While at Dartmouth, Peter worked in a medical biochemistry lab to contribute to research on the role a complex enzyme plays in neurodegenerative conditions such as Niemann-Pick Disease type C and Alzheimer’s Disease—contributions that earned him co-authorship of a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This research experience not only gave him hands-on experience with various laboratory techniques including protein purification and characterization, histology, and tissue culture, but also provided in-depth learning in lipid biology, neurodegenerative disease, and molecular biology.

Peter has since garnered experience with technologies in disparate technical fields including gene therapy, microfluidics, medical and surgical devices, molecular diagnostics, radiography, neurobiology, machine learning, carbon capture, renewable energy, water desalination, optics, and pharmaceuticals. Peter is drawn to the combination of scientific knowledge and creative thinking that patent law requires. 

“Responding to communications from the Patent Office is like solving a puzzle, the solution of which requires an intimate knowledge of relevant technical material and a creative blend of amendments and arguments. I find a great deal of professional satisfaction in discovering a solution to that puzzle which best serves my clients’ needs.” 

After interning at BF&F, Peter joined the firm upon completing his undergraduate studies. It soon became clear patent law was his passion.

“Shortly after I joined BF&F, I tore my ACL skiing. Coincidentally, I was working on a case for a device to facilitate recovery following ACL reconstruction surgery. Struck by its relevance to my predicament, I approached the case with particular interest—and it didn’t take long for the patentability battle to become personal. It felt as though the Examiner was denying myself and other ACL patients the chance to benefit from this technology. On reflection, the ACL rehabilitation patent is among my most personally meaningful, not merely due to my personal connection to the subject matter, but also because of what it taught me about the nature of patent law and my penchant for it. My passion for serving clients comes from an understanding how their work can have a very real, positive impact, and finding real enjoyment in the process of gaining protection for their work.”

And, indeed, Peter’s work at BF&F continues to be impactful and diverse.

“In just under five years at BF&F, I’ve had the honor of working with a Nobel Laureate. I’ve written and obtained patents for a client working to make carbon capture technology more efficient and economically feasible by transforming carbon dioxide into rocks suitable for use in concrete. I’ve also worked on patents related to technology for improving the feasibility of water desalination, a technology that could help solve the present water crisis, and on technology for production of hydrogen-based fuels in a carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, manner. It’s remarkable to be part of a team working with clients with inventions that impact the world.”