Shareholder
Attorney Assistant
Dee So
dso@wnlaw.com
(801) 533-9800
Sterling Fillmore enjoys working at the intersection of his background in physics and the practice of intellectual property law. Counseling clients in all aspects of intellectual property, he works with companies of all sizes, ranging from global multinational corporations to small startups and single inventors. He also serves universities, both inside and outside of Utah, in procuring patents in both the U.S. and abroad.
Sterling has extensive experience in all matters of patent prosecution, including the preparation and filing of patent applications in the U.S. and abroad, conducting examiner interviews and post-examination proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He also counsels clients in patent infringement and validity opinions, licensing of intellectual property rights, freedom to operate, and due diligence of IP portfolios during acquisitions and mergers.
With a B.S. in physics from Brigham Young University, Sterling spent nearly four years working on research involving ferritin protein nanobatteries and indium-doped semiconductor nanocrystals.
Services & Technologies
Services
- Copyright
- E-Commerce
- International IP
- IP Counseling
- Licensing and Transactional Work
- Patents
- Post-Grant Patent Proceedings
- Trade Secrets
- Trademarks
Technologies
Experience
U.S. Prosecution of IP
- Preparation and Prosecution of Utility and Design Patents
- Patent Prosecution
- Trademark Prosecution
International Prosecution of IP
- Preparing patent applications for international filing
- Guiding foreign counsel to obtain patents outside of the U.S.
- Licensing, Transactional Work & Client Counseling
- Patent and Trademark Portfolio Counseling
Licensing of Intellectual Property Rights
- Patent Infringement and Validity Opinions
- Patentability Opinions
- Defensive Opinions and Design Around Strategies
- Due Diligence of IP Portfolios During Acquisitions or Mergers
- Clearance and Freedom to Operate Opinions
Education & Admissions
Education
J.D., George Mason University School of Law, 2009
B.S., Physics, Brigham Young University, 2006
Admissions
Registered Patent Attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Utah State Bar
Virginia State Bar (Inactive)
District of Columbia Bar
American Bar Association
Languages
Spanish
Recognitions
2024 – 2025, IAM Patent 1000
Memberships & Activities
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI)
Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Founder – Marriot School of Business, Brigham Young University
Insights & Events
The 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 ranking has recognized Workman Nydegger as one of the leading patent law firms in the United States: Utah jurisdiction. The following attorneys were recognized for their outstanding contributions: In… read more
Attorneys Justin Cassell, David Dellenbach, Sterling Fillmore, David Johnson, and Matthew Todd will be attending the 2026 Annual International Trademark Association [INTA] meeting in London, England. If you’re attending the annual meeting or would like… read more
Workman Nydegger is proud to announce that eight of its attorneys have been ranked in the 2025 IAM Patent 1000: United States – Utah guide, a prestigious recognition of excellence in patent law. Additionally, the… read more
Workman Nydegger is pleased to announce that nine of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 United States: Utah rankings. Among them, Rick Nydegger has been honored as a global leader,… read more