Stephen J. Holmes

Corporate & Business Transactions

Intellectual Property

Patent Prosecution & Counseling

Trademarks & Copyrights

Hinckley Allen: Partner (2023-Present)

Barlow, Josephs & Holmes, Ltd.: Managing Partner (1998-2023)

Salter & Michaelson: Partner (1991-1998)

Digital Equipment Corporation: Patent Agent (1990-1991)

American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association

Boston Intellectual Property Law Association

Boston Patent Law Association

International Trademark Association

Massachusetts Bar Association

Rhode Island Bar Association

Stephen Holmes is a Partner in Hinckley Allen’s Corporate & Business Transactions Group. Prior to joining Hinckley Allen, Steve spent 30 years in private practice. He has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009, named Lawyer of the Year in 2014, 2016, 2022, and 2023. He has also been selected by Super Lawyers® for Intellectual Property in Rhode Island since 2011. Steve concentrates his practice in the areas of patent and trademark prosecution, counseling clients ranging in size from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 corporations, but also has significant litigation experience providing critical support for litigation counsel during fact and expert discovery, Markman hearings and trial. He also has experience with post grant proceedings including reissue applications, Inter Partes Reexaminations, and interferences.

Steve has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and also has extensive technical prosecution experience in fiber optic lasers and amplifiers, rare-earth doped fibers, fiber optic telecommunication modules, LED lighting devices, vertical cavity lasers, collision avoidance and ranging systems for drone aircraft, anti-counterfeiting technologies for currency, aerosol and liquid dispensing closures, ready to assemble furniture, automotive and industrial filter components and knitted wire mesh products. On the trademark side, Steve has helped build and maintain trademark portfolios both domestically and internationally for several Fortune 500 companies, and actively assists current clients in protection of their brands through a variety of legal procedures.

Franklin Pierce Law Center, University of New Hampshire

Juris Doctor

Tufts University

Bachelor of Science

Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2026)

Best Lawyers

Chambers USA (2021-2026)

Chambers and Partners

Go To Intellectual Property Lawyer (2023, 2025)

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Super Lawyers, Massachusetts (2009-2022)

Super Lawyers

Top IP Lawyers (2016-2019)

Providence Business News

Top Attorneys in RI (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017-2019)

Rhode Island Monthly

Best Lawyers in New England (2017)

Boston Globe

New England Lawyer of the Year (2016)

The Wall Street Journal

Top Lawyers in RI (2013, 2015-2016)

The Legal Network