International law firm McDermott Will & Schulte is pleased to announce that Vaishali Udupa has joined the firm as counsel in its Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group, based in Washington, DC. She joins the firm after serving as commissioner for patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where she led the agency’s patent operations and spearheaded its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, including guidance on inventorship, subject matter eligibility, and the use of AI tools in patent practice.

“We’re excited to welcome Vaishali to McDermott. Her unique blend of public and private sector leadership will be a tremendous value-add to our clients navigating complex IP landscapes,” said Jennifer Mikulina, co-head of McDermott’s Global Intellectual Property Practice.

“Vaishali’s arrival adds significant dimension and depth of knowledge to our group. Her experience and insight will benefit our clients and our existing lawyers immeasurably,” added Doug Carsten, co-head of McDermott’s IP Practice.

A nationally recognized IP lawyer, Udupa brings more than two decades of experience spanning private practice, in-house counsel roles, and public service. Prior to her role at the USPTO, Udupa held senior legal positions at a Fortune 500 technology company, where she managed high-stakes litigation disputes and advised on portfolio development, licensing, and enforcement. Her experience spans networking and telecommunications systems, software, e-commerce, consumer products, and medical devices.

“I’ve had a longstanding relationship with McDermott and have always admired the firm’s deep bench of talent and collaborative culture,” said Vaishali. “This team embodies a rare and powerful blend of intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence – distinctive qualities that are essential for navigating today’s biggest IP challenges with insight and precision.”