Saul Ewing LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Sidley Austin LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Inc.
State Farm
Steptoe LLP
Stevens & Lee
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Tapestry, Inc.
Target Corporation
Textron Inc.
Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.
The Partners Group
The Trade Desk
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Thomas Horstemeyer LLP
Thompson Hine
TikTok Inc.
Trane Technologies
Troutman Pepper
USAA
Venerable Holdings
Verizon
Visa, Inc.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
White & Case LLP
Wiley Rein LLP
Willenken LLP
WilmerHale
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Workday, Inc.
Worldpay

Christa Brown-Sanford

Christa has a full-time patent practice, with the ability to advise on a number of different issues — working together with her clients to be a true counselor. With an electrical engineering background and keen business sense, her ability to communicate with anyone, from clients, opposing counsel, inventors, or patent examiners alike, in a clear and digestible way, underscores her commitment to being a true partner at every stage of the process. Christa’s clients appreciate that “[s]he is thoughtful and thorough . . . [and] can think through issues and solve [them].” (Chambers USA, 2020)

She provides guidance on patent procurement, patent portfolio development, patent litigation, and patent licensing – particularly involving telecommunications, blockchain, electronics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, software, personal mobility, and other cutting-edge technologies. Clients describe her as “top notch” and consider her as “the subject matter expert.” (Chambers USA, 2022)

Christa also assists companies in developing and managing their patent portfolios and generating revenue from their intellectual property assets through licensing campaigns. While leading licensing efforts for companies, she continues to provide counsel and advice on patent procurement and litigation exposure.

An adjunct professor at SMU’s Dedman School of Law, Christa teaches patent licensing and enforcement, in addition to patent prosecution courses.

Actively involved in the community, Christa is a member of the Charter 100 and serves on the boards of Southern Methodist University, SMU’s Dedman School of Law, the Baylor Scott & White Foundation, and New Friends New Life (an organization focused on empowering trafficked women and girls). She recently completed serving as the President for the Junior League of Dallas, during the League’s Centennial year.

Tony Chan

His clients include global strategic buyers and sellers, as well as financial sponsors and their portfolio companies in the life science, healthcare, investment management and technology industries.

Tony has been recognized for his life sciences and M&A work by a number of notable publications, including The Legal 500 US, Law360, IFLR1000 and Legal Media Group. In particular, Law360 highlighted his work in navigating the complex life sciences industry and key partnership negotiations between biotechnology and drug companies.

In addition, Tony sustains an active pro bono practice, serving as counsel to nonprofit organizations such as Aequitas, APAI Vote, Chefs Stopping Asian American Hate, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Film Society, Partners for Public Good and the Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance.  Tony serves as the President of board of the Harvard Law School Association of DC, the Vice-Chair of board of the Museum of Modern Art Arlington and on the board of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of DC.  Tony is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School where he has taught Takeovers, Mergers and Acquisitions annually since 2015.

Tiffany Cheung

Meenakshi Datta

Heidi B. Friedman

Charles E. Harris II

Elizabeth Ising

Yabo Lin

Gilbert K.S. Liu

Partner and Chair, Securitization,
Kramer Levin

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Gilbert K.S. Liu advises and represents issuers, underwriters, borrowers, lenders and service providers in connection with structured finance and securitization transactions involving a wide variety of esoteric asset classes, including residential and commercial solar assets, timeshare loans, US government energy savings performance contracts, venture loans, life science loans, recurring revenue loans, home improvement loans, equipment leases, auto loans, trademark and licensing rights, and music royalties.

Both Legal 500 and Chambers USA have repeatedly recognized Gil as a leading securitization lawyer. Chambers USA noted: Gil “provides excellent counsel” and “has continued to be a leader in the space. He thinks through matters critically and deliberately, bringing tremendous experience to the table.” Citing clients, Chambers has also described him as “thoughtful and knowledgeable” and “a tremendous [lawyer] with a deep knowledge of structures and market norms, which he can apply to novel situations,” noting his great reputation in the esoteric market and “[skilled] handling of esoteric assets,” and “his efficiency in ‘absorbing our objectives and crafting solutions’ and ability to ‘break things down and figure everything out step by step.’”

Crain’s New York Business named Gil to its list of Notable Asian Leaders in 2022, the Asian American Business Development Center named him one of its Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business in 2014, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association honored him with its Best Under 40 Award in 2009.

Gil currently serves on the board and executive committee of Apex for Youth, a non-profit organization providing support for underserved Asian immigrant youth in New York City.  He also serves on the board of Homerun Projects, a nonprofit organization supporting youth-based programs in New York City. For more than 10 years, Gil served on the board and executive committee of Harlem RBI (now known as DREAM), a nonprofit organization providing social, academic and athletic services for youth in East Harlem, NY. He has also been a member of the board of Volunteers of Legal Service. Gil has been involved in pro bono matters for Harlem RBI, the DREAM Charter School, the Chinese American Health Foundation, the CAIPA Foundation, Lowline, Broadway Barks, Infinite Variety Productions and the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation.

Gil also serves on Kramer Levin’s Executive Committee, Operations Committee, Collaboration Committee, Pro Bono Committee and Diversity Committee, and is a member of the firm’s Attorneys of Color Affinity Group.

Sonal N. Mehta

Partner-in-Charge, Palo Alto and Vice-Chair, Litigation Department,
WilmerHale

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Sonal is a dynamic litigator and strategic counselor representing many of the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies in complex disputes spanning IP, antitrust, class action, and complex commercial issues. She is regularly called upon by clients—ranging from Silicon Valley’s top technology companies to cutting-edge start-ups—to serve as lead counsel in the courtroom and as a trusted advisor in the boardroom.

Sonal has over 20 years of experience across all aspects of trial and appellate practice, including federal jury trials, state court jury and bench trials, International Trade Commission investigations, international arbitrations, and appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Federal Circuit and the California appellate courts.

Sonal’s honors include:

• Regularly recognized by Chambers USA Guide in California and nationwide for intellectual property: patents.
• Recognized in the 2023 and 2024 edition of Chambers Global in the category of intellectual property: patents.
• Named to Benchmark Litigation’s elite Top 10 Women in Litigation list in 2021 and 2022.
• Named Benchmark Litigation’s San Francisco Attorney of the Year across practice areas in 2020 and named the California Intellectual Property Litigator of the Year in 2021.
• Named to the Daily Journal’s list of Leading Commercial Litigators (2023 and 2024) and recognized as a Top Intellectual Property Lawyer (2022–2023).
• Regularly recognized by The Legal500 United States for patent litigation: full coverage.
• Named San Jose Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America for patent litigation (2020, 2022 and 2024), patent law (2020 and 2024) and intellectual property litigation (2023–2024).

Sonal is also a leader at her firm, serving as Partner-in-Charge of WilmerHale’s Palo Alto Office, Vice-Chair for the firm’s Litigation and Controversy Department, and on the firm’s Management and Compensation Committees.

Prior to joining WilmerHale, Sonal was a partner at another large international law firm, where she built her practice representing major technology sector companies in high-stakes patent litigation at the trial and appellate levels. She then joined a litigation boutique firm based in San Francisco, where she continued to serve as lead counsel for leading technology and life sciences clients in patent and commercial litigation matters.

Vicki Odette

Preston K. Ratliff II

Partner and Litigation Office Chair,
Paul Hastings, LLP

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Preston K. Ratliff II is the Chair of the Firm’s Litigation practice in New York. Mr. Ratliff focuses his practice on complex, high-stakes litigation with an emphasis on patent litigation in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, and renewable fuel sectors. He has successfully represented major and emerging companies both pre-trial and at trial.  Chambers USA notes that Mr. Ratliff is “really outstanding and excels at all aspects of litigation. What stands out is that he is a brilliant strategist who sees the big picture and can anticipate risks that aren’t always necessarily apparent…he is a very calming and unflappable presence even in the most difficult and stressful situations.”

Mr. Ratliff also has extensive experience counseling clients with respect to their IP portfolios and evaluating strategic licensing opportunities.  In addition, Mr. Ratliff is a frequent publisher in patent journals and an invited speaker at some of the most prestigious life sciences industry conferences.

EXEMPLARY REPRESENTATIONS

Seagen Inc. v. Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited.

Lead counsel in a hotly-contested, nearly 100 billion dollar breach of contract intellectual property biotechnology dispute involving antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”) for the treatment of various cancers. Mr. Ratliff, along with his team, obtained a complete victory dismissing the opposition’s claims as both substantively meritless and time-barred. This win was reported to be among the largest disputes ever handled by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, which is the American Arbitration Association’s forum for global conflict resolution.

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma et al. v. Emcure Pharmaceuticals et al.

Lead counsel that locked in full patent protection and revenues arising from Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma’s chemical compound patent for its billion-dollar-plus-per-year schizophrenia and bipolar drug, Latuda^®. Specifically, Mr. Ratliff obtained a Federal Circuit decision that affirmed a district court’s November 2016 claim construction ruling and a February 2017 judgment of infringement against three generic drug manufacturers. Taken together, these dual victories secured patent protection for Latuda^® while blocking more than a dozen generic drug manufacturers, including industry giant Teva Pharmaceuticals, from launching competing products.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v. Sandoz Inc. and Accord Healthcare, Inc.

Co-led a trial team that won an important trial victory for Merck concerning its pharmaceutical product Emend^® for Injection, which is used in the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. After a bench trial, the district court ruled that Merck’s patent was valid and infringed, defeating the challenge brought by several generic companies. Mr. Ratliff also co-led a team that convinced the Patent Office to deny Canadian pharmaceutical company Apotex’s petition for an IPR, challenging a patent protecting Merck’s Emend^® for Injection franchise. Mr. Ratliff also convinced the PTAB to deny Apotex’s further request to rehear its IPR petition.

Pfizer Inc. v. Amgen Fremont Inc. and Amgen Inc.

Co-led a team that obtained a complete victory in a highly-complex breach of contract and intellectual property dispute in Delaware Chancery Court concerning billion-dollar biotechnology drug products.

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al. v. Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al.

Lead trial counsel for Sucampo in a Hatch-Waxman litigation protecting its leading medication Amitiza^® for bowel disorders. In its suit against Par, Mr. Ratliff helped secure a settlement that provides Sucampo additional market exclusivity, as well as a royalty-bearing

Biovail International Laboratories v. Andrx Pharmaceuticals, LLC et al.

Co-led a trial team that secured a highly-favorable settlement in a patent infringement litigation regarding the company’s top-selling drug product for managing blood pressure.

Srikanth K. Reddy

Partner,
Goodwin Procter LLP

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Srikanth Reddy is a partner in Goodwin’s Litigation department and a member of the IP Litigation practice, where he concentrates his practice on intellectual property opinion and litigation matters. He is also a member of the firm’s Life Sciences Disputes group and currently serves as the Boston Hiring Partner.

Srikanth counsels clients in a broad range of intellectual property litigation matters, including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters. He has specific experience working on a highly diverse range of patent litigation matters including enforcement investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Hatch-Waxman/ ANDA cases, other district court patent litigation matters and post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

EXPERIENCE

The technology areas at issue in the intellectual property litigation matters handled by Srikanth are highly varied and include, for example, pharmaceutical chemistry, biotechnology, immunoassays, vibration-monitoring equipment, semiconductor fabrication, computer chip assembly and packaging, digital out of home displays, light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturing and packaging, razor cartridges, cosmetic lasers used in the medical device industry, computer implemented business methods, mobile software applications, source code analysis and modems.

Rohit Sachdev

Katie Schwarting

Pallavi Mehta Wahi

Jorja Jackson

Vice President, Legal & Regulatory Affairs,
Workday

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Jorja Jackson is Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs at Workday. She began her legal career as an Employment Lawyer at Littler Mendelson and then moved in-house and supported corporate law departments at ArcSight (acquired by HP), Robert Half International, Inc. and Salesforce where she advised business on matters impacting global employment and improving the success of the company. At Workday, she oversees subject matter experts in litigation, cybersecurity, governance, regulatory and ethics. One area of particular interest and fun is her work on ESG and setting up a framework and governance for this expansive and constantly evolving area of work. She helps the business solve problems to move the business forward. Jorja has also served as faculty in the extension programs for San Francisco State University and UCLA, teaching classes focused on ethics and employment law basics for students interested in HR or business roles.

Samantha Grant

Partner,
Reed Smith LLP

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Samantha is an effective advocate for employers and management in administrative, arbitration, and trial proceedings. She leverages her analytical and strategic skills to deliver superior results in litigation of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, trade secret, and unfair competition cases, among others. She advises clients on litigation avoidance strategies and local, state, and federal compliance matters. She also conducts workplace investigations and management and workforce training.

The insight and experience she gained while on a two-year secondment as in-house employment counsel for a Fortune 50 company was invaluable in her becoming a particularly pragmatic outside counsel. She learned the business of her clients and found targeted solutions to legal problems while considering the business objectives and impact.

Caroline Abney

Director of Diversity and Inclusion,
King & Spalding LLP

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Caroline Abney joined King & Spalding in December 2002 and is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion. In her role, she drives the development and implementation of firm-wide Diversity and Inclusion programs. She works closely with the firm’s Diversity Committee and stakeholders to develop and implement the Firm’s diversity initiatives by partnering with key stakeholders, including the Diversity Committee, Recruiting, Professional Development, Firm leadership, external organizations and clients. She previously served as the president of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP). ALFDP’s mission is to act as a catalyst for the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession through collective knowledge, vision, expertise and advocacy in the area of law firm diversity.

Prior to joining King & Spalding, Caroline had over 10 years of increasing management and Human Resources experience. Besides her work in the areas of diversity and inclusion she also has an extensive background in internal consulting, employee relations, recruiting and retention, management training, compensation and benefit administration and Human Resources Management Information Systems.

Diana Arredondo

Senior Corporate Counsel,
Amazon.com, Inc.

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Diana is an attorney with over seventeen years of experience in Intellectual Property, Domain Names, Digital Media, Privacy and Data Protection, licensed to practice in Mexico and the United States. Diana is a Senior Corporate Counsel at Amazon, where she leads the Digital Device and Advertising Trademark Team, and is responsible for developing and implementing global IP strategies. Diana also serves on Amazon’s Legal Diversity Leadership Team and leads multiple DEI initiatives, including the Day 1 Legal Academy program for law students of diverse backgrounds. Prior to joining Amazon, Diana was a Senior Counsel at Grupo Televisa, where she led the International IP Division.

Elizabeth A. Borges

Senior Counsel,
Intel Corporation

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Elizabeth A. Borges joined Intel’s Manufacturing Group legal team in April 2019. Elizabeth is the lead attorney for the Global Materials Organization (“GMO”) group within Intel’s award-winning Global Supply Chain organization.  Elizabeth negotiates complex multi-million-dollar agreements that help keep Intel fab sites running. In addition to her role as the lead GMO attorney, Elizabeth is also the Supply Chain Responsibility legal team lead. She was named Intel’s liaison to MCCA in 2023.

Elizabeth began her legal career in the energy sector in Houston, TX. In 2018, she relocated to Portland, OR, where she currently resides. Elizabeth holds a BA with honors from Rice University in Houston; a Masters’ Equivalent in Fashion Marketing & Communication from ESMOD (Ecole Supérieure de Modélisme et Design) in Paris, France; and a JD from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is fluent in French. Elizabeth is licensed in Texas, Oregon, and Washington. When not executing on her various Intel Legal duties, Elizabeth enjoys exploring Portland with her husband and two young sons.

Elizabeth “Liz” Davis

Partner, Co-Chair Financial Services Practice Group,
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

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Liz Davis is the Co-Chair of the Financial Services practice group at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Liz advises and defends domestic and foreign companies and individuals in civil and criminal investigations, examinations, and litigation before the CFTC, DOJ, SEC, NFA, and exchanges, and also handles corporate internal investigations. Liz previously was a Chief Trial Attorney at the CFTC, where she led regulatory enforcement matters encompassing issues ranging from manipulation, virtual currencies, compliance, and trade practice issues. Liz was also a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and litigated numerous civil tax controversy matters in federal district and bankruptcy courts. She received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law and B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Mark Grider

Partner ,
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

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Mark is an experienced litigator committed to cultivating an atmosphere of exceptional client service. A former Deputy Associate Attorney General and Senior Associate White House Counsel, Mark now leads the firm’s Litigation, Government Response, and Crisis Management team.

As a tenured attorney practicing in the Washington, D.C. and New York markets, Mark has successfully guided numerous Fortune 500 companies and individuals through high-stakes litigation and investigative matters. For nearly 20 years, he worked across multiple administrations in the federal government, including as a deputy associate attorney general in the office of the associate attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where his portfolio included criminal and civil matters relating to the Antitrust Division, Civil Division, the Consumer Protection Bureau, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and the Tax Division. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and as senior counsel in the office of the deputy attorney general in the DOJ, where he managed health care, IP, and civil and criminal enforcement matters.

Mark has managed complex litigation on behalf of corporations, startups, and individuals, and is well-versed in litigating complex criminal and civil actions, and handling cases involving multiple regulators, private litigants, Congress, and high-stakes crisis management engagements. An experienced trial lawyer and investigator, he also represents clients in sensitive government enforcement actions, corporate and congressional investigations, and litigating civil business disputes. Mark served as counsel in more than 10 jury trials to verdict in federal courtrooms across the nation.

Mark has represented major corporations and well-known individuals and has successfully resolved issues and disputes with government authorities. He worked as a deputy compliance officer in a Fortune 500 health care company that was under an HHS-OIG Corporate Integrity Agreement and served as a special advisor to boards and tech companies. He knows firsthand how to counsel companies and boards on effective detection of fraud, waste and abuse and how best to refer or disclose possible fraud matters to government agencies, including Congress, the DOJ, SEC, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, state attorneys general and foreign regulators.

Additionally, Mark supports clients in managing FCPA matters related to the DOJ and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as investigations relating to cybersecurity issues. He has worked closely with government authorities to minimize exposure and advised on ESG litigation and compliance procedures.

He has deep experience on matters relating to the False Claims Act, health care fraud, the opioid crisis, and competition and consumer harm in the online marketplace. He managed False Claims Act and bribery investigations for the DOJ’s Civil and Criminal Fraud Sections, was a member of DOJ’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force, and served as deputy general counsel for the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. Grider has collaborated with the Department of Defense, the State Department and other agencies addressing international fraud and money laundering issues stemming from the nation’s involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and other contingency operation locations. He also liaised on policy initiatives relating to elder fraud and financial exploitation, as well as criminal antitrust procurement collusion.

Mark served in the Executive Office of the President as senior associate counsel and special assistant to the president in the Office of the White House Counsel, advising White House counsel and senior administration officials on broad oversight and regulatory matters involving Congress, the White House, Health and Human Services, and federal agencies contributing special expertise on litigation matters related to technology oversight and policy issues. He is also a fellow of the National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and sat on the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Pathways Advisory Council.

Mark has held several other high-profile roles, including as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, special counsel for Health Care Fraud for the DOJ and executive director of the DOJ’s Intellectual Property (IP) Task Force, and as a special trial attorney in both the civil and criminal fraud sections of the DOJ. As the executive director of the DOJ’s Task Force on Intellectual Property, Grider spoke internationally on domestic and cross-border investigations and government enforcement strategies for corporate and small-business trade secret and intellectual property protection.

Mark also has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, having served as a member of Sen. John Ashcroft’s staff, and later on a special House investigations committee led by Chairman Trey Gowdy and ranking member Elijah Cummings.

Peter Kim

Vice President, Culture and Counsel,
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

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Peter K. Kim serves as Vice President, Culture and Counsel at Thermo Fisher Scientific. In this role, Peter focuses on elevating the employee experience by shaping the culture of the company. Diversity and Inclusion and Employee Engagement are part of the Culture and Counsel platform. Prior to leading the Culture and Counsel Platform, Peter served as the Chief Employment Counsel, which is a position that he still currently holds. Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific, Peter worked at Pfizer and Nestle USA, both in employment law positions. Peter obtained his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his undergraduate degree from UCLA. Peter lives in Carlsbad, California with his partner of twenty-five years.

Kawana King

Senior Technology Advisor and Counsel,
Google LLC

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Kawana T. King is a Senior Technology Advisor and Counsel at Google LLC, where she supports Google’s advertising business. In her role, Kawana leads a global team and advises on a wide array of complex technology, privacy, advertising, media and consumer protection matters. She also negotiates deals with some of the world’s largest companies utilizing Google’s technology and advertising solutions.  Kawana’s expertise in the areas of technology, privacy, advertising and media stem from her diverse professional experience and background.  

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Kawana started her career as a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose, LLP,  where she represented clients in false advertising, media, technology and intellectual property matters.  In 2011, Kawana joined the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips. While at Manatt, Kawana established herself in the fields of technology, media, and advertising; and she was often the lead advisor to several Fortune 500 companies on technology and privacy matters, key marketing and advertising campaigns, and on compliance with federal and international regulations.

At Google, Kawana is a “go-to” advisor on a number of high-stakes matters and is recognized by her colleagues and clients as a true partner and thought leader. Google has featured Kawana in The Keyword, Google’s official blog spotlighting powerful, dynamic female Googlers. Kawana also received Google’s inaugural NYC Site Citizenship Award in 2019 for her active role in various social impact efforts, including Tech Exchange, Google’s applied computer science residency program for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).  Kawana’s work in the tech field has also been recognized outside of Google.  In March 2018, Kawana was invited to be a featured speaker at the African American Women in Tech Conference hosted by the Internet & New Tech Subcommittee of the New York State Assembly and received a Proclamation in recognition of her work in the tech field and her community efforts. Kawana is also a 2024 LCLD Fellow.

Kawana is a Brooklyn native, born and raised in the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant (“Bed-Stuy”). Prior to law school, she attended Howard University, graduating summa cum laude with degrees in political science and sociology.  Kawana continues to reside in Bed-Stuy where she is active in various community affairs and initiatives, particularly in the areas of community development and criminal justice reform. 

JENNIFER IVAN

Associate General Counsel,
Microsoft Corporation

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Jennifer Ivan is an Associate General Counsel for Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington, where she leads Microsoft’s Windows and Devices legal team. In this role, she leads a team of legal professionals that provide legal support in all areas of the Windows + Devices business, including AI, privacy, intellectual property, compliance, competition, and commercial and consumer issues. Prior to that role, she led the team that supported all commercial sales in the United States and Canada, and government and community affairs for Canada. Prior to that role, Jennifer led the legal team for the M365 Security, Compliance, and Management (SCM) group.

She also previously led Diversity & Inclusion for Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization. In this role, she led CELA’s efforts to build and sustain a diverse department that reflects the diversity of our global company, the communities in which we work, and the customers that we serve and to take full advantage of that diversity by creating and nurturing a culture of inclusion that allows individuals and teams to do their best work.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Jennifer was Legal Director for Dell Computer Corporation in Austin, Texas, where she supported the Dell Services organization.

Prior to joining Dell, Jennifer was a Staff Attorney for IBM in Austin, Texas, where she provided comprehensive legal support for IBM’s Server Group.

Jennifer graduated Cum Laude with Honors in Liberal Arts with a B.A. in Political Science and English from the Ohio State University in 1990. Jennifer received her J.D. Cum Laude from the Ohio State University School of Law in 1994. She has served for more than 15 years on the board of Youth Eastside Services (currently President), a non-profit that provides counseling and support programs for children and young adults who are dealing with drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, abuse and other difficult issues. She is also on the Next Generation Advisory Board for the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her 19-year-old daughter (Olivia), her 25-year-old son (Parker) and her husband, Donnie.

She can be reached at jenivan@microsoft.com

Manish K. Jain

Counsel – Labor and Employment,
General Motors LLC

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Manish Jain attended the University of California at Berkeley for his undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he worked as an Auditor for KPMG and later as Policy Analyst in Education for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. After working for 4 years, he decided to attend law school at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After taking a few courses in employment law, he found the subject matter incredibly interesting and accepted a job with a law firm named Ogletree Deakins in Minneapolis, MN, where he focused his practice on labor and employment issues. In 2015, he joined General Motors LLC in Detroit, MI, which has a workforce of over 100,000 employees, to practice in-house as a labor and employment attorney.

Marie Ma

Chief Legal Officer,
Articulate

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Marie Ma is Chief Legal Officer at Articulate, the leader in creator tools for workplace learning loved by all the Fortune 100. Prior to Articulate, Marie served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Gap Inc. leading the Corporate Secretary’s Office, Corporate & Finance, Global Equity, Legal Operations and M&A teams where she advised on a wide range of corporate, securities, governance, disclosure, ESG, finance, executive compensation, transactional, compliance and nonprofit issues. She also served as division General Counsel for Banana Republic brand. Marie is a passionate advocate for increasing diversity among legal leadership across the profession having led the legal diversity efforts at her prior organization and is now creating the first ever legal diversity program at Articulate through recruiting and hiring practices, engagement with its law firm providers and partnership with key diversity organizations like the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). She previously served on the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area’s (AABA) Board and currently serves on AABA’s Law Foundation Board. Marie is a 2018 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. In 2013, Marie was named a Rising Star by MCCA. Marie earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law where she attended the evening program while working full-time. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Alexis Mendoza

Chief Compliance Officer & Deputy CLO,
Nokia

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Alex leads Nokia’s global Ethics, Compliance & Regulatory function and is based in the New York City area. He joined Nokia in 2016. Prior to assuming the role of Chief Compliance Officer in 2022, Alex served as VP, Deputy CLO and Global General Counsel for Nokia’s Cloud & Network Services business group and Customer Experience organization. Prior to joining Nokia, he held various senior in-house legal roles with Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent including in the areas of Litigation and Compliance. Prior to going in-house in 2010, Alex worked as a litigator in the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General and with a law firm in the New York metropolitan area. Alex is active in the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion space. He leads various internal and external initiatives devoted to the topic and collaborates frequently with the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (“MCCA”) on driving change within the legal community.

Lauren Rothenberg

Senior Corporate Counsel,
Microsoft Corporation

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Lauren is a Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft where she is responsible for commercial and class action litigation matters across Microsoft’s businesses. Lauren leads Microsoft’s Election Protection partnership with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and serves on Microsoft’s Women in CELA leadership team. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for Bay Area women’s leadership incubator The CLUB and served on the leadership team for the Seattle chapter of Leading Women in Technology. Lauren is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Debra Sydnor

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion,
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Debra Sydnor is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Greenberg Traurig, a global law firm with more than 2750 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. In her role, she works closely with the firm’s senior leadership and cross-functional teams to devise, implement, and execute strategic initiatives and programs. These efforts help deepen the firm’s DEI commitments, further enriching the firm’s culture of inclusivity, client engagements, and community investments. Previously, Debra practiced law for more than 17 years at Alston & Bird LLP, where she was a Partner in the firm’s Litigation and Products Liability practice groups. Debra graduated cum laude from Howard University School of Law.

Dominique Ward

Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel, Retirement Plan Services,
Lincoln Financial Group

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Dominique B. E. Ward is an Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel at Lincoln Financial Group in Retirement Plan Services based in Radnor, PA. In her current role, she primarily provides legal guidance to Lincoln’s business partners responsible for providing retirement plan products and services.

Prior to joining Lincoln Financial, Ms. Ward served as an Associate Attorney at Jennings Sigmond, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in multiemployer benefit plans, and worked on an assortment of employee benefits and tax law issues. She also served as a Deputy City Solicitor in the Major Tax Unit at the City of Philadelphia Law Department, where she handled tax litigation regarding the Internal Revenue Code, City of Philadelphia Code, and associated regulations.

Ms. Ward has served as faculty for various professional training programs and continued learning education seminars on assorted topics ranging from “Tax Controversy” to “The Women, Diversity & Law: Awareness into Action Summit.”

Recently, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Community of College of Philadelphia and currently serves on several other boards, such as: the City of Philadelphia Labor Standards Board and Tax Review Board, the Foundation of the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division– Philadelphia Chapter, and as a Board of Director of Philadelphia VIP. Lastly, she is a former president of The Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc., an organization founded to address the professional needs of Black lawyers in the City of Philadelphia, and past member of the Philadelphia Bar Association Judicial Commission and the Board of Governors.

Currently at Lincoln Financial Group, she serves as co-lead of the enterprise-wide African American Business Resource Group.

Previously, Ms. Ward was named as a 2020 Lawyer on the Fast Track by the Legal Intelligencer and as one of Philadelphia’s 2020 Most Influential Leaders by The Philadelphia Tribune.

Ms. Ward received her LL.M in Taxation and Certificate in Employee Benefits from Temple University Beasley College of Law, J.D. from Florida International University College of Law, and Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Miami, where she majored in International Finance and Marketing and minored in Accounting.

Alyse I. Adamson

Principal,
Beveridge & Diamond, PC

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Alyse uses her experience as a federal prosecutor to assist clients with compliance, enforcement, internal investigations, and white collar matters.

As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Alyse offers firm clients strategic counsel on high-stakes enforcement and compliance matters, particularly in complex or large-scale white-collar litigation and internal investigations. Her strong background in criminal investigation, prosecution, and litigation complements the firm’s robust environmental and natural resource regulatory practices.

Highlights of her career include:

• Serving as the U.S. Attorney’s Office Deputy Chief of the Felony Trial Unit, capping a distinguished seven-year career at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in which she received multiple DOJ Special Achievement Awards in recognition of her trial and investigative work.
• Serving as the Early Case Assessment Section’s first Deputy Chief, supervising more than 20 attorneys involved in case screening, warrant review, and arraignment and detention hearings. She received the 2020 U.S. Attorney Team Award for her work in establishing this new section, which is responsible for all case initiation (except for sex offense and homicide) in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
• Arraigning on local charges the first defendants arrested in the January 6th U.S. Capitol insurrection.
• Trying over 40 cases (15 of which were jury trials), consisting of various criminal offenses, with complex cases including counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy. She also served in the Appellate Division, where she authored appellate briefs and prepared oral arguments.
• Reviewing, investigating, and approving the highest level of warrants submitted to the section, to include complex long-term investigations, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and high-profile local cases.
• Leading extensive criminal investigations on social media, telecommunications, transportation, and other tech companies, while working closely with the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, Capitol Police, and the DC Metropolitan Police Department on pending cases.
• Coordinating grand jury investigations, issuing subpoenas, questioning witnesses before the grand jury returned indictments for a variety of offenses.

Alyse is also a former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Associate Director of the Civic Legal Corps, a non-profit entity designed to close the gap to legal services.

Throughout her career, Alyse has participated in numerous diversity, equity & inclusion efforts in various capacities, including serving as Eastern Regional Director of the National Black Prosecutor’s Association, Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee of the DC Women’s Bar Association, and on the Diversity Committee in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. She also speaks frequently on the topic of diversity in the legal field.

Shahira D. Ali

Senior Director, Deputy General Counsel — Global Litigation and Cybersecurity Legal,
Workday Inc.

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Shahira Ali is Director, Associate General Counsel of Litigation & Cybersecurity at Workday, Inc., where she leads Workday’s Litigation and Cybersecurity Legal teams.  Shahira represents Workday in a wide variety of commercial litigation, pre-litigation, and alternative dispute matters.  As Workday’s dedicated cybersecurity counsel, she also plays a key part in supporting and developing Workday’s ongoing efforts to ensure secure networks and products, and leads Workday’s cybersecurity legal strategy in alignment with evolving global cybersecurity laws and regulations.  Shahira received the Outstanding Contributor Award, a company-wide award that recognizes select employees who go above and beyond business as usual to inspire a brighter work day for all. 

Shahira is heavily involved in Workday’s DEI initiatives, serving as Co-Chair of the Legal Department’s Value Inclusion Belonging Equity (VIBE) Committee to lead DEI-focused efforts for pro bono services, recruiting & retention, learning, and outside counsel. In addition, Shahira has initiated multiple DEI programs for Workday’s legal department, serving as a critical stakeholder from inception to execution, including the Street Law Program and Legal Fellows Program. Through the Street Law Program, Shahira leads Workday’s efforts to bring exposure to the legal profession to a local high school with a large under-represented minority population, with the goal of increasing diversity and equity for the next generation of legal practitioners. As a Co-Chair of the Legal Fellows Program, Shahira has created a direct track from law school to an in-house career at Workday. The Legal Fellows Program highly values diversity and strongly encourages traditionally underrepresented law students to apply.

Shahira also serves as a Lecturer at Berkeley Law School, where she teaches Legal Research & Writing.  Before Workday, Shahira worked as an attorney at the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.  At Davis Polk, she represented clients in a broad range of matters in state and federal courts and government investigations, with specific experience involving antitrust, securities, fraud, and contract actions; cybersecurity and privacy issues; and FCPA, DOJ, SEC, and FCC investigations.  During her time at the firm, Shahira maintained an extensive pro bono practice related to immigration, civil rights, and criminal justice reform, and received The Legal Aid Society’s “Pro Bono Publico Award,” which recognizes outstanding pro bono services to the Legal Aid Society and its clients.  Prior to joining Davis Polk, Shahira clerked for Judge Barrington D. Parker, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  Shahira earned her J.D. at Harvard Law School, cum laude, where she served as Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review.  Shahira also holds a master’s degree in business administration, summa cum laude, and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems, summa cum laude, from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Wesley Cheng

Senior Corporate Counsel,
Apple, Inc.

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Wesley Cheng is a Corporate Counsel in Apple’s Global Security Investigations team that focuses on issues related to IP and cyber security. Additionally, Wesley contributes significant time to Apple’s pro bono and inclusion and diversity programs, serving as the volunteer lead for both AsianPacific@Apple and Legal & Global Security. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco where he teaches a course on electronic surveillance law.

He previously was an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as well as Director of the Criminal Prosecution Clinic at New York Law School. Wesley is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where he was selected as a recipient of the Inspire! Award for his demonstrated commitment to public service.

Michelle Park Chiu

Partner,
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

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Michelle Park Chiu is a seasoned antitrust litigator, representing clients in all phases of antitrust litigation from trials to appeals, including cartel allegations, monopolization claims, and vertical restraint cases. She is also adept at defending clients facing complex civil litigation, including matters brought under California Business & Professions Code § 17200 (UCL), as well as representing clients in complex breach of contract disputes. She currently serves as the San Francisco office’s hiring partner.

Twice recognized in Best Lawyers (2023 and 2024) for her commercial litigation work and in Bloomberg Law’s inaugural “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” in 2021, Michelle served as trial counsel for a global technology company in a jury trial in November 2023 and currently defends an international technology company against price-fixing claims in multiple markets for electronic components.

As lead counsel in another commercial litigation matter, she successfully obtained a $24 million judgment on behalf of a financial institution pursuant to an indemnification agreement relating to a data breach in the Southern District of Texas, which was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit. Additionally, she has successfully enforced arbitration clauses on behalf of financial institutions in multiple putative class action claims.

She also played a vital role on the team defending Intercontinental Exchange’s acquisition of Black Knight against an FTC challenge. It became one of the only technology deals the FTC challenged and then closed under the current FTC administration with the vision of making the mortgage origination process more affordable and accessible to all.

Michelle has an active pro bono practice representing individuals in immigration matters. She successfully defended a detained refugee in removal proceedings, resulting in the complete dismissal of all charges against the client during a multiyear representation that resulted in the client becoming a naturalized US citizen. Michelle also successfully obtained a U-Visa for a victim of criminal activity and secured asylum for a client from Syria. Michelle currently serves on the Morgan Lewis Foundation Board.

Melissa Colón-Bosolet

Partner,
Sidley Austin LLP

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Melissa represents clients in high-risk business disputes in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and internal investigations. Her extensive litigation experience spans all aspects of pleadings, discovery, evidentiary hearings, and trial. Melissa’s engagements span numerous industries and legal claims, including those involving breach of contract, business torts, and securities claims. Melissa also represents companies and board committees in some of their most complex and sensitive enforcement and investigation-related issues.

Melissa’s litigation and leadership skills and reputation as a trusted business counselor, writer and speaker has earned her industry accolades. In 2023, Melissa co-authored “M&A Buyer’s Remorse: Fraud or Breach of Contract,” which was published in the New York Law Journal. In 2021, Melissa was named to Bloomberg Law’s inaugural edition of “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40.” In 2020, she was recognized in Crain’s New York Business’ “Notable Women in Law” and New York Law Journal’s “Rising Stars.” She has also been named a “Rising Star” for Business Litigation in New York City by Super Lawyers from 2014 through 2018. Additionally, Melissa is a recipient of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2017 “Top Lawyers Under 40” Award.

Jemar Daniel

Vice President & Senior Counsel,
Paramount Global

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Jemar Daniel is currently a Vice President and Senior Counsel at Paramount Global. Jemar has been a member of Paramount Global’s Business and Legal Affairs department since 2014. He advises clients on various pre-production-related legal matters, including defamation. intellectual property. right of publicity. production transactions, marketing and promotions. and pre-litigation strategy. His clients include scripted, unscripted. digital. news, off-channel production teams and various ad-sales business units. Jemar also works closely with other Paramount law department teams to create legal guidelines and policies for integrated marketing business units that produce branded content for digital platforms.

Jemar is also a member of Paramount Global’s legal departments Diversity, Equity. and Inclusion Committee. As co-chair of the Partnering with Outside Counsel subcommittee, he leads initiatives and coordinates programs to foster a more diverse and inclusive field for minority and underrepresented legal practitioners.

Jemar is a frequent panelist and guest lecturer on First Amendment law, production legal matters, intellectual property, advertising Law, and general media law developments. He is also a Legal Council on Legal Diversity Fellow alumnus and was a Black In-House Counsel “Rise Up” executive leadership development program cohort member (2023).

Before joining Paramount Global. Jemar was a member of BET Networks’ Business and Legal Affairs department. He obtained his J.D. from The American University’s Washington College of Law and is admitted to practice in New York. He is a graduate of McDaniel College and a visiting member of its Board of Trustees.

Patrick S. Dorime

Corporate M&A Partner,
Ropes & Gray

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Patrick Dorime (36, March 13, 1987) is a nimble and versatile deal lawyer who advises investment firms and their portfolio companies in corporate transactions, many involving companies in distressed and special situations. Patrick was elected to the partnership at Ropes & Gray in October of 2021 – the firm’s youngest partner at the time of his election. He leads clients across industries through mergers and acquisitions, structured equity investments and other bespoke corporate transactions, including special situations. Patrick also works closely with the firm’s restructuring group to offer a corporate perspective for clients undergoing in- and out-of-court restructurings and similar distressed transactions.

A natural problem solver, Patrick enjoys working with clients and counterparties to come up with creative solutions to complicated issues that arise in deal-making. He is also commended by clients and colleagues for his calming presence in negotiations and his exceptional ability to read the room. He brings these strengths to counseling clients in many industries, including health care, technology, energy and infrastructure, manufacturing, chemicals and industrial services.

As the son of two Haitian immigrants, Patrick is active in giving back to his community, representing Haitian immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Patrick and his family also participate in periodic missions to his grandparent’s home in Arcahaie, Haiti, which they converted into a medical clinic after the couple was tragically killed by gunmen during a break-in. The medical clinic provides free medical services to the community in Arcahaie, Haiti through a non-profit organization established by his family, the Dorsainvil Foundation.

Avia M. Dunn

Partner,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

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Avia Dunn provides bespoke and practical solutions to life sciences companies on matters related to the development, implementation and oversight of their health care compliance programs, both proactively and in connection with the negotiation of corporate integrity agreements.

Ms. Dunn advises clients on matters related to compliance with fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA privacy restrictions and industry codes related to product promotion and manufacturer interactions with providers and patients. She also counsels extensively on product support programs, providing strategic guidance on program structures, program tactics and policies and procedures. Additionally, Ms. Dunn regularly represents life sciences companies in government enforcement actions and internal investigations involving a full range of fraud and abuse issues. She also conducts pre- and post-transaction reviews in connection with transactions in the life sciences industry and has advised clients on more than 100 life sciences-related transactional matters.

Ms. Dunn was recently named one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America. She is active with Skadden’s diversity leadership initiatives and serves on the firm ‘s Women and Diversity committees. Ms. Dunn also was recently named to the Lawyers of Color’s inaugural list of Wonderful Women, which recognizes dynamic women attorneys working in law firms, companies and government agencies across the U.S. who show promise in their careers and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession. In addition, she previously was a fellow in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Fellows Program, a yearlong leadership and professional development initiative.

Jaelyn Edwards Judelson

Partner,
Akin

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Since joining the firm in 2012, and as described in more detail above, Jaelyn Edwards Judelson has built an impressive record as a go-to advocate for clients, deploying innovative solutions to solve complex issues. Her most successful accomplishments routinely involve navigating the intersection of international business and trade regulations, assisting clients in conducting global investigations and audits, and developing compliance programs and strategies spanning export controls, economic sanctions and anticorruption matters.

A decorated lawyer with several recognitions under her belt, Jaelyn was named among the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2023 Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s list. She has also been named among The Recorder’s 2022 “Lawyers on the Fast Track,” National Bar Association’s 2020-2021 Top 40 Under 40: Nation’s Best Advocates and The Network Journal’s 2019 40 Under Forty Achievers Award winners.

Jaelyn is an esteemed alumna of the University of Chicago, where she graduated with honors with an A.B. in Public Policy Studies and Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree.

Adrienne Gittens

Corporate Deputy General Counsel,
Comcast Corporation

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Adrienne is an integral part of the Comcast Corporate Compliance team, which oversees and reports on the compliance programs across Comcast’s global subsidiaries: Xfinity, NBCUniversal and Sky.  Adrienne works closely with the legal teams and key business leaders of Comcast’s subsidiaries to ensure that the Company conducts business in compliance with existing and developing laws and regulations and agreements.  Adrienne also has led on key aspects of the Company’s compliance program, including managing the Company’s statements and strategic oversight of procedures related to human rights and anti-forced labor. 

In 2023, Adrienne was appointed and served as the Interim Chief Compliance Officer for Sky, Comcast’s UK-based subsidiary.  During this time, Adrienne led a team of more than 45 Compliance and Data Protection lawyers and legal professionals across Sky’s UK, Italy and Germany offices.  Adrienne oversaw and reported to Sky’s senior executives on all facets of the Company’s Compliance and Data Protection programs for Sky’s 34,000+ global employees including training, communications, due diligence and third-party risk management, complex investigations, and risk assessments. 

Adrienne’s impact is not limited to her compliance role.  She serves as the Chair of Comcast’s Law Firm Diversity Committee, in which she leads the Company’s efforts to improve DEI in the engagement and retention of diverse outside counsel and legal service providers.  She is also an active member of Comcast’s Legal DEI Committee and leads on the company’s strategic relationships with organizations such as the National Bar Association and Corporate Counsel Women of Color. 

Due to her outstanding work at Comcast, Adrienne was selected in 2021 as Comcast’s Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow.  Adrienne was also recognized as a “Next Generation Leader” by Legal Momentum, the nation’s first and oldest legal defense and education fund for women, and as a top 40 under 40 lawyer in Pennsylvania by National Black Lawyers.  Prior to joining Comcast, Adrienne was a senior associate at a global law firm, where she was named a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by the Legal Intelligencer for her complex commercial litigation practice and extensive pro bono work. 

Adrienne graduated from Princeton University magna cum laude and received her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School.  Following law school, Adrienne clerked for the Honorable Robert B. Kugler for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. 

Mari Grace

Partner,
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

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Mari Grace is a partner in Davis Polk’s Civil Litigation practice. She represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including complex commercial and contractual disputes, securities litigation, bankruptcy-related litigation and class actions.

Mari’s extensive clientele features major energy companies, telecommunications companies and financial institutions, among others, which she has advised on matters in both federal and state courts across the country. Most recently, this includes reaching a favorable resolution for Murphy Oil in a multi-million-dollar contract dispute, as well as helping telecommunications company BT Group win a putative class action over alleged securities fraud.

Outside of her full practice, Mari has a deep focus on supporting the next generation of associates through mentoring. She is an active member of the firm’s DPWomen, Asian/South Asian/Middle Eastern (ASAME), LGBTQ+, and First Generation Affinity Groups – which are a cornerstone of the firm’s culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. The various firmwide affinity groups have enabled Mari to network, mentor and take on leadership opportunities as well as further develop her robust career.

Additionally, Mari is an active member of the Asian American Bar Association and is actively involved with DirectWomen — an organization dedicated to increasing the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards. She’s also an active member of Women in Securities Litigation, an organization created to promote and support collaboration, networking, profile-raising, and mentoring among women who practice in or are associated with the field of securities litigation defense.

Widely recognized as a leader in her practice area, Mari was awarded Lawdragon 500 X’s “The Next Generation” award in 2023 as well as being named a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation. She was also selected as a fellow by Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and was awarded the Pro Bono Publico Award by Legal Aid Society.

Mari graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 2011. She has two additional master’s degrees from Fordham University and Columbia University in international political economy and development and social work, respectively. While at Davis Polk, Mari also briefly served as a public defender for Legal Aid Society in Manhattan.

LTC Corey P. Gray

Partner,
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP

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Corey Gray is a commercial litigator with Boies Schiller Flexner, based in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office, and he is also a board member on the firm’s diversity council. Corey specializes in high-stakes contract, antitrust, and energy litigation that often involves issues of first impression. With a mindset focused on serving the people, he’s also active in pro bono outreach.

Before becoming an attorney, Corey served as an Officer in the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division and was deployed twice to Iraq. It was during his second deployment, when his service included a counterinsurgency strategy course, that his moral compass pointed him toward law school. Today, Corey continues to serve as Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law.

Ravdeep Singh Grewal

Senior Counsel, Employment and Litigation,
TikTok Inc.

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Rav Grewal is Senior Counsel, Employment and Litigation at TikTok Inc.  Previously, Rav served as Senior Counsel, Global Employment Law at Shutterfly where he counseled and supported business partners throughout North America, EMEA, and APAC on all matters related to labor and employment law. Prior to joining Shutterfly, Rav led successfully 24 Hour Fitness’ Covid-Response Taskforce where he effectively helped convince numerous local and state governments to safely reopen gyms across the United States.

For almost the last decade, Rav has served on the Board of Directors for the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC), and most recently, as its dynamic and accomplished President. During the past four SABA-NC galas, Rav’s fundraising efforts have raised more than a record-breaking $150,000 for charities and non-profits who operate in Northern California. In an unprecedented and remarkable evening at SABA-NC’s 2023 annual gala, Rav single-handedly raised almost $50,000 in 15 minutes on behalf of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of North America to help create the very first South Asian Legal Defense Fund. For his selfless efforts and dedicated service to SABA, Rav is the inaugural recipient of SABA-NC’s Kohinoor Award.

Upon graduating high school at the age of 16, Rav attended the University of California, Berkeley, where completed degrees in both Economics and Political Science within 3 ½ years. Shortly thereafter he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis – King Hall.

Jack Hamilton

Partner,
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

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Jack Hamilton is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where they are a member of the mergers and acquisitions practice. Jack has extensive transactional experience, having represented clients in both public and private mergers, stock purchases, asset acquisitions, tender and exchange offers, SPAC transactions, and other strategic corporate transactions. In addition, Jack has counseled privately and publicly held companies on general corporate governance and disclosure matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Jack practiced at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Lisa Maria Harris

Partner – Labor & Employment,
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

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Lisa Harris is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm’s Orange County and New York offices. Her practice focuses on Labor and Employment and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion counseling and compliance.

Areas of Practice

Lisa counsels and represents management in both employment and traditional labor matters. She regularly conducts and advises on high-level investigations and trains HR professionals on how to conduct such investigations internally. She also advises on diversity, equity and inclusion best practices. As a member of the firm’s ESG and Sustainability Industry Team, Lisa supports clients in addressing the social aspects of ESG through development and promotion of a healthy and equitable workplace. In addition to her experience as outside counsel, Lisa has several years of experience as in-house counsel both on a full-time and seconded basis. This experience gives her specific insight into the challenges and issues faced by in-house employment counsel and DE&I teams.

Employment Counseling. Lisa regularly counsels management in all aspects of California, New York and federal employment law, including employee hiring and discipline procedures, worker classification issues, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, wage and hour compliance, employee severance and termination procedures, and restrictive covenants. She has significant experience drafting all types of employment agreements and policies, including employee handbooks, sexual harassment policies, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and severance agreements. 

Investigations. Lisa is an experienced investigator. She regularly assists employers with sensitive internal investigations. She has conducted several investigations into alleged misconduct by senior executives of sports teams, a publicly traded alternative investment advisor, a publicly traded utility, and a national communications firm. 

Training. Lisa conducts harassment prevention training for both supervisors and non-supervisors, which satisfies current state-mandated training requirements in both English and Spanish. She also conducts DE&I training for both employees and HR professionals addressing various topics, including implicit/unconscious bias, promoting an equitable workplace, bystander intervention, and allyship. Additionally, she trains HR professionals on wage and hour compliance, conducting internal investigations, managing leaves of absence and reasonable accommodations, and other employment matters. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Lisa assists clients with the development and roll-out of their employee resource groups, drafts DE&I policies, and advises on the implementation of DE&I initiatives within legal parameters.

Traditional Labor. Lisa counsels and represents management in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and regularly advises on labor disputes. Lisa frequently represents management in labor arbitrations involving both contract interpretation and employee discipline and termination matters. She also represents management before the National Labor Relations Board defending against unfair labor practice charges.

Employment Litigation. Lisa represents employers in single and multi-plaintiff harassment and discrimination claims. She also has extensive experience representing employers before administrative agencies and responding to complaints filed with those agencies alleging violations of federal and state employment laws.

Lisa earned her law degree from St. John’s University and graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Kyle Jason Hayes

Partner and Co-Chair, Hydrogen Practice,
Foley & Lardner LLP

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Kyle Hayes is a partner and corporate lawyer in the New York office of Foley & Lardner LLP and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Hydrogen practice. His practice focuses on all phases of renewable energy project development and M&A across a wide spectrum of assets and technologies, principally including solar, battery storage, wind, EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen and renewable fuels. Having previously served as a federal regulator and in-house counsel to one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the U.S., Kyle brings both deep industry connections and experience to clients within the renewables and energy transition space, having handled hundreds of transactions over more than a decade.

Kyle’s representation includes that of developers, sponsors, utilities, investors and corporate offtakers, with a focus on helping clients create both financeable and marketable renewable assets, as well as counseling buy-side clients in both corporate and project-level acquisitions. Kyle also counsels infrastructure-focused asset managers with respect to fund formation focused on renewables and energy transition assets.

Prior to entering private practice, Kyle served as an in-house counsel to Con Edison of New York, where he handled a variety of legal and commercial matters within the utility’s wholesale and retail energy markets. He began his legal career at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Kyle is an active thought leader and participant in the renewables industry, having provided analysis and perspective to major industry publications and media outlets, including, for example, on the role of RNG as an asset class and how to best mitigate the nature of equipment supply chain constraints. He currently serves as a member of Dynamo Energy Hub’s Board of Advisors.

Renny Hwang

Deputy General Counsel,
OpenAI

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Renny Hwang is currently Deputy General Counsel at OpenAI as the head of all litigation and regulatory matters. Previously, Renny Hwang was Senior Director of Litigation for Google where he worked for nearly 14 years. In this role, Renny worked on the Oracle v. Google and Gonzalez v. Google, the only two cases where Google appeared before the Supreme Court, and secured victories for both. He managed a team of over 50 attorneys and technical advisors worldwide. He also successfully managed a docket of approximately 250 patent and other intellectual property matters. Renny advised on intellectual property issues related to open source, as well as complex licenses, acquisitions and transactions.

Previously, Renny practiced IP litigation in Los Angeles at a global law firm. He also has experience in product management and software development, leading product and engineering teams in building Internet software technologies.

Renny received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a B.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford University.

Kail Jethmalani

Partner,
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

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Kail Jethmalani represents clients across industries in all areas of antitrust law, including high-stakes litigation, domestic and cross-border mergers, and investigations. As one of only three attorneys named “most highly regarded” Future Leaders in Competition in North America” by Who’s Who Legal in 2021 and 2022, clients rely on Kail’s pragmatic approach to advancing cohesive defense strategies as coordinating counsel in multidistrict litigation. His recent litigation experience includes multiple treble-damage class actions and State Attorney General litigations alleging industrywide conspiracies to raise the prices of broiler chicken and pork, and to suppress compensation to broiler chicken farmers.

Kail serves as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law’s Marketing Administrative Committee. His diverse pro bono practice includes helping immigrants obtain asylum in the U.S., representing a prison inmate in a civil rights case against government officials, and representing a class of restaurant workers to recover unpaid wages.

Prior to joining Axinn, Kail interned at the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. He earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School.

Vinita Kailasanath

Life Sciences & Tech Transactions Partner,
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

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Vinita Kailasanath has extensive experience in strategic intellectual property and data-driven transactions in life sciences and technology, and particularly at their intersection. Vinita leads the MedTech practice at Freshfields and has represented life sciences companies, technology companies, healthcare companies and providers, and investors in connection with the execution of their cutting-edge MedTech and digital health strategies in addition to many of their other complex licenses and collaborations, strategic investments, and R&D and supply agreements. Vinita has advised clients on transactions involving medical devices (including SaMD), wearables, mobile apps, telemedicine, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), IoT, software, hardware, pharmaceutical products and biologics, and also routinely advises on the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

Vinita’s work across the life sciences and technology sectors makes her uniquely well-equipped to structure a wide variety of agreements to enable clients to develop, use, commercialize and protect innovative offerings. In doing so, she draws on her graduate degree in molecular and cellular biology and in-depth knowledge of intellectual property gained through a clerkship at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She is well-versed in the business, regulatory environment, and goals of the healthcare sector, while also being deeply familiar with Software as-a-Service (“SaaS”), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (“IaaS”) and Platform-as-a-Service (“PaaS”) arrangements as well as other cloud and technology-related considerations.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Vinita conducted graduate-level neuroendocrinology research; worked in the legal department of a leading alternative energy company specializing in the production of algal oils and bioproducts; and assisted pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies with product launches and other marketing and sales matters.

Vinita is the co-chair of the Freshfields Asian, Pacific, South Asian American Employee Resource Group and serves on the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors.

Colleen Lee

Partner, M&A, Corporate Securities and Venture Capital,
Baker & McKenzie LLP

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Colleen Lee is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Baker & McKenzie LLP, where she focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and startup investments, spin-offs, carve-outs, corporate securities, corporate governance and other corporate matters. Recognized as a “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers in 2023 and 2024, Colleen represents and advises companies and private equity firms in a variety of U.S. and cross-border acquisitions and dispositions, restructurings, strategic investments and governance matters.

In addition to her corporate law practice, Colleen gives pro bono presentations at schools to educate students on their legal rights in relation to cyber, hate and sex crimes.

She is an active member of diversity and API initiatives in her community.

Colleen received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her law degree from New York University School of Law, receiving many awards and honors, including first in her major at Berkeley.

Winnie Ling

General Counsel, Head of Legal & People,
Blend Labs, Inc. (NYSE: BLND)

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As the General Counsel and Head of Legal & People at Blend Labs, Inc. (NYSE: BLND), a technology company powering the future of banking by bringing simplicity and transparency to financial services, Winnie oversees all aspects of its Legal & Compliance functions, in addition to leading Human Resources and Strategic Operations.

Winnie is a trusted advisor, strategic partner and dynamic executive who helped steer Blend through a successful IPO and NYSE listing in 2021, the pinnacle of the company’s growth trajectory to date. She has a track record of guiding cross-functional teams towards operational excellence and financial improvements, including through times of intense organizational change and market volatility. Winnie’s leadership extends beyond legal expertise as she drives business success, navigates complex regulatory landscapes, and mitigates risks, all while fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture.

Prior to joining Blend, Winnie was a corporate attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, a prestigious law firm, where she advised financial institutions, technology companies, and other clients on a wide range of capital markets, financing, M&A and other strategic transactions as they expanded their impact and reach. As an Australian with extensive experience in New York and London, Winnie brings an international perspective and invaluable cross-border expertise when leading companies and teams through key opportunities and challenges.

Winnie was honored by NYC FinTech Women as an “Inspiring FinTech Female” in 2023, recognizing her impact, influence and advocacy efforts. 

Winnie graduated from Columbia Law School as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and also holds a business degree and a law degree from the University of New South Wales.

Jesse Ryan Loffler

Member,
Cozen O’Connor

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Jesse focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including matters relating to real estate litigation, securities law, shareholder litigation, contract, governmental investigations, insurance, bankruptcy, and employment disputes. He has handled matters at all levels of the state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

In particular, Jesse has extensive experience in real estate litigation and has handled a wide range of complex real estate disputes in state and federal trial and appellate courts around the country, including but not limited to cases arising out of distressed assets and foreclosures; commercial mortgage-backed securities and trust issues; disputes between trustees, special and master servicers, lenders, and borrowers; disputes relating to purchase agreements, including options and rights of first refusal; complex landlord-tenant disputes, including the interplay between ground leases, subleases, and commercial financing; and multimillion-dollar cases involving damage and destruction to real property and its owners.

Jesse also has experience with significant shareholder and securities litigation, including actions involving breaches of fiduciary duties, squeeze outs of minority shareholders, joint venture and intra-corporate disputes, derivative lawsuits, securities fraud and 10b-5 actions, and disputes relating to convertible notes and other complex financing arrangements.

In addition, Jesse’s broad complex commercial practice ranges from constitutional law claims (including a victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck, 139 S. Ct. 1921 (2019)) to corporate and governmental investigations, board and audit committee representations, adversary proceedings and other bankruptcy-related proceedings, and all manner of commercial contract disputes.

Before joining the firm, Jesse was a litigation associate at the New York headquarters of an international law firm. While there, he engaged in all aspects of complex commercial litigation at trial and appellate level in federal and state courts.

Jesse also serves as president of the board of directors of the National LGBT Bar Association. Jesse also maintains an extensive pro bono practice serving a diverse range of clients in impact litigation, including matters relating to LGBTQ and political asylum, voting rights, women’s access to health care, and transgender rights.

Jesse gained valuable business experience before attending law school.  He was co-founder and managing director of Magellan Publications, Inc. and manager of Research & Business Development for the Regina Regional Economic Development Authority (now Economic Development Regina, Inc.).

Jesse earned his undergraduate degree in Government from Harvard University, and earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was head editor of the Cardozo Law Review and member of Order of the Coif. While attending law school, he was a research assistant to Professor Marci Hamilton, with whom he was a founding board member of CHILD USA, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to protecting children and preventing abuse.  Jesse was also an Alexander Fellow, acting in the capacity as junior clerk, to Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Lauren Moore

Partner,
WilmerHale LLP

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Lauren Moore, 36, is a partner at WilmerHale LLP in Washington, D.C.

Lauren earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in political science and communications from the University of Southern California in 2009.  She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2012, where she served as articles editor of the Harvard Law and Policy Review and an executive board member of the Black Law Students Association.  She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Rosemary M. Collyer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Lauren began her career at WilmerHale in 2012 as an associate in the firm’s Litigation/Controversy Department.  As an associate, she participated in the work and life of the firm in ways that far surpassed her age and experience.  For instance, she provided meaningful contributions to help establish the firm’s Anti-Discrimination Practice.  She advised colleges and universities on Title IX matters; advised corporations and other entities on sensitive internal investigations; and helped respond to subpoenas and civil investigative demands from federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In 2018, Lauren left the firm to serve as deputy general counsel and then general counsel to then-Senator Kamala D. Harris on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.  In that role, she led the Senator’s work on judicial nominations and civil rights policy.  Lauren’s leadership qualities, maturity, and judgment put her in position to lead high-stakes hearings, including Supreme Court confirmation hearings and oversight hearings involving then-Attorney General William Barr, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and other senior Justice Department officials.

In 2021, Lauren was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to serve as associate counsel in the White House Counsel’s Office.  In that role, Lauren worked closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to respond to litigation challenging various federal programs—including provisions of COVID-19 relief funding that were focused on historically underserved populations.  She also advised the Domestic Policy Council on executive orders involving civil rights and equity issues, advised the Gender Policy Council on Title IX and reproductive health policies, and helped establish and lead policy initiatives relating to clemency and access to counsel.

Since returning to WilmerHale in 2022, Lauren’s practice has grown rapidly to support clients on matters at the intersection of law, government, media, and public policy. She is currently leading civil rights reviews for corporate clients; assisting clients with reverse discrimination lawsuits and demand letters; representing clients in congressional investigations; and representing major technology companies in False Claims Act litigation.  Lauren also has an active pro bono practice, where she has advised nonprofit organizations on racial equity and DEI initiatives after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC. 

Juan Morado Jr.

Partner and National Co-Chair of DEI Committee,
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff

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Benesch Partner and National Co-Chair of the firm’s national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Juan Morado Jr. is a seasoned health care regulatory and policy attorney with a history of public service and mentorship of young Latinx attorneys throughout the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. Juan has extensive experience working with state and federal agencies, and provides strategic counsel to private and public corporations, organizations, and individuals. He also serves as a critical point of communication between state regulators and members of the community when new health care facilities are planned and built.

At Benesch, Juan advises hospitals, health systems, physician groups, pharmacies, cannabis businesses, and other clients, helping them to ensure compliance while navigating complex regulatory requirements and the implementation of industry best practices.

Juan has risen in the ranks quickly at Benesch. In 2021, Juan was named an equity partner after just four years at the firm. Juan also serves as the relationship partner for several client matters and leads attorney teams for clients NANI, Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Center, Resilience Healthcare, Rush University System for Health, Dialysis Care Centers, Insight Hospital and Medical Center, Humboldt Park Health, Ignite Resorts, Tampico Beverages, and The Jellyvision Labs.

In his health care practice, Juan is one of the leading Certificate of Need (CON) attorneys in Illinois, a marquee skill set valued by clients that sets him apart from his peers. In Illinois, hospitals and health services operators seeking to open or significantly expand facilities must receive a CON from the state, confirming that there is, in fact, a need for their services in the area where they wish to locate. Juan guides clients through the process of establishing new hospitals, surgery centers, and nursing homes, and obtaining regulatory approval for complex multimillion-dollar facility changes of ownership.

Juan also works with a wide range of clients dealing with both internal and government investigations, issues involving disadvantaged business enterprises, litigation related to government procurement, and property tax exemption appeals. In addition, Juan assists clients through the federal, state, county, and city Minority-Owned Business and Women-Owned Business certification and appeal processes.

Throughout his career, Juan has honed his ability to work within the complexity of Illinois’ health care regulatory laws. Prior to joining Benesch, Juan was general counsel for the Health Facilities and Services Review Board of the State of Illinois. He provided strategic counsel on a wide range of legal matters having statewide ramifications, developed administrative rules governing the CON process, and managed the Board’s Long-Term Care Advisory Subcommittee.

Juan also served in the Office of the Illinois Governor from 2013-2015 as a Deputy Chief of Staff and Associate General Counsel. During that time, Juan acted as the Governor’s Senior Advisor on Transportation and Infrastructure Policy. Juan was also appointed by the Governor to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Board. Juan began his legal career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, where he focused on land use and zoning issues, and municipal code compliance.

Juan’s continued ascension, both at the firm and in the broader community, has earned him many recognitions and accolades. In 2020 and 2021 Juan was listed as a Chambers USA Leading Lawyer in Healthcare and was named by Crain’s Chicago Business as a “Notable Leader in DEI.” From 2018-2022 he was named to the “Most Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting and Law” list by Crain’s Chicago Business. He was also named to the 40 under 40 lists by Chicago Lawyer Magazine and Chicago Daily Bulletin, and Negocios Now.

Juan is a graduate of DePaul University, where he majored in American Political Systems, and the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Josh Morales

Associate General Counsel, Reality Labs,
Meta

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Josh Morales leads product counseling for virtual reality devices and related accessories at Meta’s Reality Labs. In this role, he advises on all legal and regulatory aspects of Meta’s VR hardware development roadmap and has served as cross-functional legal team leader for Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and all other VR headsets currently in development at Meta. He has also counseled Reality Labs researchers, scientists, engineers, and business leaders on matters impacting research and development, including the negotiation of IP and other technology driven transactions.

Prior to joining Meta, Josh honed his technology and IP transactional expertise in private practice. He began his career at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he represented private equity funds and their affiliates in structuring and negotiating domestic and international M&A transactions and other corporate matters.

Josh credits his subsequent experience at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP with igniting his passion for the intersection between law and technology and what would become his ultimate focus on building the metaverse. At Parker Poe, Josh represented companies engaged in IP and technology driven transactions in various industries, including consumer electronics, education, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and software/information technology. He regularly advised clients on the preparation and negotiation of a variety of commercial agreements, including IP licensing and assignment agreements as well as purchase, supply, distribution, services, employment, and consulting arrangements. He also frequently counseled clients regarding their trademark, copyright, domain name, and other proprietary rights, including in connection with acquisitions, divestitures, licensing, and the clearance, adoption, registration, and protection of new brands.

Josh has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the various stops in his career, often in leadership roles focused on amplifying LatinX voices in legal practice. He has served as regional deputy president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, mentored Miami-area LatinX youth through starting their careers in the law, and provided pro bono legal services for Female and BIPOC owned and operated businesses for over a decade.

Josh grew up in Miami, Florida and received a BBA in Legal Studies (Business Law) from the University of Miami in 2008. He received his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2011. Today, he resides in Seattle, WA with his wife, Rebecca, their 13-month-old daughter, Amelia, and a vintage guitar collection he has been building since he was 10 years old.

Robert Niles-Weed

Partner,
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

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Robert B. Niles-Weed is a partner in Weil’s Complex Commercial Litigation and Appeals and Strategic Counseling practices, where he focuses on various commercial disputes at all phases of trial court litigation, as well as appeals in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Robert’s work mainly involves developing case strategy, drafting and arguing dispositive motions and appeals, and serving as appellate counsel at trial in cases addressing high-stakes and cutting-edge legal issues. His practice encompasses a variety of subject matters and disciplines, including bankruptcy, intellectual property, antitrust, securities and M&A, constitutional and administrative law, and other complex commercial litigation.

Robert’s notable recent experience on Weil teams includes:

Bankruptcy

Securing a unanimous win for the respondent in the U.S. Supreme Court in Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, a case involving the Bankruptcy Code’s fraud exception to discharge.

Representing Westinghouse Electric Company in a successful certified interlocutory appeal before the Third Circuit on a first-impression issue of bankruptcy claims administration. (Robert’s successful oral argument can be heard here.)

Winning significant appellate victories in the Second Circuit in multi-hundred million dollar cases arising out of the bankruptcies of Sears and Lehman Brothers.

Intellectual Property

Drafting an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of small and medium biotechnology companies in Amgen v. Sanofi on the standard for patent enablement.

Securing pre-verdict judgment as a matter of law of non-infringement for Comcast in a $150M+ patent infringement case initiated by WhereverTV, Inc. in the Middle District of Florida related to Comcast’s X1 interactive guide.

Antitrust

Representing Microsoft in litigation arising from its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc., a leading publisher of popular PC, console and mobile games.

Representing Regeneron in connection with a monopolization claim in Delaware federal court against Amgen for leveraging sales of Otezla and Embrel to boost sales of Amgen’s drug, Repatha.

Securities and M&A

Winning a significant victory in Delaware Chancery Court on behalf of Carlyle Group in a seminal business litigation arising out of the triggering of a material adverse effects clause in a deal negotiation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representing Sasol Ltd., a South African energy and chemical company, and senior executives in a securities class action in the Southern District of New York relating to the construction of a multi-billion dollar chemical plant in Louisiana.

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Successfully bringing and arguing a landmark First Amendment case for Upsolve Inc. in the Southern District of New York to empower non-attorney justice advocates to provide legal advice to expand access to justice for low-income defendants in debt collection lawsuits. The case was featured in the New York Times and described by Law360 as one of “the cases that most affected access to justice in 2022.”

Winning a significant victory against the Small Business Administration in a case under the Administrative Procedure Act that helped to obtain loan forgiveness for small business owners with prior criminal history struggling with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Complex Commercial Litigation

Representing NBA #1 draft pick Zion Williamson in high-profile multi-jurisdictional litigation, including several appeals in Florida state court and North Carolina federal court arising out of a dispute with a marketing agency, with asserted claims of more than $100M in potential damages.

Prior to joining Weil, Robert clerked for Justice Elena Kagan of the United States Supreme Court. He also previously served as a law clerk for Judge David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Judge J. Paul Oetken of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Robert graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Law Review. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College.

Philip I. Person

Labor & Employment Shareholder,
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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Philip I. Person serves as the Co-Lead of the firm’s California Wage & Hour Taskforce. Philip focuses his practice on representing employers in wage and hour, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, trade secret misappropriation, non-competition, non-solicitation, and whistleblower claims. He is an experienced litigator, having defended employers against single-plaintiff and class action litigation in both federal and state courts. He also represents employers in labor and employment arbitrations.

Philip coordinates with executives and management to develop and implement plans to mitigate the employer’s risk. He often counsels and advises his clients on employment issues pertaining to leaves of absence, disciplinary actions, terminations, restructurings, reductions in force, employee classifications, handbooks, and policies.

Philip is also a recognized thought-leader in the area of employment law. He has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Corporate Counsel, and Law360 Pulse; is the Co-Editor and Co-Author of PLI’s Employment Law Yearbook, an annually updated treatise on employment law issues; and is the Co-Host of The Performance Review, a California labor and employment podcast available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Philip is Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Due Diligence Subgroup, the firm’s Co-Chair of the Greenberg Traurig African American Inclusion Network, and a member of the firm’s Justice Initiative.

Experience

Labor & Employment Litigation

• Co-chaired a 3.5-week jury trial regarding professional negligence and negligent misrepresentation against insurance brokers for their failure to provide employee health care plans and health reimbursement accounts compliant with San Francisco health care ordinances. The jury awarded a $2,335,008.21 verdict in favor of the client. Thereafter, first-chaired the appeal, where the appellate court affirmed the judgment in its entirety.
• First-chaired a labor arbitration involving a large casino’s decision to terminate an employee for possessing marijuana on casino property. The arbitrator declined to award the employee any back pay, reinstatement, or any other requested remedy.
• Co-chaired an employment arbitration involving 24 causes of action asserted by a former employee of a large cruises and events company. The arbitrator declined to award the employee any recovery against the individual respondents or on 22 of the 24 causes of action. The arbitrator only granted $4,500 on the remaining two causes of action.
• Represented executives and investors of a medical device and equipment company in an arbitration against claims from a terminated executive for defamation, intentional misrepresentation, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and conspiracy. The arbitrator granted a motion to dismiss and subsequent motion for summary disposition in favor of our clients, thereby dismissing the clients entirely from the arbitration.
• Represented a large cruise and events company in an audit by a local employment government agency. The government agency initially found that the company was required to provide certain health care plans and make health care expenditures to employees. At the conclusion of the audit, the local agency reduced the assessment against the company by more than $11 million.
• Represented an international company in a lawsuit by a former employee claiming that he was entitled to stock options. The California Superior Court sustained a partial demurrer in favor of the employer on the grounds that stock options are not wages. The parties settled soon thereafter.
• Represented an insurance provider against its former officer’s whistleblower retaliation claims. The California Superior Court sustained a partial demurrer in favor of the employer on the grounds that an associational retaliation cause of action does not exist under the California Labor Code. The parties settled soon thereafter.
• Represented one of the largest healthcare systems in the nation against a doctor’s claim for age discrimination.

Employment Counseling

• Advised and counseled an out-of-state health information management and technology systems company as it opened its first California office. Drafted California-specific addendums to the company’s handbook and policies.
• Advised startup as it retained an independent contractor to establish its national marketing program. Drafted independent contractor agreement to significantly minimize risk of litigation.
• Revised a renewable energy education center’s employee handbook as to comply with state and local employment laws.

Labor & Employment Due Diligence

• In connection with SemiFive’s acquisition of Analog Bits, Inc.
• In connection with Aveanna Healthcare, LLC’s acquisition of Dunn & Berger, Inc. dba Accredited Nursing Services, for a base purchase price of $180 million, plus up to $45 million subject to satisfaction of certain 2021 volume targets.
• In connection with IF&P Food Holdings Company, LLC’s (a portfolio company of Rotunda Capital Partners) acquisition of Get Fresh Produce, LLC.

Adam Reinke

Partner,
King & Spalding LLP

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Adam Reinke defends class actions and high-stakes product liability lawsuits involving automobiles, medical devices, and consumer goods in federal and state courts throughout the United States.

Adam represents product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in all phases of class actions and other complex cases.  In addition to his experience as a litigator, Adam has written chapters in several practitioner treatises, including a chapter on class actions in Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (2d ed.) and a chapter on food and drug litigation in Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts (4th ed.)  

Adam graduated first in his class from Emory University School of Law.  While in law school, Adam served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Emory Law Journal.  After law school, Adam clerked for the Honorable Edward E. Carnes, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Joe Santiesteban

Partner, Cybersecurity,
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

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Joe Santiesteban is a trusted cybersecurity lawyer and strategic advisor, who regularly steers clients through data breaches as a partner in crisis management.

He brings significant experience advising companies – from one of the largest telecommunications providers to leading entertainment companies to startups on the cutting-edge of AI and more – on the full cycle of an incident. Joe also advises clients regarding regulatory investigations, class actions, and contract disputes that frequently flow from privacy and cybersecurity incidents.

His goal is to help clients respond quickly and with integrity to protect their brand, build trust and mitigate legal risk. Joe is highly adept at directing incident investigations, analyzing potential claims and defenses, examining potential notification obligations and advising on communications strategies that build trust and engagement.

Joe is committed to using these experiences to find creative and engaging strategies to help companies proactively prepare for an incident and mitigate cybersecurity legal risk. This includes helping to build and improve incident response programs through incident response plans, simulated incidents, threat workshops, and training. It also includes assisting clients with practically evaluating the legal risk of security decisions in a variety of transactions and across the product lifecycle.

He also provides strategic advice to cybersecurity companies, including those looking to push technological and defense boundaries in cyber defense, incident response, and threat intelligence. This includes helping companies maximize their security offerings by navigating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), and the Federal Wiretap Act, as well as state law analogs.

Joe serves on Orrick’s Pro Bono Committee. A leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives, Joe is the co-head of the Latinx affinity group at Orrick and served as a fellow for the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity. He is also a member of the Washington Latino Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Brian P. Sylvester

Partner,
Perkins Coie LLP

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Brian Sylvester, a partner in Perkins Coie’s Washington, D.C., office, focuses his practice on food and beverage regulatory matters before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and analogous state regulatory bodies. He is a leading authority on food tech regulation and serves as a trusted advisor to global brands, startups, life science companies, investors, and trade associations.

His practice also extends beyond food and beverage to include cosmetics, OTC drugs and other consumer products and, across all these regulated product categories, spans enforcement actions, audits and investigations, regulatory compliance, labeling and advertising, import and export, due diligence, consumer litigation, comment preparation, public policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, and new product development.

Brian has particular and extensive experience in developing regulatory strategies to commercialize a range of food tech innovations, including transgenic crops and alternative proteins like cultivated meat, among others. He leverages his experience as a former regulator at USDA to counsel clients on strategic considerations around engagement with and advocacy before USDA and FDA on numerous complex issues, including those of first impression. For example, within the past year, Brian obtained a greenlight from FDA for a leading Israel-based precision fermentation startup to commercialize a proprietary milk protein produced without cows.

Brian is a prolific author and frequent speaker at industry-leading events in the United States, Asia, the European Union, Israel, and other parts of the world.  Examples from the past year include: (1) In February 2024, Brian was a featured speaker in Barcelona, Spain at the Meat Evolution Leaders Summit (MEVO); (2) this past November 2023, he presented in Beijing, China at the China International Food Safety & Quality (CIFSQ) Conference; and (3) last summer, Brian presented a session on US food tech regulation to MassChallenge Israel in Jerusalem, Israel.

Sean Spence

Partner,
Proskauer

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Sean Spence is a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of the Private Funds Group. He advises asset managers in connection with private equity fund formations, internal governance and ongoing fund operations.

As a US-qualified lawyer based in London, Sean maintains a global practice covering multiple fund jurisdictions across several strategies, including buyout, energy and infrastructure, real estate, credit and emerging markets funds.

Sean also advises a diverse group of institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds in connection with their global alternative investment strategies, including negotiating investments in primary and secondary transactions across a variety of vehicles and asset classes.

Sean has received several awards for his contributions to the Firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, including for his tenure as chair of the Black Lawyer Affinity Group and having launched the Firm’s A Path Forward speaker series on racial equity. He has also served as a key member on the Firm’s Hiring and Summer Program Committees.

Sean was previously based in the Firm’s New York office and, prior to joining Proskauer, was an associate in the investment funds group at White & Case.

Other Distinctions
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2023-2024
National Bar Association: “40 Under 40”
The Legal 500 United Kingdom: Investment Fund Formation & Management: Private Funds 2024