Kathi Vidal
Kathi Vidal | |
|---|---|
| Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property | |
| In office April 19, 2022 – January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Andrei Iancu |
| Succeeded by | John Squires |
| Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office | |
| In office April 13, 2022 – December 16, 2024 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Andrei Iancu |
| Succeeded by | John Squires |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katherine Antoinette Kelly 1968 (age 57–58) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Binghamton University (BS) Syracuse University (MS) University of Pennsylvania (JD) |
Katherine "Kathi" Kelly Vidal (born 1968)[1] is an American intellectual property lawyer and former engineer who served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office USPTO) from 2022 to 2024.
Education
Vidal earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Binghamton University, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Syracuse University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.[2][3]
Career
Vidal began her career as an engineer for General Electric and Lockheed Martin, working in the areas of artificial intelligence, software engineering, and circuitry.[4] From 1996 to 1997, she served as a law clerk for Judge Alvin Anthony Schall of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. From 1997 to 2017, she was a litigator at Fish & Richardson. From April 2017 to April 2022, she was the Silicon Valley managing partner and patent litigator at Winston & Strawn.[5][6]
USPTO
On October 26, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Vidal to be the next Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).[7] On December 1, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[8] On January 13, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 17–5 vote.[9] On April 5, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed Vidal by voice vote.[10] She was sworn in as the director of the USPTO on April 13, 2022,[11] and was sworn in as under secretary on April 19, 2022.[12]
On December 13, 2024, Vidal left the USPTO and rejoined the Winston & Strawn law firm.[13][14]
References
- ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ "Kathi Vidal Floated as Possible USPTO Director Nominee". IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Brittain, Blake (October 26, 2021). "Biden nominates Winston & Strawn partner Kathi Vidal to lead USPTO". Reuters.
- ^ "Kathi Vidal Nominated for USPTO Director - Intellectual Property - United States".
- ^ "Winston's Kathi Vidal Is Biden's Pick to Lead Patent Office". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Kathi Vidal - Patent Litigator". Winston & Strawn. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominations". The White House. October 26, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. December 1, 2021.
- ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – January 13, 2022" (PDF). US Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ "PN1326 — Katherine Vidal — Department of Commerce 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "USPTO Welcomes New Director Kathi Vidal". United States Patent and Trademark Office. April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- ^ Raimondo, Gina [@SecRaimondo] (April 19, 2022). "Kathi Vidal's leadership & expertise will be instrumental in executing @USPTO's mission to protect & empower U.S. entrepreneurs" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Kathi Vidal". U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Kass, Dani (December 12, 2024). "Vidal Reflects On USPTO Achievements As She Leaves Office - Law360". Law 360. Retrieved December 18, 2024.