PTO Petitions, Appeals & Special Procedures

The USPTO Petitions, Appeals and Special Procedures Practice Group includes attorneys who are experienced in resolving unique and complex issues as a result of their service at the highest levels of operation in the USPTO.

Members of the Group oversee the handling of complex and special matters before the USPTO on behalf of the firm’s clients.

Members of the USPTO Petitions, Appeals and Special Procedures Practice Group are frequently called upon as advisors for other law firms when difficult or arcane issues are encountered, both during patent procurement and in reexaminations during patent litigation. These members are also called upon frequently as expert witnesses during patent litigation for their knowledge of the workings of the USPTO.

Members of the Group include:

• Arnold Turk, who served for more than fifteen years at the USPTO. During his time at the USPTO, Mr. Turk served as a Special Program Examiner in the Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Patents where he was responsible for handling duty of disclosure issues.
• Lynne H. Browne served for about 35 years at the USPTO.  During her time at the USPTO, Ms. Browne served as an Administrative Patent Judge for 13 years presiding over post-grant proceedings and deciding appeals for electrical and mechanical patents and applications.  Prior to her appointment to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Ms. Browne served as a Primary Examiner and Supervisory Patent Examiner for 5 years in the electrical area of the Central Reexam Unit handling reexaminations and reissues.  Prior to moving to the Central Reexam Unit, Ms. Browne served as a Supervisory Patent Examiner and Appeal Practice Specialist in Technology Centers 3600 and 2100 for 9 years and prior to that she served as a Patent Examiner and Primary Examiner in TC 3700 for 8 years.