Laura A. Peter is the principal advisor to the under-secretary of commerce for IP and the director of USPTO, and responsible for all agency operations. This includes oversight for the four USPTO regional offices, and executing the policies, priorities and programmes for an annual budget of $3.5 billion. Previously Peter was the deputy general counsel of A10 Networks, a publicly-traded IT company where she oversaw daily legal matters related to commercial agreements and litigation. She has practised IP law for over 20 years and holds a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law.