Robert Martin White

After earning a B.S. in Marine Biology, I spent several years in the biotechnology industry, many of those in the laboratory performing research.  Much of this work was in areas of bioassay development, plant transgenics, and pharmaceutical DMPK studies.  Recently, I earned my M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, a well-recognized program that bolstered my knowledge of not only fundamental principles involved in the development of biotechnology but the regulatory affairs and intellectual property issues associated with this type of technology.

When I finally decided to attend law school after many years in the lab, I knew that I wanted to be an intellectual property (IP) attorney.  I believed, as an IP attorney, that I could help facilitate the development of new technologies, whether that be biotechnology or any other innovative idea, by protecting my clients' rights from infringement or enabling my clients to enter the marketplace by establishing those rights.

Traditionally, IP firms charge $300-$500 per hour to perform prior art searches, draft patent applications, and prosecute those applications for their clients.  It's no surprise, then, that most clients of large IP firms are large corporations often in a better position to afford the tens of thousands of dollars tallied on the final bill.  It dawned on me very quickly, especially with respect to IP law, that a large number of individuals were simply unable to shoulder the financial burden that comes with both securing and protecting IP rights.

This is an unfortunate reality since a great deal of innovation is inspired, conceptualized, and developed by individuals who generally have limited financial resources.  What I've found is that some innovators need some sort of break in order to realize their dreams. With that in mind, I've broken the mold.

Graduating from law school, I was determined to not only empower myself but my clients.  I want to provide for a transparency not often seen in the practice of law. I want to make myself more available to my clients.  I want to give some measure of certainty in a relatively uncertain industry.