Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox announces new directors

IP law firm Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox PLLC has announced the election of three new directors to its life sciences team.

Carla Kim, Lei Zhou and Paul Ainsworth are among four new directors announced by the Washington, DC-based firm.

Kim will serve as a director in the biotechnology and chemical practice group with a particular focus on preparing and prosecuting US and foreign patents in the biotechnology, pharmacology and cellular and molecular biology fields.

Zhou, who will also join the biotechnology and chemical practice group, focuses on chemical and pharmaceutical issues and has experience in offering validity, infringement and freedom-to-operate opinions.

Before beginning her career with the firm, Zhou was a senior research chemist and engineer.

Ainsworth will be a director in the litigation practice group. He has experience representing pharmaceutical industry clients in litigation originating under the Hatch-Waxman Act but also represents clients in litigation across a range of technologies.

Beginning his career as a law clerk for the Honourable Sue Robinson, US District Judge for the District of Delaware, Ainsworth has also represented civil rights organisations during his career.

Also joining the firm’s directorship is Salvador Bezos, who will join the electronics practice group.

Bezos prepares and prosecutes patent applications before the US Patent and Trademark Office and has experience handling inter partes review and ex partes re-examination for patent holders and third party requesters.

Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox PLLC focuses on the protection, transfer and enforcement of IP rights.

Founded in 1978 the firm has more than 160 patent attorneys, agents and technical specialists.