Attorneys

Mehdi Sheikerz is a partner with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Staas & Halsey LLP. He focuses on and has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications relating to computer software in the U.S. and internationally. Mr. Sheikerz handles post-patent-grant proceedings, including reexamination and reissues of patents, and handles appealing decisions of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on patent applications to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. He conducts presentations on patenting for clients. Mr. Sheikerz also gives advice to small to mid-sized businesses on establishing in-house intellectual property programs.

Mr. Sheikerz also has experience in the software industry. Before attending law school, he was a software programmer for over 4 years. Mr. Sheikerz developed telecommunication messaging system software for Computer Sciences Corporation in northern Virginia and worked for a number of small business software consulting companies, including as a Lotus Notes consultant. During law school, Mr. Sheikerz held a legal externship with the in-house legal department of CSC Intelicom, a Computer Sciences Corporation company in Bethesda, Maryland.

Mr. Sheikerz has a computer science degree (B.S.) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), a law degree (J.D.) from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property, and an intellectual property degree (M.S.) from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property.

Mr. Sheikerz is admitted to practice in the state of Florida and in Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.), and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Mr. Sheikerz holds memberships in the Florida and D.C. Bars and in the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Mr. Sheikerz enjoys off-road bicycling, skiing, and Hokie sports.