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Overview

Stephen takes a holistic approach to intellectual property, providing clients with comprehensive strategies on IP issues impacting their businesses.

Stephen is an IP strategist who often serves as clients’ first point of contact. He litigates IP issues, oversees patent and trademark portfolios, and advises on a wide variety of IP matters, leveraging IP law to solve business issues. Stephen regularly represents international clients and is highly knowledgeable about how U.S. IP law applies to foreign companies. Over the course of his career, his strategies have protected billions of dollars’ worth of client sales.

Stephen’s work includes IP protection, defense, and enforcement—in other words, any IP need a client might have. In addition to overseeing IP teams, he also assembles and manages teams to address additional legal matters for clients, from corporate transactions to real estate. A respected thought leader, he frequently publishes and presents on IP topics.

Stephen has appeared in many dozens of contested matters in federal district courts and courts of appeals throughout the country, as well as administrative bodies such as the International Trade Commission (ITC), the PTAB, and the TTAB. He has a proven track record of successfully litigating cases with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Formerly a software engineer and IT consultant, Stephen excels at breaking down complex concepts to educate and tell persuasive stories, whether to a court, an examiner, or to an opposing party.

Stephen has prepared and prosecuted thousands of patent applications in a wide range of technologies, including software, medical devices, industrial machinery, artificial intelligence (AI), control systems, networking, cryptography, robotics, aerospace, autonomous vehicles, blockchain, power storage/generation (batteries), green technology, fashion, materials, food science, biotech/pharma, and consumer products. His trademark practice includes a vast array of trademark enforcement and anti-counterfeiting policing for brand owners in industries such as fashion, software, biotech, and consumer products. He is regularly engaged for opinion work, including for non-infringement and invalidity issues, as well as licensing and IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining the firm, Stephen practiced at several IP boutiques—the source of his unusually broad experience for a Big Law attorney. His work across the IP spectrum means he has numerous tools for solving business problems and takes a truly holistic view of clients’ IP issues. Stephen is a better litigator thanks to his prosecution experience, which helps him understand the nuts and bolts of the patents and trademarks at issue—and his perspective as a litigator helps him secure more strategic and valuable IP protection.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers In America®
    • Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2025
    • Litigation - Patent, 2025
    • Patent Law, 2025
  • New England Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation, 2022

Education

  • J.D., Vermont Law School
  • IPSI, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
  • B.S., University of Vermont
    • Computer Science

Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Federal Bar Association IP Section, Membership Chair and Former Trademark Subcommittee Chair
  • Federal Bar Association SDNY Chapter, National Delegate and Board Member
  • International Trademark Association
  • Upsilon Pi Upsilon, International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines


*Stephen works remotely and is licensed in Connecticut, practicing in Stamford. Contact Stephen via email or phone for in-person/virtual meetings. Use our Boston office address for mail/deliveries.

When I worked at a boutique, I had to manage everything from human resources to firm finances. Now I can focus more on client relationships, legal strategy, and business development.

Experience
  • Obtained favorable settlement for medical device manufacturer in five-patent infringement case with nine-figure damages claim directed to integrated operating room technology, following extensive summary judgment, Daubert, and Markman hearings.
  • Obtained emergency preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order in a trade secrets misappropriation case, preventing customer solicitation by former employee and leading to successful settlement with substantial damages payment.
  • Implemented patent licensing campaign for internet technologies company, including multi-district federal litigation, resulting in tens of millions in licensing fees from companies around the world.
  • Successfully defended allegations of patent infringement brought by direct competitor. Upon dismissal of case, obtained finding of exceptional case and award of attorneys' fees.
  • Secured permanent injunction and damages award in counterfeiting case for luxury fashion brand, including temporary restraining order on same day complaint was filed providing for immediate shutdown of counterfeit websites.
  • Developed and implemented anti-counterfeiting program for brand company, including monitoring and enforcing trademark rights against counterfeiters.
  • Manage patent portfolio for large, international medical device manufacturer. Draft patent applications on broad range of technologies in the surgical suite, from data transmission to optics to graphical user interfaces.
  • Manage patent portfolio for Fortune Global 500 company in industrial automation and robotics industries, leveraging expertise in patentable subject matter to obtain claims directed to programmed hardware.
  • Manage patent portfolio for international biomedical company, including use of Track 1 to build portfolio in under a year to as company entered competitive US market. Cover various aspects of field from medical devices to chemical compositions to methods of treatment.
  • Successfully performed global rebrand for international industrial machinery company, including search and registrability opinion followed by clearance, prosecution, and acquisition of trademark protection in dozens of jurisdictions.
  • Frequent author of articles on IP strategy.
News Releases | November 14, 2022
Husch Blackwell Adds Two Partners to Its Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation Group
Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Stephen Ball and Chris Erker have joined the firm's Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation business unit as partners.
Outside the Office

When he's not working on a client matter, Stephen enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family. He and his wife have three elementary-age daughters, and the family loves to be outdoors. Stephen is particularly fond of taking his girls for family hikes, as well as trips to the beach and pool in the summer.

Community Leadership
  • Vermont Law and Graduate School, Board Member
  • Fraunces Tavern Museum, Law Committee

Stephen has also served as an advisor to various tech incubators, including at the University of Vermont.