As a member of the Life Sciences Industry team, Stephen Hall's practice focuses on intellectual property and technology issues. Stephen has an active trial practice litigating patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims for biotech clients in state and federal courts. He also works closely with established and emerging life sciences companies in preparing and negotiating various technology contracts and license agreements. Stephen also has an active patent and trademark prosecution practice, assisting life sciences clients in developing, protecting, managing, and exploiting their intellectual property.
Stephen is also actively involved with a variety of entrepreneur organizations, acting as an advisor and mentor to early stage startups. This involvement keeps him informed of the issues and challenges that startups face, and helps him guide those business as they grow and mature
His practice is focused in three primary areas:
Litigation Practice
Stephen has handled a wide variety of biotech patent infringement matters, including cases involving medical devices, synthetic vectors, and pharmaceuticals. He has also represented life sciences clients in various copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation cases.
Transactional Practice
Stephen has an active transactional practice where he counsels life sciences clients in the use, acquisition, development, and licensing of intellectual property rights. His transactional practice includes:
Preparation and negotiation of license agreements, including patent licenses
Preparation and negotiation of joint research, development, and collaboration agreements
Preparation and negotiation of life sciences and healthcare software, both for vendors and users
Conducting intellectual property audits to identify, protect, and commercialize valuable IP
Prosecution Practice
Stephen frequently prosecutes patent and trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In addition to the various patents and trademarks Stephen has successfully prosecuted, his practice also includes:
Preparing, advising, and counseling clients and businesses in developing intellectual property portfolios
Preparing patentability opinions advising clients and businesses of the potential scope of patent protection available for their ideas, inventions, and products.
Preparing infringement opinions and validity opinions advising clients on the potential liability, level of protection, or enforceability associated with issued patents.
Conducting inter partes review, post-grant review, and covered business method review before the USPTO.
Stephen is a graduate of The Alabama School of Law and received his engineering degree from Auburn University. A registered patent attorney, Stephen is admitted to practice before the United States Patents and Trademark Office, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. District Court (Northern District of Alabama), and all Alabama state courts.
Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2018-2023 Listed in Benchmark Litigation, "Future Star," Alabama, 2013-2016, 2018-2021, 2023-2024 Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2021 "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2023 Patent Law, 2017-2024 Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2019-2024 Litigation – Patent, 2019-2024 Trademark Law, 2019-2024 Biosonix, LLC v. Hydrowave et al. (E.D. Tex) Representation of electronic hardware manufacturer and distributor defendant against plaintiff asserting claims of patent infringement. Vireo Systems, Inc. v. ProMera Health, LLC (Neb.) Representation of nutritional supplement manufacturer plaintiff against defendant asserting claims of patent infringement. Vireo System, Inc. v. ProMera Health (IPR Proceeding) Representation of nutritional supplement manufacturer patent holder against petitioner seeking to invalidate patent holder’s patents. Carfax, Inc. v. Red Mountain Technologies, LLC, et al. (E.D. Va 2014) Representation of service provider defendant against plaintiff asserting claims of patent infringement, intentional interference, and declaratory judgment. Ideative Product Ventures, Inc. v. Lindy Computer Connection Technology, Inc. (E.D. Tex. 2014) Representation of component manufacturer defendant against plaintiff asserting claims of patent infringement. M Group, Inc. v. T-H Marine Supplies, Inc. (E.D. Wis. 2014) Representation of marine industry supplier defendant against plaintiff asserting claims of trade dress infringement. Schlumberger Technology Corporation v. Borets Weatherford U.S., Inc. and Weatherford International, Inc. (E.D. Tex. 2012) Representation of industry leading oil field products/services provider asserting claims of patent infringement. Hometex, Inc. v. Leggett & Platt, Inc. (N.D. Ala. 2011) Representation of industry leading consumer goods manufacturer defendant against plaintiff asserting claims of patent infringement and false advertising. Baron Services v. Media Weather Innovation, LLC (N.D. Ala.) Representation of industry leading weather products and services company asserting claims of patent infringement in United State District Court. The matter was successfully resolved after claim construction. AbbottPoint of Care, Inc. v. Epocal, Inc. (N.D. Ala.) Representation of medical device manufacturer defendant in two separate lawsuits in United States District Court, where the plaintiff asserted claims of patent infringement related to four separate patents, interference with non-compete agreements with former plaintiff employees, and ownership over client patents. Jury verdict for defendant on all counts. Hygia Health Services, Inc. v. Masimo Corp. (N.D. Ala. 2009) Representation of declaratory judgement plaintiff/counterclaim defendant in a patent infringement and trademark infringement case involving medical products in United State District Court. Case was successfully resolved before trial. Integrated Management Solutions, Inc. v. Smith, et al. (N.D. Ala.) Represented plaintiff in asserting claims for copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation. Liberty Petroleum v. Cambell and Sons Oil (N.D. Ala.) Defended Campbell and Sons in trademark litigation. Micros Systems, Inc. v. Sanmina-SCI Corpo, et al. (N.D. Ala.) Defended Sanmina-SCI in trade secret litigation. Premier Group, Inc. v. Bill Heard Chevrolet, et al (N.D. Ala.) Defended multiple defendants in copyright and trademark litigation. Quadrus Corp. v. Cohesion Force, Inc. Representation of government contractor, defendant in a lawsuit where the plaintiff asserted claims of trade secret misappropriation related to a software product developed by a former employee.Case was successfully resolved prior to trial. Rep, Inc. v. Viasystems, Inc. (N.D. Ala.) Defended Viasystems in claims under Alabama Sales Representative Statute. Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. v. Open Biosystems, Inc. (E.D. Missouri) Representation of biotech company in a patent infringement case related to viral vectors in United States District Court. Case was successfully resolved prior to trial. Signature Research, Inc. v. Signature Research Associates, Inc. (N.D. Ala.) Defended Signature Research Associates in trademark litigation. Thompson v. Double Springs Town, et al. (N.D. Ala.) Defended various individuals against claims of copyright infringement. Thompson v. Looney's Tavern, et al (N.D. Ala.) Defended multiple defendants in copyright infringement litigation. Vintage Pharmaceuticals, et al. v. Blansett Pharmaceuticals Co. (N.D. Ala.) Defended various individuals against claims of copyright infringement.
