Haynes and Boone has raised the profile of its intellectual property practice with the addition of Joseph Matal, the former acting director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and one of the drafters of the America Invents Act.
The Texas firm gains deep government experience with Matal, who is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office. Prior to his stints as the USPTO’s acting director and acting solicitor, Matal served in senior legal roles for more than a decade for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Joe’s keen understanding of the design of the AIA, and the legal arguments and strategies that are often persuasive in PTAB proceedings, will provide an incredible resource to our clients,” Haynes and Boone managing partner Tim Powers said in the firm announcement. “We look forward to Joe helping us continue to grow and enhance our IP capabilities across the country.”
During his tenure at the USPTO, Matal briefed and argued numerous appeals of patent and trademark decisions before the Federal Circuit, oversaw 13,000 employees and advised the U.S. Solicitor General’s Office in key IP cases before the Supreme Court.
When deciding where to go after leaving government service, Matal said he sought the advice of judges and other colleagues in the intellectual property community. The Dallas-based firm stood out.
“Haynes and Boone’s leading role in these proceedings, the depth of its experience, and the quality of its team made it the obvious choice,” Matal said in a statement. “I am thrilled to join a firm with such an established and well-regarded patent trial practice that represents clients nationally and internationally in some of their most complex and sophisticated matters.”
In 2019, Haynes and Boone attorneys argued 44 cases before the Federal Circuit, according to the firm’s announcement.