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Oblon, Spivak Welcomes Steve Kunin

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"We have built a meaningful and productive relationship with the USPTO for more than 35 years," said Marvin Spivak, Managing Partner. "Steve will be a wonderful addition to our team as he is the leading expert on patent examination policy and rules. He is both very well known and very well respected throughout the intellectual property bar and we are delighted that he chose to join our Firm."

In his capacity of Deputy Commissioner, Kunin participated in the establishment of patent policy for the various Patent Organizations under the Commissioner for Patents, including changes in patent practice, revision of rules of practice and procedures, establishment of examining priorities and classification of technological arts, and oversaw the operations of the Office of Patent Legal Administration, Patent Cooperation Treaty Legal Administration, and the Office of Petitions. He has more than 30 years of expertise in intellectual property rights and 24 years of organizational management and leadership experience.

Kunin graduated with honors from Washington University in May of 1970 with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. He attended the National Law Center of the George Washington University, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in law with honors in May of 1975. He is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government SMG Program and is also a member of the Virginia State Bar and the bar of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Kunin has received numerous awards during his career at the USPTO, including four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and a Bronze medal from the Department of Commerce, a USPTO Career Achievement Award and the Vice President's Reinventing Government Hammer Award. In 2001 he was named by Intellectual Property Today magazine as one of the most influential people in IP law and was the recipient of the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award. In the February 2002 issue of the Practicing Law Company's magazine "Global Counsel" he was named as one of the most inspiring regulators in the federal government.

Assisting clients for more than 35 years, Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C., in Alexandria, Va., is one of the largest intellectual property specialty firms in the United States. The firm provides a full range of intellectual property services, including litigation matters in all courts. The firm also continues to have a significant trademark, copyright and patent interference practice.