New Deputy Chief Judge Joins TTAB

Chief Judge Rogers has announced the appointment of Mark A. Thurmon as the new Deputy Chief Administrative Trademark Judge for the TTAB. The new Deputy will join the Board on May 28, 2019.

Mark A. Thurmon has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney in private practice, as in-house counsel, and as a professor of law. Mr. Thurmon’s primary focus in his ten years of private practice and his sixteen years as a law professor has been the field of trademarks and trademark litigation.

The private practice positions held by Mr. Thurmon include Associate in the Intellectual Property section of Arnold, White and Durkee, an Of Counsel position with the firm of Fulbright and Jaworski, and an Of Counsel position with Roy, Kiesel, Ford, Doody & Thurmon, APLC. Mr. Thurmon’s in-house position as IP counsel was with W-H Energy Services, Inc. He has also provided pro bono legal services to the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District. In addition to his work experience involving intellectual property matters, Mr. Thurmon gained valuable experience as a manager during his five years of service as a Naval Officer. For his service, the Navy awarded Mr. Thurmon the Navy Achievement Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Teaching experience includes work as an Adjunct Professor of Law for the University of Texas School of Law; as an Assistant Professor of Law for the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida; and his current position as Professor of Law at the Southern University Law Center. At Southern University, he also serves as Director of the Technology & Entrepreneurship Clinic, and previously chaired the Curriculum Committee.

Mr. Thurmon has served on various committees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), including the Amicus Committee and the AIPLA Quarterly Journal Editorial Board, both of which attest to his skill as a writer and editor. Mr. Thurmon is an accomplished public speaker and will be able to handle many outreach activities for the TTAB involving USPTO Regional Offices and IP stakeholders. Topics of his written work include federal trademark remedies, IP issues for Small Businesses, IP issues for Food Entrepreneurs, Practical Solutions to Internet Trademark Problems, and substantive topics such as Functionality. Mr. Thurmon has also presented Congressional testimony on procedural issues raised by international Internet trademark disputes.

Mr. Thurmon is a graduate of Louisiana State University, with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and earned his law degree from the Duke University School of Law, with high honors.

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