Empty Advisory Boards Have Attys Worried About USPTO

Sterne Kessler’s Jacqueline Wright Bonilla, who recently joined the firm in the Biotechnology & Chemical and Trial & Appellate Practice Groups, spoke to Law360 on recent leadership changes within the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Acting USPTO Director Coke Morgan Stewart announced internally last week that Chief PTAB Judge Scott R. Boalick and Vice Chief PTAB Judge Mike Tierney would be leading the agency’s Central Reexamination Unit (CRU). The opening at the CRU came from Bonilla joining Sterne Kessler, announced Thursday.

“As many know, Scott Boalick and Mike Tierney have been stellar leaders at the PTAB for many years,” Bonilla stated. “It has been an absolute privilege to work with them both. Having Scott and Mike be part of a new chapter of leadership at the CRU is testimony to the importance of the CRU and its critical work.”