ITC welcomes two new hires
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has hired Margaret MacDonald as director of unfair import investigations and Dominic Bianchi as general counsel.
MacDonald will coordinate section 337 investigations, the majority of which deal with claims of patent infringement against imported goods.
An IP lawyer by trade, MacDonald joins from Perkins Coie LLP, where she represented clients at the ITC and in district court. She has also worked at Howrey LLP, in Washington, DC.
Bianchi, who previously held other roles at the ITC, will serve as the agency’s chief legal advisor. The general counsel also represents the ITC in all litigation involving its decisions and activities.
Bianchi once worked for the US Trade Representative.
Like many US agencies, the ITC was closed during the US government shutdown, which ended on October 16. Some lawyers predicted the political deadlock would cause delays with section 337 investigations.
The ITC has hosted some high-profile disputes this year, especially between Apple and Samsung. In August, the White House overturned an ITC order that said Apple had infringed a Samsung patent. It was the first such veto since 1987.
