Michael Neas

Essential PCT for Practitioners Seminar Guest Lecturer

Michael Neas is the Deputy Director of the International Patent Legal Administration (formerly PCT Legal) at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Michael’s staff provides training on the filing and prosecution of PCT and U.S. national stage applications to inventors, applicants, patent practitioners and paralegals.

His staff also provides training on the PCT to patent examiners and paralegals at the USPTO and provides direct assistance on PCT and U.S. national stage applications via the PCT Help Desk. Michael’s duties also include resolving legal issues involving the PCT, including petitions to the Commissioner in PCT and U.S. national stage applications.

He also participates in international meetings and projects such as PCT Reform, PCT Working Group, Meetings of International Authorities, Patent Prosecution Highway and Trilateral and IP5 Cooperation. Michael has spoken extensively on the PCT to organizations such as the AIPLA, local bar associations, and foreign IP Offices.

Michael came to the USPTO in 1989 as a patent examiner. He became a Special Programs Examiner in PCT Legal in 2000 and took his current position in 2006. Michael has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University.