New USPTO Leadership on the Horizon: Lutnick Confirmed as Commerce Secretary, Squires Expected as Director
Patent – Patently-O 2025-02-19
Summary:
by Dennis Crouch
Yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce. Lutnick, has been CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and a prolific inventor named on over 400 U.S. patents. Commerce has a wide coverage, including housing the USPTO.
Meanwhile, Dani Kass at Law360 is reporting that John A. Squires, currently a partner at Dilworth Paxson and former chief IP counsel at Goldman Sachs, is expected to be nominated as the next USPTO Director. Like Lutnick, Squires has extensive fintech experience.
The Director position requires presidential nomination and Senate confirmation under 35 U.S.C. § 3(a)(1). The statute specifically requires that the Director be a U.S. citizen with a professional background and proven ability in patent or trademark law. I expect that Sec. Lutnick will play a key role in advancing Squires’ potential nomination through the process.
Squires brings significant private sector IP experience to the potential role. At Goldman Sachs, he founded and led the investment bank’s intellectual property practice from 2000 to 2009. This was at the same time that Lutnick at CantorFitz was deeply involved on the technical side. Squires’ practice at Dilworth Paxson has continued to focus on emerging technologies including AI, blockchain, and fintech.