Practice areas: Intellectual Property; view more
Licensed in Ohio since: 2000
Education: Syracuse University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 Stephen S. Wentsler, the managing partner at Wentsler LLC, in Mentor, Ohio, has been deeply involved in patent law since 2000, offering his skills in the mechanical, biomedical, electro-mechanical and glass manufacturing sectors. Before embarking on his legal career, he served as a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, gaining valuable insights into patent procedures and regulations.
Mr. Wentsler's patent practice spans domestic and international territories, where he prepares original patent applications and addresses Office actions for various types of applications. His work is marked by strategic filings in countries such as Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and across Europe. He also provides opinions on infringement and validity, advising on design modifications to mitigate infringement risks. His practice further extends to conducting comprehensive investigations, including state-of-the-art, clearance and due diligence investigations.
An active member of several prestigious intellectual property associations, Mr. Wentsler has served as a council member of the U.S. Section of International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) from 2012 to 2022 and is engaged with the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and The Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, particularly in the Intellectual Property Practice in Japan Committee.
Educated at Syracuse University College of Law, Mr. Wentsler graduated with a J.D. in 1996, achieving the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in patents and trade secrets. His academic journey began at the University of Cincinnati, where he completed his B.S. in mechanical engineering magna cum laude in 1993, earning honors in Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi societies. Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio and various U.S. courts, he is also registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, making him a formidable presence in patent law.
Practice areas
Intellectual PropertyFocus areas
Copyrights, Intellectual Property Law, Patents, Trademarks
- 100% Intellectual Property
First Admitted: 1997, Virginia
Professional Webpage: https://www.wentsler.com/professionals/stephen-s-wentsler/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Supreme Court of Ohio
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (IP Practice in Japan Committee)
- Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Pro bono / Community Service
- FICPI
Honors
- The "Lawyer of the Year" honor is awarded to the attorney who receives the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. For each edition, only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each specialty and metropolitan region., Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law, Cleveland, OH, Best Lawyers®, 2025
- The "Lawyer of the Year" honor is awarded to the attorney who receives the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. For each edition, only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each specialty and metropolitan region., Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law, Cleveland, OH, Best Lawyers®, 2019
- The "Lawyer of the Year" honor is awarded to the attorney who receives the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. For each edition, only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each specialty and metropolitan region., Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law, Cleveland, OH, Best Lawyers®, 2017
Educational Background
- University of Cincinnati, B.S., Magna Cum Laude, Major: Mechanical Engineering, 1993
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Japan Patent Attorneys Association, “Update on Means Plus Function Claims,” Tokyo, Japan (April 17, 2018) and Osaka, Japan (April 19, 2018).
- CIPLA CLE Presentation, “Best Practice Strategies in View of the USPTO Revised Rules of Practice,” Cleveland, Ohio, October 2007.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “USPTO Rules Update: Status of the Rules Changes - Tafas v. Dudas; and Final Rules Changes for Ex Parte Appeals,” Washington, D.C., October 2008.
- Japan Patent Office, “Pros and Cons of Accelerated Examination at the USPTO,” Tokyo, Japan, April 2009.
- FICPI ABC Meeting, “U.S. Patent Prosecution: Examiner’s Perspective” and “Update on U.S. Patent Law Reform,” Ottawa, Canada, June 2010.
- Korea Patent Attorneys Association, “New Initiatives for the USPTO under Director Kappos,” Seoul, Korea, July 2010.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “USPTO Implementation of Obviousness Guidelines,” Orlando, Florida, February 2011.
- CIPLA CLE Presentation, “Changes in Patent Practice: Submission of Prior Art under the AIA and New Appeal Rules,” Cleveland, Ohio, March 2012.
- FICPI Kyoto Symposium, “Description Requirements in the United States,” Kyoto, Japan, April 2014.
- Korea Patent Attorneys Association, “USPTO Proposal to Require Identification of Patent Owners,” Seoul, Korea, April 2014.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, “Claim Drafting Tips post-Biosig and Williamson,” Washington, D.C., October 2015.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, "Means Plus Function: Recent Decisions and Practical Solutions," Washington, D.C., October 2017.
- AIPLA IP Practice in Japan Committee Meeting, "Prosecution History Disclaimer: US Prosecution Tips," La Quinta, California, January 2018.
- Biomedical
- Electro-mechanical
- Glass Manufacturing
- Mechanical
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
