How I got here
The job itself
has given me
a lot to enjoy.
I began my career as a patent examiner at the USPTO, where I spent a little over twelve years. Later, I moved into private practice as a patent attorney and eventually became a partner at a law firm.
That path gave me the chance to see patent work from more than one perspective. It also let me work with inventors, entrepreneurs, colleagues, and businesses at many different stages of an idea.
When I think about the parts of the work I’ve enjoyed most, I keep returning to the same things: learning about something new, listening to an inventor explain what they’ve made, and then organizing the application so it reads clearly and tells the story of the invention well.
I enjoy the care that goes into shaping claims—trying to capture the inventive idea accurately without making it narrower or broader than it should be. I also enjoy stepping back to think about filing or prosecution strategy in light of what a client is actually trying to accomplish.
And there’s a particular satisfaction in sharing a draft and hearing that it captured the invention well. Those moments are a good reminder that careful work can be both intellectually interesting and genuinely useful to someone.
After stepping away from my law firm partnership, I’ve been thinking about which parts of that professional life I might carry forward. I don’t have every detail settled, but I do know that I still like patent work itself—especially when there is room for curiosity, good judgment, and a healthy working relationship.
What I can help with
The kinds of work
I know well.
Depending on my professional arrangements and the needs of a particular matter, these are the areas where my experience has been most useful.
Understanding and developing the invention
Listening closely during invention discussions, asking useful questions, studying the idea, and identifying what may matter most before the writing begins.
Patent applications and claims
Organizing an application so it reads as a coherent story, then developing claims that aim to capture the inventive idea with appropriate scope.
Filing and prosecution strategy
Thinking through timing, priorities, and practical goals, and developing responses intended to move prosecution forward while protecting meaningful claim value.
Patent-related analysis
Working through questions involving noninfringement, invalidity, freedom to operate, or clearance, with an emphasis on organized reasoning and clear written communication.
This page describes background and areas of experience. It is not legal advice, an offer of legal services, or confirmation that Sang is available to act as counsel in any particular matter.
The people and the way we work together
Good work is also
about how
we work together.
Some of the best working relationships I’ve experienced have been with people who are genuinely interested in what they’re building, comfortable asking questions, and willing to think things through together.
I value clear expectations, honest communication, and the freedom to say, “Let me consider that carefully,” when a question deserves more than an immediate answer. That doesn’t mean everything needs to move slowly. Urgency is sometimes real. It simply means that, when circumstances allow, a thoughtful answer is usually more useful than a reflexive one.
I also appreciate people who recognize the care behind good work and who treat everyone involved with patience and respect. In return, I try to listen before assuming, explain things in plain language, and keep the larger purpose of the work in view.
Written communication is often a good fit for me because it gives everyone a chance to organize their thoughts and creates a useful record of the conversation. Of course, some things are easier to solve by talking. But if you also prefer a well-written email to an unnecessary meeting, there’s a good chance we’ll get along just fine.
More than any particular type of client or company, I’m drawn to working relationships that feel genuine: people trying to do something worthwhile, communicating openly, and treating one another like people along the way.
Get to know me beyond work →