Georgia PATENTS Advisory Board

Stephen is counsel at Polsinelli, where his practice focuses on patent prosecution, counseling, and transactional matters. Stephen’s prosecution experience includes a wide range of technologies, including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, digital signal processing, mechanical devices, and medical devices. Stephen’s experience also includes intellectual property diligence and various stints in-house by way of secondments with clients.

Before becoming an attorney, Stephen worked for over a decade in various engineering roles at small and large organizations.

Stephen is committed to protecting the rights of innovators and artists. In 2017, he received a USPTO Patent Pro Bono certificate for his work with solo inventors. As an immigrant himself, Stephen has also represented immigrants in pro bono immigration matters including asylum and special interest visas.

Stephen is an avoid traveler, returning to his native UK many times a year. Stephen and his wife live in the Atlanta area with their three children.

Brad Groff has over 30 years of experience in the procurement and enforcement of intellectual property rights, counseling clients to avoid IP problems, defending clients when intellectual property disputes do arise, and intellectual property law alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Brad has been recognized as one of the top attorneys in his practice area, repeatedly selected as a Georgia “Super Lawyer” in intellectual property law, named to Georgia Trend’s “Legal Elite,” and receiving Martindale-Hubbell’s highest “AV” peer-evaluated certification. He is a frequent speaker on intellectual property matters and has served in a variety of leadership roles in bar organizations on the local, state and international level.

Prior to his legal career, Brad was a mechanical engineer in the manufacturing and nuclear materials fields. He is also a named inventor on two patents and a number of additional patent applications, and a published author.

Brad is active in a number of civic organizations and devotes considerable time and resources in service to his community. His pro bono efforts have included the legal representation of a faith-based youth leadership organization, trademark work for churches and church programs, and legal work for a clean drinking water initiative in Haiti.

https://www.pkhip.com/brad-groff

Mary is a registered patent agent and focuses her practice on intellectual property law, including trademark registration and patent procurement. Her patent practice emphasizes the life sciences, including products and inventions in the fields of biotechnology, veterinary and human biologics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, consumer products, nutraceuticals, and medical devices. Mary’s graduate and post-graduate research involved both mammalian and plant molecular biology, protein biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and infectious diseases.

Mary’s experience encompasses patent prosecution, litigation, reissue and reexamination, post-grant proceedings, licensing, due diligence, and opinions. She provides intellectual property counsel to a variety of clients, including multinational corporations, mid-cap companies, and start-up biotech and medical-device companies. Mary also provides counsel related to issues involving regulatory matters before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She works with emerging-growth companies, both domestically and internationally, and has been involved with financial transactions involving initial public offerings, sales and procurement of assets, and mergers and acquisitions.

Bill’s professional experience as an engineer helps him to assess mechanical inventions and effectively draft and prosecute patents. Before becoming a patent attorney, he worked as a Machine Automation Design Engineer, where he designed and manufactured OEM automated packaging machinery for the food service disposal industry.  Bill also worked as an HVAC Retro-Commissioning and Design Engineer, where he inspected, evaluated, and designed HVAC systems for government facilities and military bases.

As a partner at Robinson Intellectual Property Law, PLLC, Bill works closely with corporate, university, and individual clients to protect their intellectual property rights.  Bill has experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in a variety of technologies, such as automotive safety, medical devices, fluid flows, construction, additive manufacturing, HVAC, electric motors, and controls.

Bill received his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law and has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. When he’s not working, Bill enjoys woodworking, cooking, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Dr. Ram W. Sabnis is an accomplished Intellectual Property Manager at Arclin USA LLC,
where he oversees the company’s global patent portfolio and collaborates with outside counsel on trademark matters. He drafts and prosecutes U.S. and PCT international patent applications,engages closely with inventors and examiners, and supports merger and acquisition activities through in-depth patent portfolio reviews.
With more than 19 years as a registered Patent Agent and 16 years as a Scientist, Dr. Sabnis
brings a unique blend of legal and technical expertise across an exceptional range of fields.

His experience spans organic, medicinal, polymer, materials, and dye chemistry as well as drug delivery, RNA-based therapeutics, epigenetics, fluorescent probes, macrocyclic molecules, coatings, medical devices, semiconductors, mining, petroleum products, textiles, nonwovens, wipes, paper/pulp, wood, gypsum, fiberglass, gel and carbon materials, and building materials.

Dr. Sabnis has held prior roles with leading corporations and law firms, including Georgia-
Pacific LLC, Pfizer Inc., Squire Patton Boggs LLP, and Smith Gambrell Russell LLP, where he
drafted and prosecuted high-value patent applications. His scientific career is equally
distinguished, marked by 500+ publications, including 3 books.

He has been recognized for both professional excellence and community impact, receiving
the USPTO Patent Pro Bono Certificate (2021-2024), Certificates of Appreciation from the
American Chemical Society, U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (2023, 2024), and the 2025
ACS Outreach Volunteer of the Year Award (2025).

In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Sabnis is deeply committed to education. He serves as
an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai (2019-Present) and previously taught as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri, Rolla (1999-2004). He also contributes as a Patent Panelist for ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters.
Dr. Sabnis earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry and M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from the University ofBombay and completed his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Institute of Chemical Technology(ICT), University of Bombay, where he was awarded a University Grants Commission (UGC)fellowship. He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

With a career that bridges science, law, and education, Dr. Sabnis exemplifies the role of a
modern intellectual property leader. His multidisciplinary expertise, combined with a deep
commitment to innovation, mentorship, and public service, continues to shape the advancement of both industry and academia.