The IP Strategy Summit: Seattle

Christopher Sweeney, Executive Director of Intellectual Property at Acuitas, focuses on aligning the company’s global IP strategy with its business objectives and supporting its robust internal research and development (R&D) program.  He has over 20 years of experience in IP law and prior to joining Acuitas, served as Executive Director of IP at Seagen until its acquisition by Pfizer.  Previously, he was an equity partner in the Seattle Office of Knobbe Martens. He received his JD (IP concentration) from the University of Washington, his MS in chemistry from the University of Oregon, and his BS in biochemistry from Gonzaga University.

Rose serves as the global head of the Legal Intellectual Property (IP) group at Expedia with responsibility for a team handling all IP matters across Expedia and its various brands.

Prior to coming to Expedia, Rose served as Global Trademark Counsel managing the Cummins global trademark portfolio, which including responsibilities for advising on marketing and advertising matters and management of the anticounterfeit program.

Rose also provided IP support for multiple different Cummins business units, including support for the global patent portfolio development for those business units.

Rose is experienced in advising on intellectual property strategies for and implementation of complex transactions.

Prior to her time at Cummins, Rose was a federal employee for fifteen (15) years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where she established an Intellectual Property Law Practice Group within the Office of the General Counsel. Most recently, Rose was the Chief IP Counsel for DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where she serves as the intellectual property subject matter expert for and on behalf of CISA.

Rose studied at George Washington University, New York University School of Law and Manhattanville College.  She has a Master of Law (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property, a Juris Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.).  She is a registered patent attorney with a discipline in Physics.

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.

Michelle Lewis is sole in-house counsel for Parse Biosciences, a biotechnology tools company recently acquired by QIAGEN. Throughout her career at companies including Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Circuit Therapeutics, and Meati, she has advised on the practical protection and management of trade secrets across the life sciences and technology sectors. She has developed trade secret policies, supported litigation from both plaintiff and defendant perspectives, and focused on trade secrets as a pragmatic strategy for protecting innovation where patent protection may be impractical or undesired. She also has a strong personal interest in artificial intelligence and emerging questions surrounding AI, confidential information, and intellectual property strategy.

Samantha (Sam) C. Pak is Senior Intellectual Property Counsel for Stryker Corporation in Redmond, Washington.  Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, whose products include implants used in joint replacement, trauma, and spinal surgeries; surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; neurovascular products; patient handling and emergency medical equipment, and other medical devices used in a variety of specialties.  Sam assists with Stryker’s IP litigation, IP agreements, management of patent and trademark portfolios; due diligence for business development; and provides a range of other IP services.  Before arriving at Stryker in 2018, Sam worked in the legal department at The Boeing Company assisting on various IP services and transactions.  Prior to joining Boeing, Sam also practiced at the Miller Nash law firm in its Seattle, WA office.  There, her practice included assisting with IP litigation; patent and trademark prosecution; transactions; and IP counseling and opinions.  During law school, Sam also prosecuted many patents at an IP boutique firm and completed an internship at Baxter Healthcare immediately after receiving her doctorate degree in biomedical engineering.  Sam is admitted to practice before the USPTO and in Washington.  

Jonathan Tuminaro, Ph.D. is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Trial & Appellate and Electronics Practice Groups. Jonathan is an experienced trial lawyer who focuses his practice on complex electronics litigation in the U.S. district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has represented some of the leading high-tech companies in patent litigation matters relating to telecommunications, network security, LCD flat-panel displays, computer graphics, automotive technologies, GPS location-based service, and wireless power transfer. Jonathan is particularly well known for his extensive experience handling economics issues in patent litigation—including damages in district court, domestic industry at the ITC, and objective considerations of non-obviousness at the PTAB. He has defended patents that have led to judgments worth nearly $25M and has defended against patents where the damages were alleged to exceed $100M.

Nirav N. Desai is a director in Sterne Kessler’s Trial & Appellate and Electronics Practice Groups. He specializes in simplifying complex matters—inside the courtroom and out—and solving problems in the process. Nirav is experienced in a full range of intellectual property issues, with a particular focus on patent litigation and counseling clients in global intellectual property strategy. An accomplished litigator, Nirav has served as lead counsel in district court litigation matters around the country and has been involved in matters before district courts, appellate courts, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in Section 337 actions.

Matthew E. Moersfelder is a Partner in the Intellectual Property group at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Seattle, where he focuses on trademark, brand protection, and advertising law. He counsels companies on the full lifecycle of brand strategy—from trademark prosecution and portfolio management to licensing, online enforcement, and anti-cybersquatting actions. With nearly two decades of experience, he represents clients across industries including consumer products, media and entertainment, gaming, fashion, and technology in matters before federal courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Brand Protection Director with deep expertise in safeguarding brand integrity across global e-commerce marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, eBay and TikTok Shop. Combines strategic oversight with hands-on enforcement, leading initiatives that address unauthorized sellers, MAP violations and gray market activity. Monitors major marketplaces and enforces trademark, copyright and patent protections to defend intellectual property and uphold brand integrity. Brings a holistic understanding of the digital commerce landscape to drive sustainable brand growth, protect intellectual property and maximize revenue performance.

Andy’s practice encompasses all aspects of patent law, with a focus on litigation and USPTO post-grant review proceedings. He has successfully argued before the Federal Circuit, the Patent Trials and Appeal Board (PTAB), and before federal district courts at Markman and summary judgment hearings.

A registered patent attorney and former circuit designer, Andy also has prosecuted patents on technologies including electronic design automation (EDA), telecommunications, network infrastructure, media CODECs, and control systems. He also has extensive experience working with foreign counsel on global patent litigation strategies, and participated in patent trials
in both Germany and the U.K.

Andy joined Klarquist in 2011 as a lateral associate and became partner in 2017.

Julia F. Kottmeier is an associate in Klarquist’s Mechanical practice group, where she focuses on U.S. and international patent prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP counseling. With more than 15 years of experience, she has worked across medical devices, software, data systems, and computer science technologies, advising clients on patentability, prosecution strategy, and portfolio management. Before entering patent law, Julia worked as an Associate Scientist at Life Technologies on high-throughput toxicology screening platforms.

Julia earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School and also holds a post-baccalaureate certificate in Computer Science, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Molecular Biology from Portland State University. She is admitted to practice in Oregon and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Cheryl Whitlock is a Senior Trademark Paralegal at Fluke Corporation, where she leads global trademark portfolio management, brand enforcement, and anti‑counterfeiting strategy across Fluke and its affiliated operating companies. She works closely with in‑house counsel, outside firms, and business teams to align trademark prosecution, enforcement, and brand use with broader business and product goals. Cheryl brings deep hands‑on experience in global trademark portfolios, online enforcement programs, and practical IP risk management, and regularly supports cross‑functional teams on brand protection in highly regulated and technical markets.