Sam K. Tahmassebi, Ph.D.

Dr. Tahmassebi is a patent attorney registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admitted to practice law in California. He specializes in obtaining patent protection for chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device inventions.

Dr. Tahmassebi has substantial experience in the preparation and prosecution of both U.S. and foreign patent applications, counseling on patent strategy, patent infringement issues, and intellectual property due diligence, as well as in authoring opinion letters re patent invalidity and non-infringement. He has conducted numerous IP due diligence projects in relation to mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments, and initial public offerings (IPO). Dr. Tahmassebi has also frequently represented clients in preparation and/or negotiation of licensing contracts, confidential disclosure agreements (CDA), material transfer agreements (MTA), collaboration agreements, consultation agreements, and IP-related documents associated with SEC filings. He currently represents clients in a wide range of technologies, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.

Dr. Tahmassebi received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego, Revelle College. He then went on to obtain his Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry from the University of Washington. Dr. Tahmassebi then worked as a research associate at the University of Rochester, where he designed organometallic catalysts for the production of organosulfur compounds. Subsequently, he was an adjunct professor of chemistry at University of San Diego.

Dr. Tahmassebi received his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law in May of 2000, graduating cum laude. He received CALI Awards in Criminal Law, UCC Sales and Commercial Paper, Patents and Tradesecrets, Biotechnology Law, and Intellectual Property law. Upon graduation, he was admitted to the Order of the Coif.

While in law school, Dr. Tahmassebi worked as a patent agent and a law clerk at Lyon & Lyon, LLP, a leading intellectual property firm, where he also worked as an associate following graduation from law school. Following Lyon & Lyon dissolution, Dr. Tahmassebi served as an associate in the San Diego office of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP. He also was Of Counsel to Vista IP Law Group LLP.

In addition to his admissions to the California and U.S. PTO bars, Dr. Tahmassebi is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is also a long-standing member of the American Chemical Society, American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association, and Federal Bar Association. Dr. Tahmassebi speaks Farsi fluently. Dr. Tahmassebi currently serves as the Chair of the San Diego chapter of the Licensing Executives Society and the Secretary of the Iranian American Life Science Network.

Dr. Tahmassebi can be reached by telephone at 619.203.2579, by facsimile at 858.350.9691, and by electronic mail at sam@biotechnologylawgroup.com.