About Stephen
Stephen Adams trained first as an engineer and later as a lawyer. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and completed his J.D. at the same school in 2011. The combination of technical training and legal education shapes the practical approach he brings to intellectual property work.
He began his legal career in 2011 at Luedeka Neely Group, P.C., where he worked as an attorney advising clients on patent-related matters. That early phase of practice gave him hands-on experience in preparing filings and responding to prosecutorial matters before the patent office. In 2018 he moved to Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C., joining the firm as a lawyer and continuing to handle matters that bridge engineering and law.
Adams is a registered patent lawyer with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is licensed to practice in Tennessee. His registration at the Patent Office allows him to handle patent prosecution directly. He applies his mechanical engineering background to patent drafting and prosecution, translating technical concepts into the legal language required by patent examiners.
Colleagues describe his work as detail-oriented. He reviews prior art, prepares patent applications, and navigates correspondence with examiners. He also assists clients in shaping patent portfolios so their intellectual property aligns with business goals. The work often requires close collaboration with inventors and in-house technical teams; his engineering training helps him bridge those conversations.
Outside of casework, Adams maintains professional connections across the legal and technical communities. He keeps current on changes in patent rules and practice, tracking developments that affect patent prosecution and strategy. His dual background makes him a practical resource for clients who need both technical insight and steady procedural guidance.
He currently practices patent law at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C., handling patent prosecution and other intellectual property matters.
