Practitioner consecutive recognition for 2021
In 2017, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) began recognizing practitioners who provide at least 50 hours of pro bono service through one of the regional patent pro bono programs in a calendar year. This year, we acknowledge practitioners that have contributed 50+ hours of patent pro bono assistance to financially under-resourced inventors for five consecutive years and those who contributed 50+ hours in four out of the last five years. The tables below list these exceptional practitioners.
Volunteers with five consecutive years of 50+ hours/year service to regional programs:
| Recipient | City and State | Firm/Company | Regional Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Lightner | Atlanta, GA | Alston & Bird | Georgia PATENTS |
| Michele A. Klem | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| Sam Noel | Centreville, UT | Lowenstein Sandler LLP | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Sandra Sciascia-Zirger | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| Steven C. Wiemer | Denver, CO | Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Thomas Wiseman | Atlanta, GA | Smith, Gambrell & Russell | Georgia PATENTS |
Volunteers with 50+ hours/year service to regional programs in four out of the last five years:
| Recipient | City and State | Firm/Company | Regional Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin O. Grange | Centreville, UT | Lowenstein Sandler LLP | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Charley F. Brown | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| D. Brian Shortell | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| Gordon Lindeen | Upland, CA | Loza & Loza, LLP | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Jonas Jarvholm | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| Kathryn Warner | Denver, CO | Cozen O'Connor | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Paul Holly | Chicago, IL | Banner Witcoff | Chicago-Kent Patent Hub |
| Sommer S. Zimmerman | Atlanta, GA | Ballard Spahr | Georgia PATENTS |
| Torrey Spink | Denver, CO | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | Mi Casa Resource Center's ProBoPat |
| Tyler McKendrick | Atlanta, GA | Alston & Bird | Georgia PATENTS |
| William D. Jacobs, Jr. | Palo Alto, CA | Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | California Inventors Assistance Program |