Hanover, MD (November 19, 2020) — Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s leading legal search firm, today announced the placement of David L. Berdan as general counsel at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington, D.C. The search was led by Edina Beasley, managing director with MLA’s In-House Counsel Recruiting team in Washington, D.C.
The USPTO is the federal agency that grants 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 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.
David will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. David will also supervise the Office of General Counsel and its three component offices: the Office of the Solicitor, the Office of General Law, and the Office of Enrollment and Discipline.
“It was a pleasure working with the USPTO leadership who was deeply committed throughout this highly competitive nationwide search,” said Edina Beasley. “Dave is agile, innovative and strategic. The depth and strength of his legal, leadership and business acumen and passion for the USPTO mission make him uniquely qualified for this role. We believe Dave will be a huge asset to the USPTO and the broader USPTO community.”
David comes to the USPTO with more than 25 years of significant patent and intellectual property experience working with public and private international corporations spanning numerous technology fields. He most recently served as general counsel and compliance officer for Gaming Arts, LLC, an end-to-end gaming equipment technology provider. His background also includes various leadership roles as vice president, legal and deputy general counsel; chief counsel intellectual property; and vice president and intellectual property counsel. David also spent several years as an engineer and seven years in private practice.
David is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering and co-captained the Army football team as a defensive back. He is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm and is the recipient of numerous military awards, including a Bronze Star. Mr. Berdan has a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School, where he was a founding member and President of the Drake Intellectual Property Law Society.