The AI Strategy Summit: IP, Data and Compliance – Palo Alto

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Jialing Dailey, Director of IP at Atlassian, is a seasoned IP attorney advising product and business teams on a wide range of complex IP issues arising from the product life cycle, strategic business initiatives, and high-profile transactions and M&A deals.  Jialing has extensive experience in licensing, product counseling, open source, copyright, trademark, trade secret, and privacy, and has been involved in creating or updating Atlassian AI Policy, Atlassian Open Source Policy, Atlassian Trade Secret Policy, and Atlassian standard customer facing agreements.  Prior to joining Atlassian, Jialing was a transactional attorney on the Oracle Development and Engineering Legal team, a patent prosecution attorney at Peters Verny in Palo Alto, and a Patent Examiner at the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

Marcela Robledo is a Privacy and Cybersecurity expert who specializes in technology transactions and has advised numerous high-profile corporations in complex IP and privacy issues, particularly around generative AI. Marcela has been advising technology companies for decades and has participated in some of the most significant technology transactions. A thought leader in technology, intellectual property, and data privacy field, Marcela often attends and speaks at industry-led events and authors articles on topical issues. She is a regular contributor to Cleary IP and Technology Insights blog and Cleary Cybersecurity and Privacy Watch blog.

Scout is Senior Counsel at Grammarly, an AI-enabled communication assistance platform. As Product Counsel, she is responsible for ensuring legal compliance across all stages of the product development cycle, from ideation to launch. Scout also oversees Grammarly’s registered IP portfolio. Before Grammarly, Scout worked at Gunderson Dettmer as a Technology Transactions Associate from 2018-2023.

Alexis is Senior Counsel in Patent Strategy & Analytics at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Alexis has over 15 years of experience spanning patent prosecution, patent litigation, and strategic patent counseling. She is a founding member of Gilead’s Legal & Compliance AI Working Group, where she provides advice and guidance on artificial intelligence in the patent arena.

Thomas is a senior patent counsel at Align Technology, where he manages a diverse portfolio of medical device and software technologies related to products like the Invisalign clear aligner. Prior to Align Technology, he worked as an IP lawyer at several companies and large law firms.

Technology innovators call on Marina for assistance in building and managing their patent portfolios, from identifying technical advantages to implementing programs that capture these advantages as patents. 

She provides a broad spectrum of patent-related services, including the preparation and prosecution of patent applications (both U.S. and international), invention mining, patent validity and infringement analysis and opinions, freedom to operate analysis, IP due diligence work, IP licensing, and strategic IP counseling. 

Marina’s technical background in engineering and computer science and industry experience as a software developer, helps her clients take full advantage of the opportunities in this quickly evolving market.

Tao Zhang is Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of IP and Product at Juniper Networks. Her responsibilities include patent portfolio development and optimization, product risk management, security/privacy/open-source compliances, IP transactions, supply chain and procurement contract negotiations. Prior to Juniper, she was Associate General Counsel of IP and Technology, at Ansys, and senior director of IP strategy, at Huawei Device USA, respectively. Before Huawei, she was with Hewlett-Packard for 23 years. She obtained a JD from Concord Law School and a PhD in Physics from Stanford University.

Dr. Zhang is a member of the California Bar and a registered patent attorney with the US Patent and Trademark Office. She is co-author of the book “Mining Ideas for Diamonds – Comparing China and US IP Practices from Invention Selection to Patent Monetization”. She also co-authored several IP articles, including “Call for Standardization in Patent Claim Drafting” (Santa Clara High Tech Law Journal, Volume 34, Issue 3, April 2018), “Making Trademark Decisions Based on Cost Considerations: A Model for Action” (World Trademark Review, April 2020). Dr, Zhang was recognized by the IAM Strategy 300 in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Lestin L. Kenton, Jr. is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Practice Group. Lestin’s practice areas include many aspects of intellectual property law including post grant review proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Section 337 Investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission, infringement and validity opinions, patent portfolio evaluations, and the preparation and prosecution of patent applications along with pursuing global prosecution strategies. Lestin has lead the firm’s PTAB Roundtables since 2014, and has been an adjunct professor at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School since August 2021 where he teaches PTO litigation. In 2019 and 2020, Lestin was selected by Super Lawyers to the Washington DC “Rising Stars” list in Intellectual Property. Lestin has extensive experience practicing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), challenging and defending already-issued patents. In particular, he has handled both inter partes review and covered business method review proceedings under the America Invents Act for Petitioners and Patent Owners. Additionally, Lestin has significant experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to imagery, web, telecommunications, geographic information system technologies, additive manufacturing, graphics processing, avionics, optics, database management systems, computer networking, communications protocols, browsers, and computer architecture.

Peter Jovanovic is a Legal Director, IP at Dell Technologies, providing support for several business units.  At Dell, he is responsible for patent portfolio development, patent litigation, open source management, and license drafting and negotiation.  Before joining Dell, he was an associate patent attorney providing prosecution, litigation, and licensing services.  Prior to becoming an attorney, Peter was a software engineer, having experience in computer security, satellite communications, and logistic planning software.  

Peter has bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics from UC San Diego, a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State, and a juris doctorate from UC Hastings College of the Law.  He is registered to practice before the USPTO and is a member of the California Bar.

Peter is also an adjunct law professor at Golden Gate University School of Law.

Dr. Hongming Liu is a Senior IP Counsel at Tencent America.  He formerly worked at Nokia Technologies, a business group of Nokia Corporation, which also includes HERE and Nokia Networks. At Tencent America, Hongming’s primary function is patent portfolio management and invention harvesting. Prior to Nokia Technologies, Hongming worked as a software developer and software architect. Hongming has taught graduate and undergraduate computer science and software engineering courses at DePaul University, Chicago. Hongming received his juris doctorate and doctorate in Computer Science from DePaul University, and his undergraduate degree from University of Science and Technology of China.

Malgorzata “Gosia” Kulczycka is an experienced attorney in the firm’s San Jose office with a broad-based IP law practice. With more than 15 years of legal experience, Gosia works to protect and support her client’s intellectual property through patent preparation and prosecution and by employing trademark and brand protection strategies for and against infringement claims.

Inventor herself, Gosia practices in various IP areas and technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, communication technologies, complex software, and more.

Gosia also has extensive experience in computer graphics and computer networks. She has procured and managed large IP client accounts in computer graphics and AI.

Jasbir Khalsa is Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft leading and managing the legal team that is providing legal advice to Engineering that is bringing AI to the Operating System.  Jasbir has counseled on the development of many products at Microsoft, including some startups that were acquired by Microsoft in Silicon Valley.  Jasbir is accustomed to working in a fast past environment touching a variety of issues ranging from ethical use of data for artificial intelligence and machine learning, data protection, privacy, IP rights, IP protection, data security, US and international consumer protection laws, marketing, commercial and regulatory compliance.  Prior to Microsoft, Jasbir was North America Regional Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Hitachi Data Systems where her practice focused on Software licensing, technology transactions, privacy and marketing.  Jasbir is licensed to practice law in England & Wales, New York and California.  She is a graduate of Brunel University in London with 2 LLMs, including a LLM from University of Edinburgh in Innovation, Technology and Law.

Lopa is Senior Director of Patent Strategy and Prosecution in TiVo’s Intellectual Property Group. She oversees the complex portfolio development strategies of foreign and domestic patent prosecution to create monetizable assets.  Her areas of focus include computer software and hardware, digital security, data analytics, networks, virtualization, video streaming, cloud computing, and graphical interfaces.

Lopa earned her undergraduate degree from UC Davis in Computer Science and her law degree from Santa Clara University. She is a member of the California Bar and a registered Patent Attorney with U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Lopa is fluent in Bengali, English and Hindi and can make her way around in French. She enjoys dancing Kathak, a classical North Indian dance, in her spare time.

Intellectual Property and Corporate Attorney with in-house and law firm experience. Technical focus in the life sciences, medical/electrical devices, nanotechnology, industrial fluid separations in the petrochemical, refinery, and natural gas fields (processes and materials), and clean/green tech. Past clients include sole inventors, start-ups, venture capital firms, universities, small companies, and Fortune 500 corporations. Diverse experience coupled with clear communication and interpersonal skills to solve a variety of IP issues, build effective IP programs, and handle complex business and commercial matters.

Tarek Sultani is currently General Counsel for JLL Technologies. Previously he was a Lead Commercial Counsel for Google supporting its Devices and Services division. Prior to Google, Mr. Sultani was Director – Senior Counsel at Motorola Mobility. Before moving in-house, he was an Associate in the corporate groups at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

Mr. Sultani was named a UK Young Dealmaker of the Year in 2011 by Mergermarket and Intralinks and won the first ever Google DSPA Values Award in 2018. Tarek is admitted to practice in New York and is a Registered In-House Counsel in California. He is also a CFA charterholder, having earned his charter in 2007. He previously worked as a financial analyst for a government contractor supporting the FAA and as a mutual fund accountant for State Street Bank.
He graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2009 with honors and received his Bachelor’s from Cornell University in 2003 with honors and distinction.

Qian Huang advises major players in technology sectors on intellectual property matters. An experienced attorney with a solid technical background, Qian handles patent matters for clients ranging from Fortune 500 to startup companies, advising on patenting strategy and procurement, legal opinions, freedom to operate, IP due diligence in business transactions, and litigation. With a Ph.D. specializing in AI, Qian has handled a large volume of AI related patent matters over the years, especially in the recent wave of AI, on inventions relating to machine learning models, generative AI, distributed learning, selective training for specialization, big data analytics, and AI-enabled applications, such as personalized services, data mining, unman vehicle, drug discovery, presurgical planning and AI-guided robotic in-surgery navigation, etc. Before becoming an attorney, Qian was a postdoctoral fellow at IBM Research, a research scientist at Siemens Corporate Research and Bell Labs at AT&T with a research focus on machine learning models and applications thereof. Qian calls upon this experience to provide valued legal services to high tech clients.

Ranging from large corporations to small inventors, Blair’s clients benefit from the attention he devotes to solving their intellectual property challenges. His clients trust his business sense and multi-dimensional legal skills to manage their high-value patent assets and global IP portfolios. Blair stays on top of the ever-changing IP landscape through legal organizations and intra-firm committees, and parlays these insights into actionable, value-added counselling that clients use to keep their businesses on the leading edge of their industries.

Blair works closely with clients to discover their core needs and strengths, and advises each one through a customized strategy to achieve their goals. Coupled with his years of experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications, as well as providing expert opinions of counsel, Blair delivers results that mitigate each client’s exposure and risk while increasing the value of their intellectual property assets.

Hemu is one of this country’s foremost leaders in privacy, security, and safety issues clients face across multiple business sectors, including big tech, government, law enforcement, corporations, start-ups, talent, and pro athletes. A globally recognized leader with nearly 25 years of cyber experience, he helps clients build up privacy, safety, and security programs and navigate through crises that might arise as the result of privacy and security breaches. He has developed an extensive network in the state attorney general community and respect as a thought leader on cyber policy matters. Hemu was previously the founder and chief executive officer of cyber security and cyber intelligence firm Cyber Security Affairs, formerly known as SSP Blue.

During his tenure at Cyber Security Affairs, Hemu provided strategic guidance to both corporations and online companies in online safety, security, and privacy issues covering product, policy, PR, and regulatory matters. He effectively helped Internet- and non-Internet-based companies in creating and implementing holistic online safety, security, and privacy programs, including in social media, and provided guidance to safety, security, and privacy technology providers. Hemu has also led numerous product and program audits to identify key risk areas and drive execution of changes. When companies are under government inquiry or investigation at the federal and state levels, Hemu provides strategic and legal guidance in navigating such matters. He engages with the non-government organization (NGO) community to build partnership opportunities and provides crisis media management and proactive media outreach services and media training. Having been a federal prosecutor for computer crimes and online sex crimes, Hemu helps clients develop and implement law enforcement compliance programs and training. He also leads cyber security vulnerability assessments on behalf of clients.

Hemu also works with talent, pro athletes, and executives (principals) who require 24/7/365 cyber threat protection, to act as the eyes in cyberspace for security details on the ground, whether on the road or at home, to identify, prevent, or dismantle any threats brewing in the public, deep, or dark web, including social media. Hollywood stars and other high-profile individuals who have been cyberstalked, hacked, and threatened have sought out Hemu to help them, including with online reputational attacks and cyber privacy.

From 2006 to 2010, Hemu was chief security officer for a mass media and publishing company, where he was responsible for protecting the personal information of more than 200 million users around the world. He has been credited with making a social networking service safe and secure after launching an initiative to identify and remove criminals from the networking site. He also drove the launch of more than 150 other safety, security, and privacy protection features for the company and played a key role in an accord between the company and 49 state attorneys general to develop key principles of social networking safety.

From 2002 to 2006, Hemu worked for a multinational technology company, where he led a global initiative to build safety standards into products across the company. He also implemented a virus enforcement strategy and collaborated with the U.S. Secret Service, Interpol, and the FBI to develop the company’s landmark anti-virus reward program. The program is credited with toppling one of the world’s most notorious virus creators in 2005.

From 2000 to 2002, Hemu was vice president of worldwide Internet enforcement at a trade association that represents major film studios, where he spearheaded a global effort to combat online movie piracy for the major Hollywood studios. During his tenure, Hemu implemented anti-piracy technology that allowed the association to eliminate more than 100,000 illegal movie websites in a year.

From 1997 to 2000, Hemu held simultaneous roles in the federal government, serving as a federal prosecutor against child and computer crimes for the U.S. Department of Justice, advisor to a congressional commission on child safety, and advisor to the White House on cyberstalking. In addition to prosecuting Internet predators, Hemu was behind the prosecution of 17 foreign nationals engaged in the trafficking of women and children into the United States.

Hemu began his career as a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County from 1990 to 1997, focusing on prosecuting sexual assault and child abuse cases. During his tenure, Hemu handled more than 1,000 criminal matters and was a recurring lecturer at rape crisis centers across Los Angeles.

Hemu has also been honored to work with Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the state attorneys general to develop widely used online safety standards. He was appointed by the New York Office of the Attorney General as an independent safety and security examiner to provide periodic independent assessments of a major online company’s safety and security practices. He has been asked by the White House and the United Nations to provide guidance and counsel on navigating the world’s most critical online protection challenges.

With over a decade of experience in the online space, Simrin Hooper is a veteran in the intersection of policy, regulatory, and product with online safety and privacy. At Venable, Simrin leads a team of analysts focused on regulatory response, human rights assessments, and child safety-related client engagements. Simrin has developed safety, security, and privacy programs for clients and operationally helped clients integrate them in their product, engineering, and policy structure. She is also experienced in analyzing the data of client products, including data receipt, data storage, data management, and data sharing, to identify potential client vulnerabilities and mitigation solutions.

During her time as vice president of safety, security, and privacy at a leading Los Angeles advisory firm, Simrin oversaw all related product reviews for clients providing mobile services, interactive games, social networks, dating opportunities, online classifieds, and applications. She reviewed products from both the front- and back-end perspectives, including signup, abuse reports, age-related safety, data management, and other areas to determine strengths and weaknesses from the perspectives of safety, security, and privacy.

As safety and security manager at a global social media platform company, Simrin oversaw all safety, security, privacy-related site and product features and programs for all company properties, focusing specifically on a major social media site with millions of users around the world. She established uniform SSP standards for all company properties and reviewed new features, marketing campaigns, and expansions to ensure adherence to those standards. She also wrote and distributed safety guides for parents and schools in partnership with educational organizations. She created and maintained original content for the social media site’s safety section, which was developed to help parents, teachers, and users navigate online. She also implemented all attorney general joint statement requests for the platform, and developed, implemented, and oversaw marketing and brand campaign policies for alcohol and movie advertisements for all company properties. Simrin was also responsible for building public affairs programs to showcase these efforts to the public and government globally. Simrin led a team of program managers, working closely with product, engineering, communications, legal, policy, regulatory, and government affairs teams.

Simrin has also worked extensively with nonprofit organizations focused on child safety and human trafficking.

Chen is currently a Senior IP Counsel at Innovusion, Inc., providing counseling for all IP and technology related legal matters.  He was previously the Head of IP Legal at Lime, managing all IP related matters, including patent and trademark prosecution, IP litigation, and IP harvesting. Before that, he served as Senior IP Counsel at Tencent and Western Digital Corporation. Chen was also a Patent Examiner at USPTO and a patent attorney at several boutique IP law firms. Before his law career, Chen was a Senior Reliability Engineer and an inventor at Intel Corporation’s Flash Memory Group for 12 years.

Ahsan Shaikh serves as the head of McDermott’s Patent Prosecution practice. He focuses his practice on strategic patent portfolio management and client counseling for computer-related technology companies. He is nationally and internationally recognized for both his strategic legal counsel and his client service.  Intellectual Asset Magazine has repeatedly identified Ahsan as a “World’s Leading Patent Professional,” stating that “[h]is clever application of analytics enables him to identify which arguments… are most effective before different examiners, making his advice gold dust to software companies.” Ahsan was nominated by corporate counsel as the California patent attorney recipient of the international Lexology Client Choice award for “stand[ing] apart for … excellent client care [and] an ability to add real value to clients’ business above and beyond the other players in the market.”

Leveraging his computer science background, Ahsan has successfully represented clients with technology in areas that include artificial intelligence and machine learning, graphical user interfaces, data processing, data analytics, social networking, cloud storage and services, software as a service, web applications, online advertisements and advertisement exchanges, video games, 3D systems, e-commerce websites, network connectivity, network security, network protocols, embedded systems, semiconductor design, satellite and laser systems design, medical devices, medical device software, insurance systems and automobile design.

Ryan N. Phelan is a registered patent attorney who counsels and works with clients in all areas of intellectual property (IP), with a focus on patents. Clients enjoy Ryan’s business-focused approach to IP. With a MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Ryan works with clients to achieve their business objectives, including developing and protecting their innovations and businesses with IP.

Ryan routinely helps clients with:

Preparing and prosecuting high-quality patent applications, and developing strategic patent portfolios for innovative products and services, including in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions (e.g., Europe, China, and Japan).

Preparing legal opinions as to the patentability, non-infringement, validity, and/or freedom-to-operate of innovative products or services.

Litigating IP related issues to protect client market share from competitors and defend clients from IP lawsuits against competitors or non-practicing patent entities.
As a former technology consultant with Accenture and with a background in computer science and engineering, Ryan has extensive experience in computer system, hardware, and software design, engineering, development and related technologies. He represents numerous startup and Fortune 500 clients with patent matters in technical areas and industries including artificial intelligence and machine learning, medical devices, biometrics data and services, virtual reality, imaging, internet and e-commerce, computer networking, data storage and management, encryption and security, mobile telecommunications, consumer electronics, insurance and finance applications, mechanical devices, among others.

Ryan has been published in several well-known IP publications including the World Intellectual Property Review, Bloomberg Law, and IP Litigator, and has spoken as a panelist at various IP conferences, including for the International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA), and for the University of Illinois Chicago Annual IP Conference. Ryan’s recent article titled Artificial Intelligence & the Intellectual Property Landscape details how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business and intellectual property landscape.

Ryan is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law where he teaches coursework on Patenting Software Inventions, with a focus on patent subject matter eligibility dealing with procuring software and computer related patents in view of 35 U.S.C. § 101 and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International, 573 U.S. 208 (2014).

Ryan has been rated by Super Lawyers® and Leading LawyersSM as a Rising Star and peer selected Emerging Lawyer, respectively, for years 2019 through 2020. Since 2021, Ryan has been named a Leading Lawyer. Since 2023, Super Lawyers® recognized Ryan on the Illinois Super Lawyers list. He is featured in the IAM Strategy 300 & 300 Global Leaders guides. In 2024, Ryan was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© list in the practice area of Patent Law.

As an attorney and computer engineer, my experience includes in-house patent attorney, patent agent/attorney with preeminent patent law firms, and patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). I have worked extensively with patent prosecution, examination, client counseling, and litigation around electrical, computer, and data processing patents and patent applications.

After obtaining my JD degree, I was one of only 13 people awarded a Fulbright scholarship to India. During the year I spent in India, I researched the implications of that country’s software patent law and presented my findings to the most prestigious law school in India. As a result, I was asked to teach a six-day seminar based on my research.

As a patent attorney with Knobbe, Martens, Olson, and Bear, LLP, I worked closely with the USPTO and outside counsel. The scope of my work included patent litigation and prosecution, research, client portfolio analysis and management, and patent interference and appeals.

In my current role as patent portfolio manager with Boeing, I manage a portfolio of almost 3,000 patents — 82% of which have been issued during my tenure with the company. I consistently obtain patents faster and at a lower cost than other patent attorneys and possess outstanding risk mitigation skills.

My global experience began with the Fulbright Scholarship in India; since that time, I have given many presentations around the world on IP-related topics including patent subject-matter eligibility and global patent prosecution. My role at Boeing is global as well, involving significant interaction with foreign counterparts to the USPTO.

Outside of work, I am a Houston Astros fan and enjoy hiking and ziplining.

Specialties: Patents, Intellectual Property, Patent Litigation, Licensing, Legal Research, Patent Law, Copyright Law, Corporate Litigation, Privacy Law, Mergers & Acquisition (M&A), Data Visualization, Medical Devices, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Legal Writing, Due Diligence, Commercial Litigation, Litigation Support, Registered Patent Attorney, Patent Preparation, Data Analytics, Intellectual Property Valuation, Data Privacy, Quantum Computing, Systems Engineering, Patent Prosecution, Software Development, Trademark Infringement, Patent Applications, Patent Search, Patent Licensing, Business Methods Patents, Licensing Negotiations, Licensing Agreements, Patent Analysis, Patentability, Invention, Patent Portfolio Analysis, Legal Opinions, Patent Portfolio Management, Patent Mapping, Software Licensing, Open Source Licensing

Hemu is one of this country’s foremost leaders in privacy, security, and safety issues clients face across multiple business sectors, including big tech, government, law enforcement, corporations, start-ups, talent, and pro athletes. A globally recognized leader with nearly 25 years of cyber experience, he helps clients build up privacy, safety, and security programs and navigate through crises that might arise as the result of privacy and security breaches. He has developed an extensive network in the state attorney general community and respect as a thought leader on cyber policy matters. Hemu was previously the founder and chief executive officer of cyber security and cyber intelligence firm Cyber Security Affairs, formerly known as SSP Blue.

During his tenure at Cyber Security Affairs, Hemu provided strategic guidance to both corporations and online companies in online safety, security, and privacy issues covering product, policy, PR, and regulatory matters. He effectively helped Internet- and non-Internet-based companies in creating and implementing holistic online safety, security, and privacy programs, including in social media, and provided guidance to safety, security, and privacy technology providers. Hemu has also led numerous product and program audits to identify key risk areas and drive execution of changes. When companies are under government inquiry or investigation at the federal and state levels, Hemu provides strategic and legal guidance in navigating such matters. He engages with the non-government organization (NGO) community to build partnership opportunities and provides crisis media management and proactive media outreach services and media training. Having been a federal prosecutor for computer crimes and online sex crimes, Hemu helps clients develop and implement law enforcement compliance programs and training. He also leads cyber security vulnerability assessments on behalf of clients.

Hemu also works with talent, pro athletes, and executives (principals) who require 24/7/365 cyber threat protection, to act as the eyes in cyberspace for security details on the ground, whether on the road or at home, to identify, prevent, or dismantle any threats brewing in the public, deep, or dark web, including social media. Hollywood stars and other high-profile individuals who have been cyberstalked, hacked, and threatened have sought out Hemu to help them, including with online reputational attacks and cyber privacy.

From 2006 to 2010, Hemu was chief security officer for a mass media and publishing company, where he was responsible for protecting the personal information of more than 200 million users around the world. He has been credited with making a social networking service safe and secure after launching an initiative to identify and remove criminals from the networking site. He also drove the launch of more than 150 other safety, security, and privacy protection features for the company and played a key role in an accord between the company and 49 state attorneys general to develop key principles of social networking safety.

From 2002 to 2006, Hemu worked for a multinational technology company, where he led a global initiative to build safety standards into products across the company. He also implemented a virus enforcement strategy and collaborated with the U.S. Secret Service, Interpol, and the FBI to develop the company’s landmark anti-virus reward program. The program is credited with toppling one of the world’s most notorious virus creators in 2005.

From 2000 to 2002, Hemu was vice president of worldwide Internet enforcement at a trade association that represents major film studios, where he spearheaded a global effort to combat online movie piracy for the major Hollywood studios. During his tenure, Hemu implemented anti-piracy technology that allowed the association to eliminate more than 100,000 illegal movie websites in a year.

From 1997 to 2000, Hemu held simultaneous roles in the federal government, serving as a federal prosecutor against child and computer crimes for the U.S. Department of Justice, advisor to a congressional commission on child safety, and advisor to the White House on cyberstalking. In addition to prosecuting Internet predators, Hemu was behind the prosecution of 17 foreign nationals engaged in the trafficking of women and children into the United States.

Hemu began his career as a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County from 1990 to 1997, focusing on prosecuting sexual assault and child abuse cases. During his tenure, Hemu handled more than 1,000 criminal matters and was a recurring lecturer at rape crisis centers across Los Angeles.

Hemu has also been honored to work with Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the state attorneys general to develop widely used online safety standards. He was appointed by the New York Office of the Attorney General as an independent safety and security examiner to provide periodic independent assessments of a major online company’s safety and security practices. He has been asked by the White House and the United Nations to provide guidance and counsel on navigating the world’s most critical online protection challenges.

With over a decade of experience in the online space, Simrin Hooper is a veteran in the intersection of policy, regulatory, and product with online safety and privacy. At Venable, Simrin leads a team of analysts focused on regulatory response, human rights assessments, and child safety-related client engagements. Simrin has developed safety, security, and privacy programs for clients and operationally helped clients integrate them in their product, engineering, and policy structure. She is also experienced in analyzing the data of client products, including data receipt, data storage, data management, and data sharing, to identify potential client vulnerabilities and mitigation solutions.

During her time as vice president of safety, security, and privacy at a leading Los Angeles advisory firm, Simrin oversaw all related product reviews for clients providing mobile services, interactive games, social networks, dating opportunities, online classifieds, and applications. She reviewed products from both the front- and back-end perspectives, including signup, abuse reports, age-related safety, data management, and other areas to determine strengths and weaknesses from the perspectives of safety, security, and privacy.

As safety and security manager at a global social media platform company, Simrin oversaw all safety, security, privacy-related site and product features and programs for all company properties, focusing specifically on a major social media site with millions of users around the world. She established uniform SSP standards for all company properties and reviewed new features, marketing campaigns, and expansions to ensure adherence to those standards. She also wrote and distributed safety guides for parents and schools in partnership with educational organizations. She created and maintained original content for the social media site’s safety section, which was developed to help parents, teachers, and users navigate online. She also implemented all attorney general joint statement requests for the platform, and developed, implemented, and oversaw marketing and brand campaign policies for alcohol and movie advertisements for all company properties. Simrin was also responsible for building public affairs programs to showcase these efforts to the public and government globally. Simrin led a team of program managers, working closely with product, engineering, communications, legal, policy, regulatory, and government affairs teams.

Simrin has also worked extensively with nonprofit organizations focused on child safety and human trafficking.

Qian Huang advises major players in technology sectors on intellectual property matters. An experienced attorney with a solid technical background, Qian handles patent matters for clients ranging from Fortune 500 to startup companies, advising on patenting strategy and procurement, legal opinions, freedom to operate, IP due diligence in business transactions, and litigation. With a Ph.D. specializing in AI, Qian has handled a large volume of AI related patent matters over the years, especially in the recent wave of AI, on inventions relating to machine learning models, generative AI, distributed learning, selective training for specialization, big data analytics, and AI-enabled applications, such as personalized services, data mining, unman vehicle, drug discovery, presurgical planning and AI-guided robotic in-surgery navigation, etc. Before becoming an attorney, Qian was a postdoctoral fellow at IBM Research, a research scientist at Siemens Corporate Research and Bell Labs at AT&T with a research focus on machine learning models and applications thereof. Qian calls upon this experience to provide valued legal services to high tech clients.