patent + trademark attorney

Husch Blackwell LLP approaches legal counsel through a business lens, helping clients protect and commercialize their innovations. Its intellectual property team works with individuals, companies of all sizes, universities, and research facilities on IP acquisition, protection, enforcement, and commercialization.

Stephen F.W. Ball, Jr. is a partner practicing from Stamford, Connecticut, through the firm’s virtual office, The Link. He takes a comprehensive approach to intellectual property, overseeing patent and trademark portfolios, handling disputes, and advising on licensing, infringement and validity issues, and IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.

Stephen’s technical experience includes consumer products, medical devices, industrial machinery, robotics, batteries, materials, food science, and biotechnology, alongside software and other technologies. Before becoming an attorney, he worked as a software engineer and IT consultant. His experience at IP boutiques and in litigation informs how he develops and protects clients’ portfolios.

His work also includes trademark enforcement and anti-counterfeiting programs for consumer product and fashion brands. He regularly represents international clients and advises on how U.S. intellectual property law affects foreign companies.

For physical product businesses, Husch Blackwell’s broader patent practice includes experience with kitchen appliances, sporting goods, home goods, plumbing fixtures, and packaging. The firm assists with patent preparation and prosecution, patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, trademark protection, trade secrets, and technology commercialization, supported by an international network for protection and enforcement abroad.