Innovation Alliance Names Exec Director

As lawmakers and lobbyist prepare to do battle over legislation that would make sweeping changes to the U.S. patent system, one group backed by small and mid-sized companies hoping to influence the process has hired an executive director to coordinate its efforts in the 111th Congress. The Innovation Alliance announced Friday that it had brought on Brian Pomper, former international trade counsel for Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. After leaving Capitol Hill, he co-founded consulting firm where he worked with clients on international trade and intellectual property.