Mark D. Sweet

Mark is a registered patent attorney with extensive experience handling procurement matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including patent application drafting and prosecution, conducting examiner interviews, filing appeals to and presenting oral arguments before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the USPTO, interference proceedings, reissue proceedings, and reexamination proceedings. Mark also has significant experience in inter partes review (IPR) and post grant review (PGR) proceedings.

Mark represents a leading specialty chemical manufacturer in matters, including several IPR and PGR proceedings, due diligence, patent portfolio development, and counseling. He also represents one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction equipment and diesel engines in prosecution and counseling matters that include several IPRs. He manages the entirety of intellectual property work for several clean energy companies, including managing each company's worldwide patent portfolio, which are directed to photovoltaic devices, fuel cells, and hydrogen-based fuels.

Mark's technical expertise is diverse and includes working with technologies involving pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, polymers, industrial coatings and films, and clean energy and renewable resources such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, renewable feedstocks, hydrogen-based fuel, and bioplastics. He served as a primary examiner at the USPTO, where he handled polymer-based technologies.

Mark is a frequent lecturer at legal and corporate seminars on a variety of intellectual property topics, including patent procurement and procedures, such as the provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA). Recent topics include effective use of AIA post-grant proceedings; global patent prosecution and enforcement; strategic patent portfolio management and monetization, and changes to U.S. patent laws.

The Legal 500 U.S. has recognized Mark for his work in patent prosecution, reexaminations, and post-grant proceedings. He was named a Global Leader and as a leading patent prosecutor in the D.C. area by Intellectual Asset Management. In Acritas Stars, clients have touted his "advice in strategic planning and analysis of complex situations" as well as "his responsiveness... [and] ability to focus in on the issues that the business is interested in."

Mark has held several firm leadership roles over the years. He served as managing partner, as firm chair, as leader of the chemical and metallurgical practice group, and as the firm's hiring partner in the Washington, D.C. office. He also served a three-year term on the management committee.