Firm Spotlight: Paul Steffes
You’ve had some pretty exciting jobs in the past. What brought you into the world of Intellectual Property?
After graduating from Cleveland State University with my Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, I worked for NASA Glenn Research Center. I was lucky enough to work on a variety of exciting projects like designing mechanisms for microgravity experiments in the back of the Space Shuttle and working on the Mars Observer program. Over time, though, I realized I could do a lot more with my writing capabilities, problem-solving skills, and interest in technology. I contemplated business school, law school and even medical school. Ultimately, after discussions with fellow engineers at the time as well as the law school dean, I enrolled in the evening program at Cleveland Marshall College of Law which is where my career in IP took off.
How did you find your way to Renner Otto?
While I was working as a Law Clerk for another boutique firm here in Cleveland, I happened to bump into an attorney who was working at Renner Otto at the time. He mentioned that Renner Otto was hiring and explained to me that the lead mechanical attorney at the time, Don Bulson, was one of the best patent attorneys in the industry and that I could gain exceptional experience working and training alongside him. I decided to make the jump and now, some 20 years later, Don still is regarded as one of the best in the business.
Our team here at Renner Otto has a wealth of knowledge and experience – in patents and trademarks; prosecution and litigation; and a diverse client base. More importantly though, everyone here is so passionate about what we do, and it may sound trite but we really do enjoy collaborating and learning from one another. We value each other as people, and as professionals, and I think that comes through in the services we provide our clients.
You mentioned your love of working with exciting new technology. What are some of your favorite or most interesting inventions or patents that you’ve worked on in your career?
One of my favorite things about working in this industry is certainly the technology, but also being a part of innovation that has real-world impact. We recently obtained a patent for one of our clients on a sophisticated surgical lighting system. The best way to think of it would be like a microscope within a light, which allows the surgeon to better illuminate a surgical site, while the different lenses inside the light shift so they can see more clearly inside the tiniest places.
Another one that I really enjoyed was an excavator machine that transferred potential energy into an accumulator for later use. Shortly before the excavator dug into the ground, it would transfer that accumulated energy to the digging mechanism, harnessing that energy to provide a more efficient digging process.
As for a non-machine-related invention, I also assisted one of our clients in obtaining a patent on a therapeutic joint support designed for horses to speed healing and provide proper leg support. It was rewarding to work with the client as her commitment to helping horses was so admirable.
What about outside of work life?
My wife and I live in Rocky River and we absolutely love hiking in the Metroparks. She and I have lived other places and there is nothing that compares to the Emerald Necklace - it truly is a gem in Northeast Ohio. We also enjoy live music, sporting events, and art exhibits. My wife is very much into European art and since the Cleveland Museum of Art has quite a collection of it, we visit there quite often. We are also avid travelers. We have been to more than 15 countries and have seen over half of the United States so far. Every place we go, we try to fully immerse ourselves into the culture and absorb as much of the scenery as possible. The accompanying picture shows us in Northern Ireland. We have a long list of places to go and are looking forward to our next destination!