Management Years Experience

STEPHEN D. HARPER

*** ******** *** **** ****: 610-***-****

Paoli, PA 19301 abnv09@r.postjobfree.com

SENIOR PATENT ATTORNEY

Intellectual Property Development … Protection … Management … Licensing

Senior-level Patent Attorney with deep experience in intellectual property law and management of teams and

outside counsel to achieve corporate goals. Expertise includes strategic IP portfolio development and

management in a corporate environment. Adept at working autonomously with legal, business and technical

teams in developing and protecting corporate IP assets and assessing competitive IP threats. Experienced in

litigation management and licensing, as well as acquisitions and divestitures. Excellent management, negotiation,

analysis, and communication skills. Exceptionally strong technical background, including doctorate in organic

chemistry and several years experience as research chemist.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RATNERPRESTIA, Valley Forge, Pa 2008-Present

A law firm representing a wide array of national and international clients in matters spanning the field of

intellectual property law worldwide.

Of Counsel

Provided intellectual property law representation to diverse industrial, pharmaceutical and academic clients, with

particular emphasis on patent preparation and prosecution, clearance and infringement opinions, technology

licensing, and intellectual property enforcement and litigation.

HENKEL OF AMERICA, INC., Gulph Mills, PA 1998-2008

A $5 billion subsidiary of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Duesseldorf, Germany, which manufactures and

distributes industrial and consumer products, emphasizing chemical technology.

Vice President, Associate General Counsel (2002-2008)

Managed corporate patent department of four to eight patent attorneys and associated support staff at multiple

facilities. Reported directly to Chief Legal Officer.

Provided direct patent support to certain individual businesses, including patent application drafting and

prosecution, portfolio management, licensing and other agreement work, clearance opinions, and

litigation management.

Successfully transitioned an active patent department, including full replacement of all attorneys and

support staff, to new corporate headquarters location without any loss in continuity of support to business

units.

Assumed lead IP role in acquisitions and divestitures, including due diligence, negotiation of purchase

agreements and ancillary documents, and transitioning of acquired or divested patent portfolios.

Supervising Patent Attorney (1998-2002)

Provided primary or sole patent support to Industrial Adhesives, Consumer Adhesives and Surface

Pretreatment/Automotive Adhesives businesses. Prepared and prosecuted patent applications in the chemical arts

before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Coordinated foreign prosecution by overseas agents and worked

closely with counterpart attorneys in parent company patent department in Germany to develop and manage

company’s patent portfolio on a global basis. Prepared validity and non-infringement opinions and managed

patent litigation arising out of supported business units. Managed all patent aspects of several major acquisitions

and divestitures.

Page 2 HARPER 610-***-****

ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY, Newtown Square, PA 1981-1998

A multibillion dollar global producer of petrochemicals, polymers, and chemical intermediates, now part of

LyondellBasell.

Patent Attorney/Senior Attorney, Intellectual Property (1993-1998)

Assumed increased responsibility for licensing, joint development agreements, and other intellectual

property-related agreements. Prepared and prosecuted patent applications in the chemical arts before

the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Coordinated foreign prosecution by overseas agents. Prepared

validity and non-infringement opinions.

Patent Agent (1988-1993)

Prepared and prosecuted patent applications in the chemical arts before the U.S. Patent &

Trademark Office. Coordinated foreign prosecution by foreign agents. Drafted and reviewed

intellectual property-related agreements, under supervision of senior patent attorney. Developed

validity and non-infringement opinions.

Research Chemist (1981-1988)

Developed and implemented research programs involving oxidation and polymerization

technologies.

Named as inventor on eight United States patents.

EDUCATION

J.D., Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, DE

Cum laude, top 20% of class

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL

B.A., Chemistry, Drew University, Madison, NJ

Summa cum laude with honors in chemistry

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES

Admitted to Pennsylvania Bar, 1994

Registered to Practice with United States & Trademark Office, 1988

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Member, Association of Corporate Patent Counsel (2002-Present)

Director, Intellectual Property Owners Association (2002-2008)

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