John Sopp is a Director who joined the firm in 1992 and has a strong background in all fields of chemistry and chemical engineering, with special expertise in pharmaceuticals and organic chemistry.
As one of the firm’s three rotating managing partners, Mr. Sopp is partly responsible for daily management of the firm, for charting the direction of the firm and making decisions that have helped the firm grow and establish itself on a firm footing.
Mr. Sopp focuses his practice on patent prosecution, client counseling on patent portfolio issues, opinions and U.S. Patent Office review procedures (e.g., Inter Partes and Post-Grant Reviews and Interferences). Much of his practice involves serving major pharmaceutical and chemical companies, both domestic and foreign, that are significant clients of the firm.
Mr. Sopp finds it especially rewarding to advise clients on how to develop a successful portfolio of patents that will establish market power and protect them against potential competitors. This is especially valuable to clients in the pharmaceutical industry since, for example, generic-drug manufacturers often attempt to profit upon the advances made by innovating companies. Developing a successful portfolio for a pharmaceutical company also presents unique challenges due to the long time frame of protection required and potential high value even at the end of patent term.
Mr. Sopp began work as an Examiner in the organic chemicals group at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1985, he began night law school at George Mason University while continuing to work in the patent office. He found that his four years as a patent examiner were an invaluable prelude to his work as an attorney, providing a keen insight into the examination process.
As an attorney at the firm, Mr. Sopp has developed considerable expertise prosecuting patent applications in all chemistry- related fields, with particular experience in organic chemistry – in areas such as structures, reactions, properties and uses, in connection with pharmaceuticals, polymers and petrochemicals, and in chemical engineering applications.
Mr. Sopp finds great satisfaction in analyzing an application in depth to find the real heart of the invention and in analyzing references in depth so as to distinguish a client’s invention from such references. This allows him to craft patent claims that will stand the test of time.
Education
University of Delaware (B.S. Chemical Engineering 1984)
George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 1989)
Membership and Affiliations
American Intellectual Property Law Association
Intellectual Property Owner’s Association
Admissions
Virginia State Bar (1989)
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1992)
Admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (1989)
