OCIPLA’s September 2021 Luncheon  (both in-person and virtual on Zoom) Date: Friday, September 17, 2021 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Location: Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails (2607 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614) Topic: Hottest issues in IP: Vaccine IP waiver, Section 101, PTAB institution denials to Trademark Modernization Act, small claims patent court and diversity of innovation     SPEAKERS Andrei Iancu Andrei Iancu focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling. He previously served as the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. As head of the USPTO, Andrei oversaw one of the largest IP offices in the world, an agency with approximately 13,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion. He also served as the administration’s principal advisor on domestic and international IP issues. Among Andrei’s initiatives as director was the creation of the National Council for Expanding American Innovation, a group of industry, academia and government leaders tasked with helping the USPTO develop a comprehensive national strategy to broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem demographically, geographically and economically. Prior to his government service, Andrei […]

OCIPLA’s November 2021 Luncheon Date: Thursday, November 18, 2021 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Location: Online Topic: In-House Panel     SPEAKERS Michael Kline, Cleveland Golf Libby Hope, Intel Randy Chang, Acushnet Company Asal Saffari, Western Digital David Chan, Western Digital (Moderator)  

OCIPLA Holiday Celebration Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021 Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Location: Courtyard at The Boardwalk  

OCIPLA’s January 2022 Luncheon Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Location: Online Topic: Patent Year in Review     SPEAKER Mark A. Lemley, William H. Neukom Professor, Stanford Law School Director, Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology

  Speaker:  John Sganga of Knobbe Martens Topic: "Who’s on First, District Courts or the PTAB? The PTAB’s use of the Fintiv rule to deny IPR petitions when there is parallel litigation" Date/Time: Thursday, March 3 at 12:00 PT Location: Zoom    

  Speaker:  Ahsan Shaikh, partner and head of McDermott Will & Emery’s patent prosecution practice. Topic: Calling All Innovators: Driving Inclusive Team Idea Generation Join OCIPLA for a discussion with Ahsan Shaikh, partner and head of McDermott Will & Emery’s patent prosecution practice, on using hybrid brainstorming to create a more inclusive patenting program that measurably increases inventor diversity. Date/Time: Thursday, March 17 at 12:00 PT Location: Zoom    

  Speaker:  Charlene Minx: Principal and Founder of Minx Law, PC Topic:  "Trademark Modernization Act - Practice Tips for IP Attorneys" Date/Time:  Thursday, April 28 at 12:00 PT Location:  Zoom     SPEAKER Charlene Minx is an intellectual property attorney and trusted advisor to brand owners. For more than 16 years, Charlene has counseled clients in all aspects of brand management and enforcement, including the selection, commercialization, and protection of global IP portfolios. Charlene's clients include both iconic brands and emerging companies in digital media and entertainment, software and Web3, apparel and footwear, and consumer and personal goods. Charlene's work includes guiding clients through complex IP transactions, including brand licensing programs, and lending IP specialist support to M&A transactions. On the enforcement side, Charlene represents clients before the federal courts and the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She also has extensive experience in managing cross-border IP disputes. Prior to forming her own boutique firm in 2016, Charlene practiced in the intellectual property groups at Greenberg Traurig LLP and Steptoe & Johnson LLP. She is a graduate of USC Law School and UC Berkeley.  

  Speakers:  Honorable John W. Holcomb and Alan G. Laquer Topic:  Anatomy of a Copyright Case Date/Time:  Thursday, May 26 at 12:00 PT Location: In-person at Andrei's Conscious Cuisine, 2607 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614     SPEAKERS Honorable John W. Holcomb Judge Holcomb earned his B.S. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984. For the next five years, he served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, including assignments aboard the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62) and with the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. In 1993, Judge Holcomb received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He then served as a law clerk for Judge Ronald Barliant of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Thereafter, Judge Holcomb was an associate with Irell & Manella LLP. In 1997, he joined the intellectual property law firm of Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, and he was elevated to partner in 2002. Judge Holcomb retired from Knobbe Martens in 2018, and he briefly practiced as a bankruptcy and litigation sole-practitioner before joining the firm Greenberg Gross LLP as a partner in 2019. In September […]

  Speaker:  Dahlia George, USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline Topic:  An Overview of the USPTO Patent Pro Bono Program Date/Time:  Thursday, September 15 at 12:00 PT Location: Zoom     SPEAKER Dahlia George Dahlia George first joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in January 2005 as a Trademark Examining Attorney. In January 2008, she joined the USPTO Office of General Law where she investigated and prosecuted EEOC complaints, grievances, and Merit Systems Protection Bureau appeals. She also responded to subpoenas for Government witnesses and documents, investigated Federal Tort Claims Act claims and IG inquiries, and handled Reasonable Accommodation requests for legal sufficiency. In addition, she was the USPTO FOIA Officer. Since January 2011 to the present, she joined the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline where she investigates grievances and complaints alleging misconduct by patent and trademark practitioners; conducts moral character and “fitness to practice” applications for individuals seeking registration before the USPTO; and heads the Diversion Pilot Program for impaired practitioners. Before working at the USPTO, Ms. George was an Assistant Attorney General for the N.H. Office of Attorney General where she investigated and prosecuted professional misconduct cases against licensed professionals such as physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, […]

  Speakers: Christina Zabat-Fran, General Counsel/CLO at ST. JOHN John Conniff, Chief Legal Officer at Amada North America, Inc. Mark Blake, Senior Director - Litigation, Intellectual Property and Strategy at Edwards Lifesciences Michael Kline, Senior Corporate Counsel, Director of IP at Cleveland Golf Topic:  IP Challenges of In-House Counsel Date/Time:  Thursday, October 20, 2022 Registration/Lunch/Networking Start: 11:30am Panel Discussion 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine, 2607 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614 Registration Member – $55.00 Non-Member – $80.00     Sponsors