Mary Boney Denison
The United States Patent and Trademark Office | Commissioner of Trademarks
In This Section
Mary Boney Denison is the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Commissioner for Trademarks. Ms. Denison oversees all aspects of the Trademarks organization, including policy, operations and budget relating to trademark examination, registration, and maintenance.
Ms. Denison joined the USPTO in 2011 as Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations where she was responsible for USPTO trademark application, legal examination, and registration processes. She has led outreach to the trademark legal community, small businesses, and applicants without legal counsel, and has been an active participant in meetings with the world’s largest trademark offices, promoting projects aimed at harmonizing trademark practices and procedures. While at the USPTO she has initiated several projects to enhance and expand internal and external communications as well as employee career development. The Commissioner is actively engaged in moving the office towards implementing mandatory electronic filing for trademarks, decluttering the Trademark Register, updating the IT systems, and enhancing the customer experience.
Before joining the USPTO, Ms. Denison practiced law in the area of trademark prosecution and litigation, as a founding partner of Manelli Denison & Selter PLLC in Washington, D.C., from 1996 to 2011, and as a partner of Graham & James LLP, where she practiced for 10 years. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Trademark Association (INTA) for three years, and also served a three-year term on the USPTO’s Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC).
Ms. Denison holds degrees from Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law from which she received the UNC School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.
Ms. Denison joined the USPTO in 2011 as Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations where she was responsible for USPTO trademark application, legal examination, and registration processes. She has led outreach to the trademark legal community, small businesses, and applicants without legal counsel, and has been an active participant in meetings with the world’s largest trademark offices, promoting projects aimed at harmonizing trademark practices and procedures. While at the USPTO she has initiated several projects to enhance and expand internal and external communications as well as employee career development. The Commissioner is actively engaged in moving the office towards implementing mandatory electronic filing for trademarks, decluttering the Trademark Register, updating the IT systems, and enhancing the customer experience.
Before joining the USPTO, Ms. Denison practiced law in the area of trademark prosecution and litigation, as a founding partner of Manelli Denison & Selter PLLC in Washington, D.C., from 1996 to 2011, and as a partner of Graham & James LLP, where she practiced for 10 years. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Trademark Association (INTA) for three years, and also served a three-year term on the USPTO’s Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC).
Ms. Denison holds degrees from Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law from which she received the UNC School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.