Sam currently serves as the Strategic Business Intelligence lead for the Specialty Services group of Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held. The Specialty Services team combines technical excellence, patent expertise, and business acumen to partner with in-house corporate intellectual property (IP) groups, outside counsel, and financial institutions to dig into complex systems.
In his career, Sam has held key roles leading organizations such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), CPA Global, and LOT Network. His expertise spans industries and geographies, grounded in a multidisciplinary background in technology, law, and business. Sam has been named to the IAM Strategy 300; serves on the Board of Directors for the Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA & Canada and the Board of Directors for the LES Silicon Valley Chapter; and is an instructor with the Association for the Valuation for the Management and Valuation of Intangibles (AMAVI).
Sam began his IP career at USPTO, serving as a patent examiner for electrical and software arts and developing a specialized understanding of US patent law and the patent prosecution ecosystem. He then joined an IP consulting firm where he was responsible for econometric analysis and expert report development. Sam was an early adopter of and advocate for patent intelligence, and was responsible for managing IP-related projects across several practice areas, including litigation, licensing, and M&A. He has provided testimony in federal and state courts on IP and technology matters.
At CPA Global, his expertise focused on IP intelligence as a subject matter and solutions expert, advising clients across the IP lifecycle, including prosecution, portfolio development, and maintenance, licensing, and monetization, with a focus on leveraging IP intelligence and analytics to support business decision-making.
Most recently, Sam served as an executive at LOT Network, where he led patent intelligence initiatives to deliver actionable insights to members and prospective members. He also spearheaded thought leadership programs to advance LOT Network’s mission and cultivated strategic partnerships with influential stakeholders across the IP ecosystem.
