Former Fenwick & West partner Michelle Lee is being considered by the White House for the post of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) director, according to anonymous sources cited in a Law360 article. Lee currently serves as the USPTO’s deputy director, but has been acting as director since her appointment this past January.
Since becoming deputy director, Lee has moved to improve patent quality and issue patents more expeditiously, winning praise from businesses that rely on patents, noted the Law360 article.
Fenwick intellectual property partner Rajiv Patel, who worked alongside Lee in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, said Lee is “frankly, very well-qualified to lead the department." Patel added, "She has a wonderful range of public and private experience that will benefit the office longer-term.”
The full article, “Attys Praise Rumored Choice Michelle Lee for USPTO Chief,” is available through the Law360 website (subscription required).