Overview
Sam is an experienced patent attorney that works with clients to leverage intellectual property rights to drive their business objectives. His practice includes managing and developing global patent portfolios, due diligence, agreements, enforcement, and conducting infringement and invalidity investigations. He strategically prepares clients’ patent portfolios for future investment, acquisition, and enforcement.
Sam represents start-ups to large corporations across a variety of industries, including medical device, automotive, powersport, consumer product, and agriculture. With a background in mechanical engineering, he quickly grasps the intricacies of clients’ technologies and provides tailored advice.
Sam joined the firm in 2018.
Education
- The George Washington University Law School (J.D., 2018), Highest Honors, Order of the Coif
- Brigham Young University (B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2015)
News & Insights
Articles
Litigation Blog
- Author, IPR Proceedings Were Not Prohibited by a Forum Selection Clause in a Non-disclosure Agreement, October 2021
- Author, Federal Circuit Lacks Jurisdiction Over Standalone Antitrust Claim Concerning An Unenforceable Patent, June 2021
- Co-Author,No Patent Eligibility Reward for Customer Loyalty Program Computer System, February 2021
- Co-Author, An Old Method Using an Old Product From a New Source Is Not New, September 2020
- Co-Author, PTAB Cannot Shortcut the Two-Step Obviousness Analysis, July 2020
- Co-Author, Competing Evidence Regarding Whether Reference Qualifies as Primary Reference Precludes Summary Judgment of Obviousness of a Design Patent , April 2020
- Co-Author, PTAB Cannot Institute IPR on PTAB-Created Grounds, January 2020
- Co-Author, Prior Art Must Be Publicly Accessible, Not Actually Accessed, July 2019
- Co-Author, Finding No Unambiguous Definition in Record, Federal Circuit Applies Plain Meaning to Disputed PTAB Construction, May 2019
- Co-Author, IN RE: MARCO GULDENAAR HOLDINGS B.V., December 2018
Latest Updates and News
Knobbe Martens Elects New Partner Class
Newly elected partners come from a diversity of backgrounds, offices and practice areas within the firm IRVINE, Calif., January 13, 2025 – Knobbe Martens, a leading intellectual property law firm,...
IPR Proceedings Were Not Prohibited by a Forum Selection Clause in a Non-disclosure Agreement
KANNUU PTY LTD. v. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Before Newman, Prost, and Chen. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Summary: The forum selection clause in the parties' non-disclosure agreement only encompassed proceedings relating to or arising out of the agreement which, in this case, did not extend to inter partes review proceedings.
Federal Circuit Lacks Jurisdiction Over Standalone Antitrust Claim Concerning An Unenforceable Patent
The Federal Circuit lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a standalone Walker Process antitrust claim concerning an unenforceable patent because such a cause of action does not inherently present a substantial issue of patent law.
No Patent Eligibility Reward for Customer Loyalty Program Computer System
CXLOYALTY, INC. v. MARITZ HOLDINGS INC.
Before Prost, Lourie, and Hughes. Appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Summary: A claim implementing an abstract idea using conventional techniques is patent ineligible.
An Old Method Using an Old Product From a New Source Is Not New
BIOGEN MA INC. v. EMD SERONO, INC.
Before Newman, Linn, and Hughes. Appeal from the District Court of the District of New Jersey.
Summary: A known method of administering a known product made by a new process is not novel.
PTAB Cannot Shortcut the Two-Step Obviousness Analysis
FITBIT, INC. v. VALENCELL, INC.
Before Newman, Dyk, and Reyna. Appeal from Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Summary: Notwithstanding its rejection of the Petitioner’s proposed claim construction, the PTAB may not end an obviousness inquiry without evaluating patentability in view of the asserted obviousness grounds.