MLA Has Been Exclusively Retained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to Find Its Next General Counsel

Hanover, MD (May 4, 2020) — Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world's leading legal search firm, today announced that it has been retained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to recruit a new general counsel to succeed the previous counsel, who recently retired. Edina Beasley, managing director with MLA’s In-House Counsel Recruiting team in Washington, D.C., is leading the search.

The USPTO's Office of General Counsel plays a vital role in the execution of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s mission to issue patents and trademarks. The general counsel will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Office of Under Secretary for Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director and supervise the court and administrative tribunal representation on intellectual property (e.g., patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters) and administrative matters (e.g., labor, personnel, government contracts, and fiscal).

“We are delighted and honored to partner with the USPTO to secure its top legal executive,” said Edina Beasley. “A broad-based, generalist background will be vital to supporting the diversified legal issues encountered in an organization with the size and scope of the USPTO, which is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement. The position requires an accomplished attorney with a distinguished professional and leadership record, and there is a strong preference for prior general counsel or deputy general counsel experience obtained in the private sector or the government.”

The USPTO is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. The agency advises the president of the United States, the secretary of commerce and the other U.S. government agencies on intellectual property (IP) policy, protection and enforcement and promotes stronger and more effective IP protection around the world. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity.