A wind energy company has developed a revolutionary new wind turbine that could be worth millions of dollars. To secure a patent, the company hires Robert Katz, a lawyer for Banner and Witcoff, one of the country's leading intellectual property law firms. Katz (E'86) will meet with the client's top engineers who have spent years working in this field.

At that meeting, he must know nearly as much as they do about wind turbines so he can talk intelligently about the intricate details of principles such as lift, drag, material stresses, power output, control systems, and blade airfoil geometry. Later, it's his job to write a patent application in which he clearly and concisely explains that information and what makes this design distinct from hundreds of other turbine patents on file at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

It's a process the Washington, D.C., based intellectual property lawyer has gone through before-for a dog chew toy, a toothbrush, an airplane engine, a video game console, and many other inventions.

Katz relishes the diversity. "Most engineers spend decades working with the same technology," he says. "I'm fortunate to work with clients on innovative designs and inventions in different endeavors on a weekly basis."

During his career, he has helped secure thousands of utility and design patents for his firm's diverse group of clients. His success rate hasn't gone unnoticed. IP Law and Business magazine has named him one of the "Top 50 Under 45" intellectual property attorneys in 2008.

ROB CULLEN (HS'02)