Vidal's Tenure May Make The PTAB A More Desirable Litigation Venue

Director Kathi Vidal assumed the role of Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") in April 2022. Prior to her appointment as the director of the PTO, Director Vidal was a senior partner and intellectual property litigator at Winston & Strawn and a member of the executive committee of the firm. She had also been a principal at Fish & Richardson P.C., prior to her time at Winston & Strawn LLP, and had served as a member of the management committee. There is little doubt that she brought a deep understanding of patent disputes and district court litigation to her leadership at the PTO. This may result in making the Patent and Trial Appeal Board ("PTAB") a more popular venue for patent disputes.