Washington in the West Speakers 2021
Wayne Stacy, Director of the Western Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office
As the Director of the Western Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Wayne Stacy carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the USPTO’s Western regional office in San Jose.
John Cabeca, IP Counselor, South Asia
John Cabeca is the U.S. intellectual property (IP) counselor for South Asia, serving Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Working through the U.S. embassy in Delhi, India, Mr. Cabeca is the principal officer within the U.S. embassies and consulates throughout South Asia on matters related to the protection and enforcement of IP rights.
Rachel Bae, Incoming U.S. IP Attaché, European Union, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom
Rachel Bae is the intellectual property (IP) attaché to the European Union (EU), where she advocates for effective IP policies in EU institutions and member states, contributes to bilateral IP-related discussions, and assists U.S. stakeholders. She also advances U.S. IP policy objectives in relevant international organizations based in Europe.
Tashia Bunch, Attorney Advisor for the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy
Arka Chatterjee, Senior IP Counsel, Natera
As an in-house counsel at a nimble and expanding life-sciences company, Arka advises on litigation and risk management while helping to develop intellectual property strategies that expand the company’s innovation and business options. His work covers a wide gamut of IP activities including patent prosecution and litigation, trademark registration and enforcement, deal support, and day-to-day advising of both R&D and executive leadership.
Shilpa Coorg, DTO Law
Shilpa Coorg is an experienced litigator who handles all aspects of civil litigation. Her practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling. Her patent expertise spans a broad range of technologies, including medical device, pharmaceutical generic product, smartphone, hardware, software, and telecommunication. Shilpa is also well-versed in a wide variety of other areas of litigation, including contract, mass tort, copyright, and Lanham Act cases.
Michelle Glessner, Partner, Alston & Bird
Registered to practice before the USPTO and backed with industry experience in engineering, Michele manages and counsels both consumer-oriented and tech-focused clients on trademark, copyright and other intellectual property issues. She uses her skills in Arabic and French to tap into a global network of associates to effectively represent international clients with their various IP needs.
Stacy S. Gray, SVP – General Counsel, Belk, Inc.
Brian Horne, Partner, Knobbe Martens
Brian Horne is an experienced trial lawyer who litigates throughout the country for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Horne’s cases involve a wide variety of technologies and causes of action, including patent, trademark, and trade secret matters.
Michael Kim, Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge, USPTO
As of September 14, 2020, the Honorable Michael W. Kim serves as a Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge for Operations at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Judge Kim was appointed as an Administrative Patent Judge on April 24, 2011, and as a Lead Judge in August of 2013.
Marina Lamm, IP Attaché, U.S. Mission to WIPO and the United Nations
Marina Lamm is the intellectual property (IP) attaché for the U.S. Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, covering the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and all U.N. intellectual property–related issues.
Tirzah Lowe – Vice President Intellectual Property, Fox Corporation
Tirzah Lowe’s expertise is in domestic and international trademark law, including clearance, prosecution and enforcement. She has over 1000 federal filings to her name. In 2013, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) recognized Ms. Lowe as a “Rising Star” in the legal industry.
Brad Watts, Minority Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
Brad Watts currently serves as the Minority Chief Counsel for Ranking Member Thom Tillis on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. As Minority Chief Counsel, he is responsible for planning and implementing the Ranking Member’s legislative and oversight agenda on all aspects of America’s innovation economy.
Alex Yap, Partner, Morrison & Foerster, Intellectual Property Group
Alex Yap is a partner in the Intellectual Property Group. As a former administrative patent law judge at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), he helps clients navigate post-grant adversarial proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
Sepp Zangeneh, Patterson + Sheridan LLP
Sepp is an intellectual property attorney, leading a team of talented attorneys and agents, with a broad array of backgrounds in technology areas such as software (including AI/ML), electrical, chemical, and medical devices. Sepp and his team assist in the creation and monetization of patents and trademarks, including the preparation, prosecution, and enforcement thereof.