Robert L. Hover

        Counsel

        Clients trust Rob to help them identify, protect, and leverage their intellectual property. Rob’s engineering experience helps him gain a deep understanding of the client’s technology and business objectives, as well as educate the client with respect to intellectual property law.

        Clients rely on Rob to help them identify, protect, and leverage their intellectual property. His engineering experience enables him to gain a deep understanding of the client’s technology and business objectives, empowering him to educate clients effectively with respect to intellectual property law and its strategic application.

        Rob assists a diverse range of clients, spanning individuals, startups, and Fortune 100 corporations, in leveraging the full breadth of intellectual property and information technology to develop comprehensive IP strategies for achieving their business objectives. Informed by those objectives, Rob provides legal counsel to clients in matters pertaining to patent prosecution, intellectual property (IP) agreements and licensing, IP due diligence for corporate transactions, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other proprietary information. Additionally, Rob collaborates with clients to evaluate and proactively mitigate risk, drafting opinions with respect to product design and freedom-to-operate.

        Rob also provides guidance to clients concerning intellectual property litigation and post-grant proceedings conducted before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). With a background in aeronautical engineering and experience as a structural analysis engineer supporting Pratt and Whitney and General Electric, Rob possesses extensive expertise in mechanical, electrical, and software technologies, spanning aviation/aerospace, robotics, sensor systems, telecommunications, wireless communications, artificial intelligence, imaging/image recognition, augmented reality, armor systems, composites, metals, space launch systems, green energy, medical devices, and aquaculture.

        Prior to joining Verrill, Rob served as an intellectual property attorney in the Boston office of a global law firm. Currently, Rob serves as a member of Verrill’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

        Rob lives with his wife, Britney, and his two children in York, Maine, with a menagerie of cats, dogs, and furry foster friends. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, hiking, birding, and spending time with his family.

        Services/Industries

        Education

        • University of New Hampshire School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
        • University of New Hampshire School of Law (LL.M., cum laude)
        • Clarkson University (B.S.)
          • Aeronautical Engineering

        Public Service

        • Advisory Committee Member, Dirigo Labs, Waterville, ME
        • Board member and Working Group Co-Chair, Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA)
        • Former Vice Chair and Elected Member, York School Committee, York, ME

        Bar Admissions

        • Massachusetts

        Court and Other Admissions

        • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
        • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

        Memberships

        • CIPP/US Certificate

        Firm Highlights

        Blog

        Working 9 to 5? It’s a Way to Make a Livin’, so Make Sure You’re Payin’ for Every Minute: A Maine Employer’s Guide to Stacked Wage & Hour Rules

        Four decades after Dolly Parton gave us both the namesake anthem of the American workday and the film about three fed-up office workers’ dreams of...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...