Ralph T. Webb, associate, received his B.A. in English from Rice University in 1974, a J.D. from the University of Houston in 1978 and an LL.M in Taxation from the University of Florida in 1980. After becoming a licensed attorney and practicing in the area of tax law in New Orleans, he returned to school to study chemistry and biochemistry. He received a B.S. (cum laude) in Chemistry from Tulane University in 1987 and an M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University in 1996.
In 1988, Mr. Webb became involved in the patent field, primarily preparing and prosecuting applications in a wide range of technical areas, including pharmaceuticals, small molecules, organic and inorganic polymers and coatings, food products, mechanical devices, alloy and ceramic compositions, polynucleotide and protein compositions, electrochemical compositions, immunological devices and methods, superconducting materials, piezoelectric devices, magnetic devices, optical devices, chemical analytical devices and chemical sensors, drug delivery compositions and methods, drilling fluids, semiconductor fabrication methods, tantalum and niobium compositions and sputter targets, carbon black compositions, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels, batteries and methods of rubber, paper and leather processing. In addition, he has prepared patent validity and infringement opinions.
From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Webb was a patent attorney for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), involved with preparation and prosecution of patent applications as well as providing advice relating to patent licenses and research and development agreements. He was the recipient of the NRL Edison Patent Award in 2000 and 2002. Prior to joining Stein, McEwen & Bui, LLP, Mr. Webb was an associate at another Washington DC intellectual property law firm where he performed patent prosecution in the fields of organic polymers, electrochemical compositions, superconducting materials, display screens, polymer films, semiconductors, optical devices, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels, batteries, and electro-mechanical devices.
Mr. Webb is admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is also admitted to (but inactive in) the bars of Texas and Louisiana. He is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, American Chemical Society, the Patent lawyers Club of Washington and the Association of University Technology Managers (affiliate member).
Presentations
Patent Law in Fifteen Minutes (2006)
