Judges’ Night 2025

February 13, 2025
The Cicada Restaurant

Judges’ Night with the Honorable Leonard P. Stark of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Honorable Guests From the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

The Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA), the Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, and the Howard T. Markey Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, and the Orange County Intellectual Property Law Association (OCIPLA) invites you to our annual Judges’ Night reception and dinner at the Cicada Restaurant in Downtown LA on February 13, 2025.

Judges’ Night honors members of the judiciary who handle all types of intellectual property matters and features an interactive discussion of current IP topics with a panel of prominent judges and scholars. We are extremely pleased to announce that this year’s guests of honor and panelists will be the Honorable Leonard P. Stark of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Honorable André Birotte Jr., and the Honorable Karen E. Scott from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Judge Stark, Judge Birotte, and Judge Scott will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Jack O’Donnell of Jones Day.

**Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (provider # 2083) will seek approval from the State Bar of California for MCLE credit in the amount of 1.0 hour.

PRICING

Tables:
Tables seat 10 total – 8 guests with an additional 2 seats reserved for a judge and guest or for in-house counsel (if available)

LAIPLA Member Table: $2500

Non-member Table: $3000

Individual Pricing:

Judge (plus one guest, e.g., law clerk): FREE

Government: $150

LAIPLA Member*: $250

Non-Member: $300

LAIPLA Student Members: $115

Non-LAIPLA Student Members: $125

* Members of OCIPLA are eligible for the discounted Member rate.

If registering for a table, please select appropriate registration rate and enter main table contact as registration. Once registration is completed, please email a complete list of remaining (7) attendees including names, emails, phone numbers and entrees to office@laipla.net.

*By registering for this event you are guaranteeing your seat. Refunds will not be issued unless received by cancellation date. Please see cancellation policy for details.

PARKING

Pershing Square Parking Garage is located one block from The Cicada. The street address is 532 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles

LIMITED PARKING will be available in the lot directly across from The Cicada at 618 S. Olive Street.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations must be received by the pre-registration deadline of Friday, February 7th.

For any questions or assistance with registration, please email office@laipla.net.

DATE AND TIME
Thursday, February 13, 2025
5:30-9:00 PM

LOCATION
The Cicada Restaurant
617 S Olive, Los Angeles, CA 90071

QUESTIONS?
Contact the LAIPLA office at office@laipla.net or call 323-285-1654.

The Next Level: Video Game Developer and Designers’ New Legal Fight
In a rapidly evolving gaming landscape, developers and designers are battling not only to captivate players but also to navigate the complex terrain of cultural relevance without stepping into legal pitfalls. This panel will explore the difficulties of integrating cultural relevance with video games as seen in many recent cases, moderated by Prof. Tyson Winarski, Intellectual Property professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU; Dan Gibson, Partner, Knobbe Martens; with David Hecht, partner at Hecht Partners; Heidi Keefe, partner at Cooley; and Bobby Ghajar, partner at Cooley.

Crash Course: Navigating the CrowdStrike Update
Over the summer, CrowdStrike deployed an update that caused millions of computers to crash, resulting in disruptions for airlines, emergency services, TV networks, and other businesses across the world. Our panel of experts will discuss what happened, what the legal and practical ramifications could be, and what the software security industry and customers can do to better protect themselves in the future. Join Moderator Spencer Persson, partner at Davis Wright Tremaine; Scott Ferber, partner at Raj Ferber, PLLC and former Counsel for Cyber Investigations in DOJ’s National Security Division; Wynter Deagle, partner at Sheppard Mullin; and Mark Ray, PWC’s Managing Director, Head of Digital Investigations & Cyber Defense and former Special Agent of the FBI’s Cyber division as they discuss one of the largest and most expensive software outages ever to have occurred.

HONORED GUEST

The Honorable Leonard P. Stark, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

The Honorable Leonard Philip Stark serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and was a United States magistrate judge of the same district.

Judge Stark earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in history and political science and a Master of Arts in history from the University of Delaware, all in 1991. Judge Stark also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in politics from Magdalen College at the University of Oxford in 1993 as a Rhodes Scholar. In 1996, Judge Stark earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

From 1996 to 1997, Judge Stark served as a law clerk for United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judge Walter King Stapleton. Before being appointed, Judge Stark practiced at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he specialized in corporate and securities law. From 2002 to 2007, he served as an assistant United States attorney in Wilmington, Delaware. Since 2016, he has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

In 2007, the judges on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware selected Stark to be a United States magistrate judge in Wilmington.

On March 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Stark to fill the district court vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Kent A. Jordan to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2006. He became Chief Judge on July 1, 2014, and served until July 1, 2021. His service as the district court judge was terminated on March 17, 2022 when he was elevated to the court of appeals.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

TBA

The Honorable André Birotte Jr., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

The Honorable Karen E. Scott, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Scott Ferber, Partner, Raj Ferber, PLLC

Scott Ferber is a Partner at Raj Ferber, PLLC, and former Counsel for Cyber Investigations in DOJ’s National Security Division. Scott leverages his extensive experience as a former federal cybercrime prosecutor, in senior leadership at the US Department of Justice, and as a former AmLaw 25 law firm partner to advise clients across industries on the full range of security issues created by global data collection and usage. This includes responding to cyber incidents and managing complex cyber risk assessments. Scott often defends clients in regulatory investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, State Attorneys General and other federal, state and local regulators and criminal authorities.

Andrew Foglia, Deputy Director of Policy and International Affairs, US Copyright Office

Andrew Foglia is the deputy director of policy and international affairs for the United States Copyright Office. He was appointed to the position effective January 17, 2023.

Foglia assists the Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs with the critical policy functions of the Office, including domestic and international policy analyses, legislative support, and trade negotiations. The Office of Policy and International Affairs provides support and technical advice to Congress and represents the Copyright Office at meetings of government officials concerned with the international aspects of copyright protection and enforcement.

Foglia earned a JD from Duke University School of Law, where he was an R.C. Mordecai Scholar and member of the Order of the Coif, and a BA from Davidson College.

Tracey Freed speaking at TechTainment 5.0 in 2019

Tracey L. Freed, Founder, Freed Law, P.C.

Tracey Freed is Founder of Freed Law, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in digital media, entertainment and technology transactions. Freed has been recognized as a Trailblazer by The American Lawyer Magazine, a Top Cyber/Artificial Intelligence Lawyer by the Daily Journal, Thriving by the L.A. Business Journal, and a Rising Star and SuperLawyer by Los Angeles Magazine. Freed advises emerging growth companies, Hollywood studios, and Fortune 100 companies at the intersection of media, technology, advertising and innovation, including structuring and negotiating commercial transactions related to content creation, distribution and monetization, technology commercialization, branded content & influencer marketing, AR/VR & social gaming, artificial intelligence, big data and ad tech. Prior to founding Freed Law, P.C., Freed was Assistant General Counsel, Digital Networks at Sony Pictures. Freed was also an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School for almost 10 years where she taught “Digital Media & the Law” and “Artificial Intelligence & the Law,” two first of their kind courses that she created. Freed is an inaugural member of the TechTainment planning team, and is an alumnus of Loyola Law School.

Bobby Ghajar, Partner, Cooley LLP

Bobby is an intellectual property trial attorney with a practice across the US. Although he represents companies across a wide range of complex commercial litigation issues, his practice is primarily focused on advising companies in trademark, trade dress, copyright, right of publicity and false advertising litigation. He has handled dozens of high-stakes litigation and appellate matters for global brands, celebrities, and unicorn companies. Many of his cases have helped to shape and create legal precedent.

Bobby has successfully tried cases to jury and litigated on behalf of clients in temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction proceedings and at summary judgment, and handled appeals before various appellate courts across the US. He also is experienced in all aspects of practice within the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has argued before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Complementing his litigation practice, Bobby has significant experience providing clients with creative and results-oriented counseling – ranging from clearance and prosecution in nearly 200 jurisdictions worldwide to the creation of brand guidelines and enforcement strategies. He brings unique experience in international trademark matters, having managed some of the largest international trademark portfolios, worked on litigations in dozens of countries, filed hundreds of trademark applications for his clients and settled numerous multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Dan Gibson, Partner, Knobbe Martens

Dan Gibson provides intellectual property counseling in various technologies. His technical experience includes computer software and hardware, video games, augmented and virtual reality, computer graphics processing, cloud computing architectures, e-commerce, medical devices, robotics, electromechanical and automotive technologies. He advises on patent prosecution and portfolio management, infringement and invalidity analyses, patent risk management, and IP due diligence and searches.

Aaron Hernandez, Executive Director, Allan Bud Selig Sports Law and Business Program, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law

In Summer 2023, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law named Aaron Hernandez the Assistant Dean and Executive Director of the Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program at Arizona State University. As Executive Director, Aaron is responsible for supervising the Sports Law and Business (SLB) Program and ensuring its continued success. Aaron oversees the following aspects of the SLB Program: operational efficiency, admissions, curriculum development, academic and career advising, recruiting, donor and alumni relations, stakeholder relations, and student engagement. Aaron also is responsible for long-term strategic vision and growth of the SLB Program. In addition to overseeing the SLB Program, Aaron is also responsible for teaching class at the law school.

PREVIOUSLY AT JUDGES’ NIGHT

See past programs

SPONSORSHIP

Please contact office@laipla.net re: Judges’ Night Sponsorship.

Diamond Sponsor

Co-Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Trope Law Group, P.C.

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

Breakfast Sponsor

Morgan Stanley - John M Hoist, Financial Advisor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Quinn Emanuel is a 900+ lawyer business litigation firm—the largest in the world devoted solely to business litigation and arbitration with 31 global office locations.
Surveys of major companies around the world have three times named us the “most feared” law firm in the world. Firm lawyers have tried over 2,500 cases, winning 86% of them. When representing defendants, Quinn Emanuel’s trial experience gets better settlements or defense verdicts. When representing plaintiffs, Quinn Emanuel lawyers have won over $70 billion in judgments and settlements. Quinn Emanuel has also obtained seven 9-figure jury verdicts, four 10-figure jury verdicts, fifty-one 9-figure settlements, and twenty 10-figure settlements. The American Lawyer named Quinn Emanuel the top IP litigation firm in the U.S. and the firm as one of the top six commercial litigation firms in the country. The UK legal periodical, The Lawyer named us “International Firm of the Year.” Law360 selected us as Antitrust, Appellate, Banking, Class Action, Insurance, Product Liability, IP, White Collar, and Trials “Practice Groups of the Year.” Managing IP twice recognized us as having the “Best ITC Litigation Practice” and honored us with the “Patent Contentious West” award. Legal Business has named us “US Law Firm of the Year” three times, and our German offices have been named both IP Litigation and Patent Litigation Firm of the Year by JUVE, Germany’s most prestigious legal publication. Global Investigations Review, a leading legal periodical covering global white-collar investigations, named us the “Most Impressive Investigations Practice of the Year.” Global Arbitration Review named us the 7th best arbitration practice in the world. Further information is available at www.quinnemanuel.com.

Bronze Sponsor

With robust corporate, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and emerging growth, business litigation, public securities, entertainment, and intellectual property practices, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles’ attorneys assist clients with virtually every legal issue a business or an individual may face.

Since its inception in 2002, SA&M has worked alongside innovators and leaders of businesses large and small whose ideas are world changing. Our firm takes the long-term approach to our relationship with clients, partnering with them all along their evolutionary path, from idea to growth to exit, or whatever their future may hold. Our mission is, and has always been, to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business advisory perspective.

Judges’ Night 2025 Committee
Committee Chairs: Jack O’Donnell, Jones Day
LAIPLA Board Liaisons: Nancy Olson, Olson Stein LLP
Judge Kewalramani, Magistrate Judge, C.D. Cal
Adam Kwon, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Member: Joshua Pollack, Nixon Peabody LLP

ABOUT LAIPLA

The Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA) is one of the nation’s premier intellectual property law associations. Since 1934, LAIPLA has been educating and connecting members of the local intellectual property legal community.

As a non-profit organization with more than 1,000 members, and 30+ Member Firms and Companies, LAIPLA represents a mix of in-house, large and small firm, and government attorneys; solo practitioners; and law students and professors who specialize in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and entertainment and technology law.

ABOUT THE SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is a leading institution at the forefront of legal education, research and service. Located in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., ASU Law provides a dynamic learning environment enriched by its proximity to legal, governmental and business communities. With a commitment to innovation and inclusivity, ASU Law offers a diverse range of degree programs, including the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Master of Legal Studies, and Master of Sports, Law and Business. ASU Law is dedicated to creating the next generation of legal professionals. Honoring the legacy of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and charged with upholding her namesake, graduates are well-prepared to shape all aspects of the legal field from public service to private practice, to fields that work in and around the law. For more information, visit law.asu.edu.

Questions? Contact the LAIPLA office at office@laipla.net or call 323-285-1654.