Saif Maan Askar is a Senior Legal Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, he advises agency leadership on a broad array of complex patent policy and litigation matters, including patent eligibility, the America Invents Act, proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and litigation before the Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. He also advises on PTAB and patent-related precedent, Director guidance, and rulemaking.
Prior to joining the USPTO, Mr. Askar was a patent litigator at the national trial firm McKool Smith. He brings deep technical experience to the agency having represented clients in high-stakes intellectual property disputes that span both the life sciences and technology sectors, encompassing pharmaceuticals, medical devices, software, wireless communications, and standard essential patents (SEPs).
Mr. Askar earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wayne State University and a Master of Science in Basic Medical Sciences from Wayne State University School of Medicine.