The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) appointed Scott Boalick as chief judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and Jacqueline Bonilla as the deputy chief. Boalick has been with the Board for 12 years, and he and Bonilla have been serving in acting roles since last summer.
Finnegan partner Erika Arner, who serves as the president of the PTAB Bar Association, noted that Boalick and Bonilla both have broad PTAB expertise “and have been engaged with stakeholders over the years, a benefit I expect will continue in their new roles.” With the two appointments, Arner noted, “the PTAB is well on its way to providing stability and predictability for patent owners and challengers.”
