Debra Stephens

Debra Stephens is an experienced Patent Judge at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the USPTO, serving since September 2008, where responsibilities include hearing appeals and conducting oral arguments regarding patentability. Prior to this role, Debra operated as an Intellectual Property Consultant, advising various entities on intellectual property strategy and prosecuting patent applications from February 2007 to September 2008. Debra's extensive background includes serving as Vice President and General Counsel of Intellectual Property at Sony Ericsson, where management of a 28-member team was a key responsibility. Additional experience includes roles as Intellectual Property Counsel at Philips Electronics, Attorney at Staas & Halsey, and engineering positions at GE, Unisys, and ADP/Financial Information Services. Debra holds a JD from Rutgers University - Camden, an advanced degree in Computer Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech.