Senior Biotechnology Patent Counsel UVA Licensing & Ventures Group Dr. Sparks is a member of the in-house legal team supporting patent issues in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical sciences, including medicine and gene therapy. He is responsible for overseeing outside patent counsel, drafting and prosecuting patents, preparing opinions and providing counsel on patent matters. Rodney also provides counsel on government reporting matters for LVG. Dr. Sparks also teaches law students in the Law Student Patent and Licensing Clinic at the UVA School of Law. Prior to joining LVG, he practiced in the intellectual property group at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and before that at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, both in Philadelphia, and represented a variety of clients in the U.S. and abroad, including universities, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Sparks is very active in the professional community, and has served in various consulting capacities for agencies of the U.S. government. He also recently participated as a judge for the modern marvel patent contest sponsored by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and InventNow.org.