extraordinary Bench Strength and a Strong Sense of Economic Trends," a Q&A with the editor of The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September 2008
Co-author, "Justice Department Continues to Target IP Crimes—Implications of the Proposed Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007," Ballard Spahr Alert, June 4, 2007
Co-author, "Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants: Keep Your Secrets Safe and Your Employees Honest," 10th Annual Employment Law Institute (Volume II), Pennsylvania Bar Institute
Co-author, "Intellectual Property Basics and How Software Licensing Interplays with IP Concepts," chapter one of Software Licensing, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2001
"Metatags Raise Serious Legal Issues," New York Law Journal, September 14, 1998
"Invisible Ink and Unfair Competition: Metatags and the Internet," Ballard Spahr Intellectual Property Newsletter, Spring 1998
"NSI Revises Its Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, Again," Ballard Spahr Intellectual Property Newsletter, Spring 1998
Speaking Engagements
"Biosimilars: An Examination of the Complexities of Exclusivity and Best Practices for Protecting IP for Biologics," Ballard Spahr CLE program, Philadelphia, April 29, 2015
Panelist, Atlanta Bar Association CLE, IP SpringPosium, April 10-11, 2015
"A New Battlefield in Patent Litigation: Post-Grant Review Procedures before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board," Ballard Spahr CLE program, Philadelphia, May 7, 2014
"Post-Grant Proceedings Under the AIA: How Do They Affect My University?" AUTM Professional Development Program, March 4, 2014
"Demystifying Patents: An Overview of the Basics and Current Issues Facing Medical Technologies," The Ohio State University College of Medicine, May 9, 2013
"Where Have All the VCs Gone? Why Universities are Stepping in as Venture Investors and the Pitfalls to Avoid," Association of University Technology Managers, February 28, 2013
"Reap the Benefits of a Strong Post-License Monitoring System," Technology Transfer Tactics webinar, November 29, 2011
Course planner and panelist, "Attorney-Client Privilege in the Corporate Environment: Practical Approaches and Recent Developments," Philadelphia Bar Association 2011 Philadelphia Bench Bar Conference, October 14, 2011
Panelist, "The Who, When, Why and How of Royalty Auditing," Technology Transfer Tactics webinar, May 25, 2011
"Deciding When to Enforce Your IP Rights," AUTM 2010 Eastern Regional Meeting, Atlanta, June 8, 2010
Moderator, "State of the Philadelphia Commerce Court Program," Philadelphia Bar Association program, January 19, 2010 (with Hon. D. Webster Keogh, Hon. William Manfredi, Hon. Albert Sheppard, and Hon. Mark Bernstein)
"Trade Secrets and the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine—Practical Strategies for Litigation and Settlement," Business Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association CLE seminar, December 9, 2009 (with Hon. Henry S. Perkin)
"Navigating Your Way Through Commerce Court," Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Bench Bar & Conference, October 23, 2009
"The Impact of Twombly and Tellabs on Litigation Strategy—Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives," Philadelphia Bar Association Federal Courts Committee, May 21, 2008
Community Activities
Rob is an active community leader. He is the immediate past Co-President of the Board of Directors of Operation Understanding, a nonprofit organization devoted to improving race relations through youth education, travel, and training. Rob participated in Leadership, Inc., Philadelphia's premier leadership-training organization, and in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Community Partnership Program.
Board Memberships
The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent, Board of Trustees
Member; Past Chair, Governance Committee
The Arts & Business Council, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
American Jewish Committee, Philadelphia Chapter
Past Board Member
Operation Understanding, Board of Advisors
Past Co-President of the Board