Sterne Kessler Announces Five New Directors in 2025

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox proudly announces the election of five new directors, effective January 1, 2025. The newly promoted attorneys are Jennifer Meyer Chagnon, Dohm Chankong, Joseph Kim, Steve Pappas, and Tyler Tassone.

“I am delighted to recognize our five new directors on this remarkable achievement,” stated managing director Michael B. Ray. “Their outstanding skillsets, unwavering dedication to excellence and commitment to delivering exceptional client service all embody the core values of our firm. We look forward to their continued leadership and contributions in the years ahead.”

Learn more about the newly elected directors at Sterne Kessler:

• Jennifer Meyer Chagnon is a member of Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group and a former Lead Administrative Patent Judge (APJ) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), where she presided over more than 450 inter partes review and post grant review proceedings under the America Invents Act. Jennifer’s practice focuses on assisting clients with PTAB challenges and developing litigation strategies. Additionally, she combines her patent preparation and prosecution experience with her PTAB APJ history to counsel clients on building strong patent portfolios. Jennifer received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her B.S. in chemical engineering, magna cum laude, from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She also has an M.S. in biotechnology from The Johns Hopkins University.

• Dohm Chankong is a member of Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group, where he leverages two decades of experience in the patent system to provide nuanced understanding and strategic insight into intellectual property management, particularly within the realms of electronics and communication technologies. A significant aspect of Dohm’s work involves strategic portfolio management. In addition, he has led litigation teams in post-grant reviews (PGR), inter partes reviews (IPR) and covered business method (CBM) reviews, particularly relating to wireless charging and media streaming. Dohm received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and his M.S. and B.S. in computer engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

• Joseph H. Kim is a member of Sterne Kessler’s Trial & Appellate Practice Group. His practice involves complex intellectual property disputes in federal district court, and before the PTAB and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Joe received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He has an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, where he focused his laboratory research on high heat-flux microchannel condensation heat transfer, and he received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

• Steven M. Pappas works in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group, focusing on IP litigation in federal district court, appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and post-grant proceedings before the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Steve has served as counsel in more than 70 PTAB post-grant proceedings (inter partes review, post-grant review, and covered business method review proceedings), representing both patent owners and petitioners. He is also a seasoned patent prosecutor, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), software applications, database technologies, operating systems, computer graphics, computer networking and communication protocols, cryptography, and financial technologies. Steve received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, his M.S. in computer science from Columbia University and his B.S.E. in computer science, cum laude, from the University of Michigan.

• Tyler Tassone is a member of Sterne Kessler’s Mechanical & Design Practice Group, where he focuses on strategic counseling, portfolio management, and preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications. His primary areas of expertise include medical devices, such as drug delivery systems, analyte monitors, wearable sensors, diagnostic equipment and assay devices. Tyler also has experience with clean and renewable energy technologies, such as hydroelectric turbines and wave energy generators, and he has prepared and prosecuted patent applications related to a variety of consumer products, including footwear, sports equipment, apparel, bottles, vending machines, beverage dispensers, water filters, power tools, firearm and hunting accessories, and pet accessories. Tyler received his J.D., cum laude, from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his B.S. in chemical engineering, with high distinction, from the University of Virginia.