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8 June 2017Patents

Interim USPTO director revealed after Lee’s departure

Joseph Matal, an associate solicitor at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has been named as interim director of the office following the departure of Michelle Lee.

Yesterday, WIPR reported that former Google lawyer Lee had stepped down from the role.

Matal, who was nominated by Wilbur Ross, US secretary of commerce, will perform the functions and duties of the under secretary of commerce for IP and director of the USPTO during the nomination and confirmation process for a new director.

As an associate solicitor, Matal has briefed and argued appeals of patent and trademark decisions before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and US district courts.

He’s also assisted in the development of legal positions taken by the US solicitor general in patent and copyright cases before the US Supreme Court.

Matal previously served as the general counsel of the judiciary committee for former senator Jeff Sessions (who now serves as US attorney general) and as a judiciary committee counsel to former senator Jon Kyl.

In that role, he was the principal staff drafter and negotiator of legislation that became the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.

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