Bob concentrates on jury trials of cases involving scientific and technical subject matter, with a particular focus on patent, products liability, trade secret and other technology-related litigation. For over 30 years he has successfully handled patent litigation nationwide at the trial and appellate levels for a wide variety of clients, especially those in the biotechnology and semiconductor industries. Bob also frequently counsels clients on patent enforcement, infringement, validity and freedom to operate issues. Additionally, he is currently working on an effort that is helping small banks harness the power of a joint defense against ATM patent trolls.
Bob is also responsible for the firm's office in Sweden and typically spends about 6 weeks in Stockholm each year assisting Nordic clients with various IP issues in the U.S. His longstanding familiarity with the Swedish language and culture enable him to offer unique insights about resolving or avoiding disputes, a contribution much appreciated by Nordic clients, some of whom he has represented for over 25 years.
Bob has been recognized for over 20 years in the volume The Best Lawyers in America. He has been described in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as "probably the best IP litigator in Maine." According to Chambers: "‘The man is extremely efficient,' clients declare; ‘we can't speak highly enough of him. He gives you his recommendation and your options, and accurately estimates your chance of success.'"
Bob has also taught patent law as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law and has participated as an instructor in the trial advocacy program at Harvard Law School. He has testified as an expert witness (for the prevailing party) in a jury trial involving alleged malpractice in patent litigation.
Recent Experience
- Sapidyne Instruments, Inc. v. Gyros US, Inc., D.Mass. Civil Action No. 08-11150, Docket No. 47, Order Regarding Claim Construction (November 25, 2009) (adopting favorable claim construction, prompting settlement of litigation)
- Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. v. Third Dimension (3D) Semiconductor, Inc., 594 F.Supp.2d 97 (D.Me. Jan 14, 2009) (granting preliminary injunction for client in complex licensing dispute)
- Golf Tech, LLC v. Edens Technologies, LLC, 592 F.Supp.2d 167 (D.Me. January 06, 2009) (granting summary judgment for client after favorable claim construction)
- Cohesive Technologies, Inc. v. Waters Corp., 543 F.3d 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (affirming infringement verdict in favor of client and reversing adverse claim construction ruling)
Honors & Distinctions
Ranked by Chambers Global 2013 for Pierce Atwood’s Nordic IP
Practice.
Professional Activities
Member, American Law Institute, 2010-present
Sustaining member, Products Liability Advisory Council, 1989-present
Member, Boston IP Inn of Court, 2009-present
Member, SwedenBIO, 2007-present
Co-founder and former Counselor, Edward T. Gignoux Inn of Court, 1994-1996
Publications
Robert H. Stier, Jr., Proving Infringement, and Robert H. Stier, Jr. & Margaret Minister O'Keefe, Settlement of Patent Disputes, in Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook, Third Edition 31, 1125 (Barry Grossman & Gary Hoffman eds., 3d ed. 2010).
Robert H. Stier, Jr, Economic Damages, in Expert Evidence: A Practitioner's Guide to Law, Science and the FJC Manual (Black and Lee, eds., 1997).
Robert H. Stier, Jr., Revisiting the Missing Witness Inference, 44 Md.L.Rev. 137 (1985).
Civic Activities
Trustee and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Thomas Memorial Library, 2000-2006
President, Board of Directors, Thomas Memorial Library Foundation, 2004-present