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Sangwoo Ahn

Sangwoo Ahn

Partner

+1.202.808.3942

Biography

Sangwoo focuses his practice on patent counseling and opinions, patent prosecution, and portfolio management. Sangwoo is a former primary patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has over 15 years of experience focused on computer, electrical, and mechanical technologies. He leverages a wealth of knowledge in patent prosecution and complex IP issues to help clients obtain robust patent protection for their innovations.

During his tenure at the USPTO, Sangwoo determined patentability of applications covering various software technologies, including database management, search engines and query optimization, artificial intelligence, cryptography, Internet-based technologies, and cloud and distributed computing. He also trained and mentored assistant examiners on various examining procedures and patent quality. Furthermore, Sangwoo clerked for an administrative patent judge at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), reviewing complex issues raised on appeals and drafting opinions.

Leveraging his deep understanding of the USPTO’s inner workings, Sangwoo is adept at navigating and finding solutions to various hurdles that arise during patent prosecution. He collaborates with companies in building high-value patent portfolios spanning a wide array of technologies, including software, semiconductors, and mechanical devices. He also specializes in analyzing IP assets in both defensive and offensive postures, including validity determination, infringement analysis, freedom to operate analysis, and competitive landscape studies.

Sangwoo is fluent in Korean.

Highlights

  • Former primary patent examiner.
  • Clerked for an administrative patent judge at the PTAB.
  • During his senior year in college, designed a PDA-installable guitar tuner as a final project for Multimedia Digital Signal Processing class.

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2012
  • University of Maryland, College Park, B.S., Electrical Engineering, 2005

Professional Recognition

  • Recognized by IAM Patent 1000 as a “Leading Patent Professional” for Patent Prosecution, 2024.
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 for patent prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) (nationwide), 2023-2024.

Organizations

  • Korean American Intellectual Property Bar Association (KAIPBA), Member