Farheena Y. Rasheed appointed Deputy General Counsel and Solicitor for USPTO

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the appointment of Farheena Y. Rasheed as Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor. The Office of the Solicitor serves as legal counsel to the USPTO on intellectual property law matters and works in collaboration with the Department of Commerce on interagency intellectual property law matters and with the Department of Justice in advocacy before the Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and other courts.

As Deputy General Counsel and Solicitor, Rasheed will serve as the chief litigator for the USPTO and carry out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director through advocacy and defense of USPTO actions in the U.S. judicial system. She will also play a role as a senior counselor to the Under Secretary for Commerce and Director of the USPTO in the development, review, and implementation of USPTO rules, guidelines, and policies.

"As we lean in more heavily to shape U.S. law, and the interpretation of that law, in a way that advances U.S. innovation - especially in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence - Farheena'sproven leadership, deep knowledge of intellectual property law, and policy chops will help lead the Solicitor's office to shaping and advancing our mission," said Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. "I am excited for her to take on this new role working closely with me to set the legal strategy for the USPTO."

"I am honored to continue my journey with USPTO in this new role," said Farheena Y. Rasheed. "I look forward to thinking more broadly about our litigation strategies across judicial forums to help shape the intellectual property landscape, supporting the Director's vision of strong, reliable IP rights and advancing the agency's mission to foster American ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and innovation through science, technology, and the useful arts"

Rasheed joined the USPTO Solicitors Office in 2010 as an associate solicitor for patent litigation. She ascended through the ranks serving as associate solicitor, senior legal counsel for patent litigation, and since 2019 deputy solicitor. She most recently served as the acting Solicitor. In that time, Rasheed has spearheaded the USPTO's work in appeals to PTAB AIA proceedings in federal court, defended the USPTO in statutory, regulatory, and constitutional challenges, and played a role in the development of USPTO rules, guidelines, and policies.

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The Office of the Solicitor:

• Represents the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO in district court actions that are filed against the USPTO

• Defends decisions by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the federal district courts

• Provides legal advice on intellectual property law policy and regulation

• Prosecutes attorneys and agents who practice before the USPTO for alleged ethical violations

• Defends USPTO employees at deposition

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