Steven M. Zeman, Ph.D.
German Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney, Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
Expertise
Originally from the US, Steve brings over 25 years of experience in intellectual property in the life sciences and chemistry. He has gained expertise both in private practice and as an in-house patent attorney in the industry, and he now supports his clients at Grünecker.
Steve’s practice focuses on drafting and prosecuting patents before the European and German Patent Offices, as well as complex opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office. He regularly represents international clients in contentious proceedings. In addition, Steve has extensive experience in preparing legal opinions and regularly supports his clients with FTO and patentability analyses, which are always tailored to their specific needs.
Steve’s clients benefit from his ability to summarise and present complex issues freshly and transparently, helping to get to the heart of the matter and drive strategy development.
Steve’s research background spans bioorganic chemistry, biophysics and organic synthesis. His research focused on the interactions between anticancer small molecules and nucleic acids, and led to new measurement techniques. Based on this extensive expertise, Steve advises clients in the U.S., Europe and Asia on all aspects of patent procurement, defence and invalidation related to drug discovery and chemistry.
Steve regularly lectures around the world on current intellectual property issues.
Areas
- Patent Law
Technical fields
- Life Sciences
- Chemistry
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
Vita
- University of California at San Diego, USA, BS Chemistry / Biochemistry, 1994, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa (including partnership exchange program with the Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany (1991-1992))
- Yale University, USA, MS Chemistry, 1995
- Yale University, USA, PhD Chemistry, 1999
- German Patent Agent, 2002
- European Patent Attorney, 2005
- German Patent Attorney, 2009
- Partner at Grünecker, since 2019
- Representative before the Unified Patent Court, 2023
Publications
“Protecting and Enforcing Life Science Inventions in Europe under EPC and EU Law – From Antibodies to Zebrafish”
Zimmer, F.J.; Zeman, S.; Hammer, J.; Goldbach, K.; Allekotte, B. (2015), C.H. Beck, Hart, Nomos, Helbing Lichterhahn. ISBN: 978 3 406 473517
“Succession in Title and Priority Entitlement in the European Patent Office”
Zeman, Steven M. (2016) in Biotechnology Law Report 35(4), 141-146
(Also published as “欧州特許庁における優先権の承継と優先権の享受” in AIPPI (2017) 62(1), 53-59, translation by Toshio Nakamura)