Krause Named USPTO Deputy General Counsel, Solicitor

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the appointment of a veteran USPTO official to the position of deputy general counsel and solicitor.

Nathan Kelley, partner at Perkins Coie, commented on the appointment. “I worked with Tom for over a decade at the Solicitor’s Office; his selection is going to be great for that office,” Kelley told Intellectual Property Watch. “Aside from being a brilliant attorney, Tom is a good leader and has the respect of the attorneys in the Solicitors Office as well those through the PTO.”

The full USPTO press release is reprinted below:

WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the appointment of Thomas W. Krause as the new Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor of the USPTO. Krause, who has served as the agency’s Deputy Solicitor since 2014, begins his new role Monday, January 14, 2019.

“By representing the USPTO in courts and providing advice on a host of issues and policies of relevance to intellectual property, the Solicitor’s Office plays a vital role in the U.S. IP ecosystem,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Andrei Iancu. “Tom is extremely well-qualified and understands the importance of reliable, predictable, and high-quality intellectual property rights. I’m confident that his experience and expertise will serve our IP system well as he leads the Solicitor’s Office into the future.”

Krause has worked in the Solicitor’s Office since 2002, serving as associate solicitor, special counsel for intellectual property litigation, deputy solicitor, and acting solicitor. Over the years, he has argued numerous cases in the Federal Circuit and has helped craft the agency’s positions in numerous Supreme Court cases. He also received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal and Distinguished Attorney awards for his work on section 101 patent eligibility cases at the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court.

“In the Solicitor’s Office, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and inspiring lawyers I’ve ever known,” said Krause. “I look forward to leading this extraordinary group of professionals and continuing the traditions of excellence set by my predecessors.”

Prior to joining the USPTO in 2002, Krause practiced with Covington & Burling, where he specialized in patent litigation and prosecution. Krause has taught intellectual property courses at the Georgetown University Law Center since 2001, and currently teaches a course there titled Intellectual Property Appellate Advocacy. He received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from Harvard Law School, where he served as executive editor of the Harvard Law Review. After law school, Krause clerked for Judge Alex Kozinski on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Krause graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high distinction in mathematics (B.S.) from the University of Illinois. He also served in the U.S. Navy as an officer on a fast attack submarine, and qualified as a Naval Nuclear Engineer. Krause was the chess champion of South Carolina in 1985.

“I want to thank Joe Matal for his dedicated service and commitment to the USPTO as acting solicitor,” said Iancu. “We very much appreciate Joe’s invaluable leadership during this period of transition.” Matal has been acting solicitor since July 2018.

 

Image Credits: Wikipedia