For over 30 years, Mr. Steffin’s practice has been directed to the representation of patent, trademark and copyright owners and those accused of infringing such rights. For most of his career, he was a partner in Lyon & Lyon, the now dissolved prestigious Los Angeles intellectual property firm. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices and has appeared in Federal District courts across the country and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Advising clients regarding their intellectual property rights, prosecuting patent applications, and prosecuting and defending actions through trial have all been part of Mr. Steffin’s practice. Mr. Steffin has also developed national and international intellectual property strategies for clients. Over his career, he has developed a national reputation and he has been asked to provide expert witness services in several cases.
Mr. Steffin prosecutes patent and trademark applications, including at the appellate level. He has procured patent protection for companies such as Genentec and ICN Pharmaceuticals.
He has also litigated patents in the chemical, genetic, medical device and mechanical arts. Representative clients over the last 10 years include, Rolex Watch USA Inc. (Southern California anti-counterfeiting litigation); Gucci USA, Inc. (national anti-counterfeiting litigation for Gucci’s exclusive watch licensee-Sevrin Montres Ltd.); Reyn Spooner, Inc. (national and international trademark and copyright infringement matters); AWI Acquisition Co. (national patent and trademark infringement matters); A&A Plush (national copyright infringement litigation for this leading plush toy manufacturer); Guimarra Vineyards (national plant patent and trademark matters for the largest produce grower and shipper in California); and Cartier International. Mr. Steffin has also participated as a team member in representing such biotechnology companies as Sugen, Inc., Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mycogen, Inc. and Valentis, Inc.
In keeping with the evolution of intellectual property law, Mr. Steffin has also developed expertise in Internet law.
PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS
- Co-presenter — “Changes Introduced by U.S. Patent Reform Relevant to IP Licensing,” IP Licensing Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association — May 10, 2012
- Book Editor and Author of two chapters, Proof In Competitive Business Litigation, California Continuing Education of the Bar
- Contributor to Model Jury Instructions, Patent Litigation, ABA Section of Litigation, 2005
- Compiled the ABA Business Law Section, Litigation Committee’s IP Survey for the Federal and 9th Circuitsand presented the committee’s national IP law survey at ABA Midyear meetings
- Speaker — Internet Law Seminar presented at the annual ABA meeting in New York in July 2000
- Where is an Internet Business Doing Business, ABA Business Section Program, Annual Meeting, Aug. 5-8, 1999
- Federal Circuit Expands Recovery of Lost Profits, Nat. Law J., I.P. Edition, Vol. 18 No. 38, May 20, 1996