John A. Squires is the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As chief executive, he leads one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world—almost a $5 billion operation with over 14,000 employees located across the 50 states and Puerto Rico. He is also the principal IP advisor to the President and Administration, through the Secretary of Commerce.
Prior to joining the USPTO, Mr. Squires served as Partner and Chair of the IP and Emerging Companies Practice at Dilworth Paxson LLP and an adjunct law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. He has extensive experience in all aspects of IP and emerging companies, across a vast array of scientific and technology disciplines, including patent and trademark asset creation, procurement and acquisition, transactions, licensing, corporate formation, governance and structuring, high-stakes litigation and regulatory, and risk management matters.
Mr. Squires led the creation of the United States’ first patent asset-backed finance platform for one of the world’s leading funds. He also led the founding, launch, and was a board member of numerous IP and risk-related businesses, including iQ4, the Risk Assistance Network + Exchange (RANE), and FinClusive.
In response to the September 11 attacks, Mr. Squires and 20 of the world’s leading financial institutions established the nation’s first anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing consortia, founded upon patents expedited as inventions to combat terrorism. His previous fintech/regtech engagements include groundbreaking efforts focused on financial inclusion and empowerment, impact investing, and global standards-setting and compliance. Mr. Squires began his IP/fintech career as Chief IP Counsel for Goldman Sachs from 2000-2009.
Mr. Squires received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bucknell University and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (magna cum laude). Mr. Squires has served as an Adjunct Professor, Legal Writing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and as a faculty member and lecturer with the Cybersecurity Workforce Alliance (a partnership with the New York Federal Reserve Bank, its Member Banks, and the CUNY and SUNY systems).