Andrei Iancu

Andrei Iancu is a partner in the Firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology practice. A recognized leader in intellectual property law and innovation policy, Mr. Iancu represents clients in litigation and trials before the district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court, and also counsels clients on obtaining, licensing, enforcing, and defending against IP rights globally. He previously served as the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO, a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate.

As the head of the USPTO, the senior-most IP position in the U.S. government, Mr. Iancu managed one of the largest IP offices in the world. Most recently, he was a partner at a leading IP trial firm, where he spent more than two decades, including serving as Managing Partner. Mr. Iancu has represented plaintiffs and defendants in IP matters across the technical and scientific spectra, including medical devices, genetic testing, therapeutics, the Internet, telephony, TV broadcasting, video game systems, and computer peripherals.

In 2021, Mr. Iancu co-founded the Renewing American Innovation Project at the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In 2022, he also co-founded the bipartisan Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP). He previously taught patent law at UCLA School of Law, and he is a sought-after speaker and writer on issues related to IP and innovation.

Throughout his career, Mr. Iancu has been widely recognized for his work, from publications including Chambers USA, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing IP, Daily Journal, California Lawyer, Los Angeles Business Journal, Legal 500, and many others. Most recently, he was inducted into the IAM Hall of Fame by Intellectual Asset Management and received the “Excellence Award” from American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In 2019, Mr. Iancu received the “IP Champion Award” from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation for “his extraordinary leadership in advocating for the value of intellectual property to stimulate the progress of innovation.” He also received the 2020 IEEE-USA “Award for Distinguished Public Service” for “his achievement of restoring balance and confidence in the U.S. patent system.”