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No SBA Protest Review of Approved 8(a) Mentor-Protégé JVs

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 02.10.12

In Trident, LLC (Jan. 24, 2012), the SBA’s Office of Hearing and Appeals found that SBA area offices have no jurisdiction to review the substance of 8(a) mentor-protégé agreements or joint venture agreements if they have been approved by the SBA’s Office of Business Development before the “final award” of an 8(a) contract. OHA then reversed the size determination made by the area office because it had “no authority (or reason)” to repeat a review of the joint venture agreement for compliance.

Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...