The Trade Secret Strategy Summit – East

Joe is the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Intellectual Property at Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc. where he advises clients about handling disputes and litigation, compliance, and intellectual property. Before joining Mitsubishi Chemical, Joe was a Senior Associate in Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s Intellectual Property Group where he focused his practice on patent and trademark litigation. Joe is a 2006 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a 2000 graduate of Columbia College where he graduated with a degree in Biochemistry. He lives in New York with his wife, daughter, and son.

Steven Fineman focuses his practice on intellectual property and commercial litigation.

He has experience litigating complex disputes in all of Delaware’s state and federal courts, including appeals to the Delaware Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Steve has substantial experience in Hatch-Waxman litigation. His clients have included large pharmaceutical companies as well as technology and communications companies. Steve co-authored a chapter in ANDA Litigation: Strategies and Tactics for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigators.

PRACTICES
Intellectual Property
Commercial Litigation

Education
Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2000
Ursinus College, B.A., 1996

Vidya Atre Mirmira is Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Litigation practice group.  She has extensive experience in complex corporate litigation, including trade secrets, restrictive covenants, whistleblower, employment, and ERISA litigation.  Illustrative of her practice, Vidya is currently representing global companies in litigation involving claims of trade secrets, unjust enrichment, and misuse of confidential information.  She graduated Purdue University, summa cum laude, in 1996, earning a B.S. in electrical engineering and a minor in economics.  Vidya received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was co-founder and executive editor of the Chicago Journal of International Law.  She joined Williams & Connolly in 2001 after clerking for Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

William Coppola has been an accomplished patent attorney amassing a tremendous amount of experience in the legal biotech and pharma space. He has secured and defended world-wide patent protection for chemical, biotechnology and device inventions, litigation of chemical, biotechnology and device patents in the US and globally (including Hatch-Waxman litigations in the US, and PMNOC litigations in Canada).

Mr. Coppola holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. He received a graduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of South Florida, and an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware. He is a registered patent attorney who is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia. He is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor society and an Eagle Scout.

Steve Klocinski has more than 30 years of experience in intellectual property cutting across the private and public sectors. He has worked successfully with a broad range of technologies including computer software, payments technologies, electronics, advanced business processes, telecommunications, semiconductors and acoustics. Steve’s specialties include intellectual property strategy (with an emphasis on patent portfolio building and management), intellectual property risk mitigation and dispute resolution and treatment of intellectual property in commercial agreements.

Prior to joining MasterCard in March 2012, Steve was Vice-President and Managing Assistant General Counsel at CA, Inc. for six years. And previously was Assistant General Counsel at Capital One Financial. In both roles, Steve was responsible for the company’s patent portfolio. At CA, Steve was also responsible for the company’s trademark portfolio.

Steve holds a J.D. from Georgetown Law School and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State University. He began his career as an Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Joe Walsh is a Principal at Harness IP. Joe began his legal career as in-house counsel to a European-based refiner/petrochemical company. Since then, he has served as a trusted advisor to a variety of multinational clients — frequently setting up office within his client’s facilities and working side-by-side with in-house counsel. Joe strives to see matters and legal issues through the eyes of his clients, specifically taking into account their objectives and resources. Joe is committed to providing his clients with sound legal advice grounded in good business judgment.

Joe develops and executes large and small-scale IP strategies alike in virtually every part of the industrialized world. He facilitates these projects utilizing carefully selected, high-caliber and reliable foreign counsel — all of whom he has worked with personally. Joe negotiates and drafts a full array of IP agreements, including joint-development, research/technology-transfer and licensing agreements. And, he delivers legal and business solutions to complicated patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and related litigation and licensing matters. Joe has particular experience in merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions, and he has a reputation for conducting IP due diligence investigations on-time and in-budget.

Wendy R. Stein focuses on intellectual property litigation, litigating patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and other commercial litigation matters in the software, real estate, and life sciences fields. For over twenty-two years, she has litigated intellectual property and related commercial disputes in federal and state courts throughout the United States.

On the plaintiff side, Wendy has repeatedly secured emergent relief on behalf of trade secret owners to protect their rights under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) and related state laws to prevent the imminent dissemination or use of trade secrets. On the defense side, Wendy is regularly called upon to represent individual and corporate defendants accused of misappropriating alleged trade secrets in both arbitration and federal and state court proceedings.

Since 2020 alone, she has secured early dismissals or early exits for 16 different individual and corporate defendants accused of trade secret misappropriation in the real estate, life science, software, sustainability, and transfer pricing industries under the federal DTSA and related trade secret laws of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington state, and California.

Noé Leiva is Cybersecurity, Privacy, & AI Counsel at Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure service provider. Throughout his career, Noé has counseled startups and public companies on legal risk management for emerging technologies. He has led the strategic implementation of global privacy initiatives, cross-border data transfer compliance, and responsible AI governance. Noé also has significant experience managing investigations for cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and insider threats.

He is certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a The Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP).

Patricia Young represents market-leading companies in intellectual property litigation, particularly high-stakes, complex, multi-patent, and multi-jurisdictional cases.
Ms. Young is a first-chair trial lawyer who litigates patent and trade secrets cases for a broad spectrum of companies, both as defendants and plaintiffs. She regularly tries cases across the country, including in state and federal courts, and before the International Trade Commission (ITC).
She deftly synthesizes technical, economic, and legal perspectives to develop unique, winning litigation strategies. As an incisive and trusted advisor for patent and trade secret matters, she is also well-positioned to counsel clients on intellectual property issues in corporate matters.
Ms. Young has developed an impressive record of leading and managing complex, multi-product, multi-claim disputes. Her experience spans industries from LiDAR, semiconductors, RF technology, memory, microprocessors, Wi-Fi routers and mesh network devices, file system and storage software and hardware, networking, gaming, e-commerce, telecommunications, UV LEDs, biotech, biologics, protein engineering, sequencing technology, microcoils, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals to consumer products.
Ms. Young was named one of the “Women Worth Watching in STEM” by Diversity Journal in 2021. She is also a collaborator on the Patent Case Management Judicial Guide, the Federal Judicial Center’s definitive patent litigation how-to guide for federal judges, now in its third edition.
Her pro bono work addresses Social Security disability, domestic violence, veteran disability benefits, housing, and §1983 civil rights actions. She served on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and received the California State Bar Wiley M. Manuel Award for pro bono service in 2013.

Nicholas Clifford handles intellectual property, commercial, and product liability litigation in state, federal, and appellate courts throughout the United States.

An accomplished trial lawyer, Nick has first-chair experience in numerous jury and bench trials and other proceedings. He prosecutes and defends litigation and counsels clients in patent, copyright, and trademark infringement matters, as well as trade secret misappropriation, along with advising clients on non-infringement and invalidity opinions, patentability, licensing, registration, and other due-diligence issues. Nick also regularly handles complex commercial litigation matters involving contract and business tort claims and defends manufacturers in product liability claims.

Nick’s strategic, value-driven counsel benefits clients in dozens of technologies, such as automotive service products, biomass pretreatment, cable video on-demand, computer middleware and memory devices, diagnostic and educational software, electronic voting machines, financial trading platforms, LED warning signal lights, pharmaceutical packaging, retinal surgical devices, and telecommunication systems.

When he is not reading patents or taking depositions, Nick likes golf and paddle tennis, working out, cycling, trout fishing, and seeing live music.

Michael grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the son of a small businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit.

After graduating from The George Washington University with a degree in finance, Michael moved to

California to pursue a career in real estate. Michael later became an attorney and built a successful private

practice in Los Angeles as a corporate attorney, litigator and a transactional attorney. Michael is respected as a

thought-leader in the entertainment and media industries and has represented major television and film studios

as well as iconic individuals such as Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling. In June 2016, Michael and his family

relocated to the East Coast where he served as in-counsel at Complex Networks, a leading digital content

publisher. During his tenure at Complex, Michael oversaw all content, e-commerce, music and events business

and was integral to the global expansion of the Complex brand into Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, The

Philippines, The Netherlands, Africa, and Canada. Michael currently serves as General Counsel to Uproxx

Studios, a thought-leader in the music industry. Michael also serves as a consultant to global media companies

in Asia. Michael is known as a creative problem-solver and a valued strategist.

Ms. Ksenia Takhistova is an experienced IP litigator and technology attorney who counsels clients on US intellectual property law issues across a wide variety of modern and emerging technologies. She has substantial experience in all aspects of litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent cases, including Hatch-Waxman litigations, before the Federal District Courts, at the International Trade Commission, in post-grant proceedings at the US Patent and Trademark Office, and in appeals from these proceedings.

She has also handled other IP-related disputes, including trade secret, false advertising, and antitrust issues, in both Federal and State Courts. Ksenia represents clients in transactions, such as settlement negotiations and IP licensing discussions, and performs due diligence and opinion work, including freedom-to-operate, patentability, infringement and validity analyses. Drawing on her extensive educational and research background in the mechanical and chemical engineering arts, she is able to effectively handle disputes in technical fields, such as mechanical and medical devices, electrical and computer technology, life sciences, chemical, materials, and consumer products.

Kim Jessum is Chief IP Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Secretary at Heraeus Incorporated in Yardley, Pennsylvania and VP, Legal at Heraeus Medevio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Heraeus is a Fortune Global 500 portfolio company specializing in precious metals, materials, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as quartz glass and specialty light sources. Kim is responsible for providing intellectual property and general legal advice for various business units in the United States and worldwide. She received her bachelors degree in chemical engineering and applied science from Lehigh University and her masters degree in biopharmaceuticals from the University of Pennsylvania. Kim was awarded her law degree and Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Illinois and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She served as the Chair of the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section 2021-22 and is currently Chair of the ABA Section Officers Conference

Wil Rao is a seasoned patent lawyer and shareholder at McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd., a firm known for its exceptional, hands-on IP practice. He is recognized by IAM’s Patent 1000, Strategy 300, and Strategy 300: Global Leaders, and Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars. IAM said clients turn to Wil “when victory in a dispute is a commercial imperative.” It also noted that he “maintains many long-term connections with those he represents, not least as a result of his ability to productively and commercially address any patent issue.”

He has been with the firm since 1997 and counsels clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small startups and individuals. His practice focuses on all facets of IP, including IP litigation and procurement, as well as technology transfer, licensing, and IP strategy. He frequently writes and presents on these topics in media publications and conferences throughout the world. He leverages both litigation and procurement mindsets to strategically counsel clients, an uncommon skill combination that has delivered exceptional results.

Wil is a trial-experienced litigator. He handles all facets of complex litigation, including pre-filing investigations to examining witnesses at trial. His court successes range from patent jury trials – including one that defined the written description law – to a landmark trade secret case under section 337 proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission. His cases have included both single patent, single forum cases and multi-venue, multi-IP, multi-party litigations that proceed in numerous countries. Wil’s appellate practice concentrates on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

In procurement, Wil harnesses his litigation experience to provide forward-thinking strategic counseling in patent prosecution, written opinions, licensing, and inter partes/post-grant reviews. His work here has involved a wide range of technology areas, including medical devices, gaming equipment, sporting goods and equipment, HVAC, railway equipment, heavy machinery, baby/children’s products, consumer electronics, graphical user interfaces, furniture, hardware and tools, dental equipment, pigments, lubricants, and product design.

Gregory S. Bombard is a trial lawyer focusing on trade secret litigation, business torts, and other complex commercial disputes. Greg represents pharmaceutical, technology, and manufacturing companies in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings throughout the United States. He regularly represents both plaintiffs and defendants in trade secret cases and related claims. Greg is a frequent writer and speaker on trade secret law and is the co-author of the book Protecting and Litigating Trade Secrets (2nd Ed.), published by the American Bar Association.

In addition to his trade secrets practice, Greg has deep experience defending consumer and business claims under the Unfair Trade Practice Acts of Massachusetts (Chapter 93A) and similar laws in other states. He has handled unfair trade practice litigation on behalf of banks, credit card processors, mortgage servicers, and other consumer finance companies.

Jeffrey is a seasoned litigator with a national practice that focuses on resolving business disputes with an emphasis on trade secret, supply agreement, UCC Article 2 warranty, and agricultural litigation.

Jeffrey co-chairs Fredrikson’s Commercial Law group. He understands that success in commercial litigation demands controlling costs, assessing risk and providing practical solutions.

Jeffrey has successfully resolved numerous disputes through arbitration or trial. He has litigated in twenty-four different states. He was invited to teach trial practice at both Louisiana State University and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has also supervised Fredrikson’s litigation associate training for five years.

Most litigation is resolved through written advocacy, and Jeffrey has won numerous summary judgments and has prevailed at the appellate level. Jeffrey is a prolific writer on trade-secret and UCC Article 2 issues and presented numerous times on these issues at state bar events and national conferences. The Minnesota State Bar gave him its author of the year award in 2006.

Jeffrey proactively advises clients on trade-secret and UCC issues based on his hard-earned knowledge of what factors are decisive with arbitrators, judges and juries. Jeffrey’s advice allows clients to make the difficult decision prior to incurring significant fees about whether to compromise or litigate based on his twenty plus years of experience.

The size and scope of his clients have ranged from start-up companies, to agribusiness market leaders, to large publicly-held companies. His pro bono activities include having served as a volunteer conciliation court referee in Scott County, Minnesota, and he was part of a team that won the Minnesota First Judicial District Amicus Curiae Award.

Travis is an accomplished trial attorney who has successfully handled significant cases in all of Delaware’s state and federal courts.  He has particular expertise in handling large commercial disputes in the Delaware Superior Court’s Complex Commercial Litigation Division (CCLD), serving as trial counsel in some of the largest cases ever filed in that division.

Highly regarded by clients and peers alike, Travis “is a brilliant attorney who has an ability to see right to the core of issues, and he provides intelligent insight on how best to keep the case focused” (Chambers USA).  He routinely litigates complex disputes involving

• intellectual property and trade secrets,
• cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Ethereum,
• business contracts,
• mergers and acquisitions,
• insurance coverage, and
• products liability.

Travis has also acted as trial counsel in large arbitrations filed with the American Arbitration Association.

Travis serves on the Delaware Superior Court’s Rules Committee and the CCLD Rules Committee, and is active in the American Bar Association’s Section of Commercial and Business Litigation.  He has also completed the Federal Trial Practice Seminar sponsored by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Vidya Atre Mirmira is Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Litigation practice group.  She has extensive experience in complex corporate litigation, including trade secrets, restrictive covenants, whistleblower, employment, and ERISA litigation.  Illustrative of her practice, Vidya is currently representing global companies in litigation involving claims of trade secrets, unjust enrichment, and misuse of confidential information.  She graduated Purdue University, summa cum laude, in 1996, earning a B.S. in electrical engineering and a minor in economics.  Vidya received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was co-founder and executive editor of the Chicago Journal of International Law.  She joined Williams & Connolly in 2001 after clerking for Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Wil Rao is a seasoned patent lawyer and shareholder at McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd., a firm known for its exceptional, hands-on IP practice. He is recognized by IAM’s Patent 1000, Strategy 300, and Strategy 300: Global Leaders, and Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars. IAM said clients turn to Wil “when victory in a dispute is a commercial imperative.” It also noted that he “maintains many long-term connections with those he represents, not least as a result of his ability to productively and commercially address any patent issue.”

He has been with the firm since 1997 and counsels clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small startups and individuals. His practice focuses on all facets of IP, including IP litigation and procurement, as well as technology transfer, licensing, and IP strategy. He frequently writes and presents on these topics in media publications and conferences throughout the world. He leverages both litigation and procurement mindsets to strategically counsel clients, an uncommon skill combination that has delivered exceptional results.

Wil is a trial-experienced litigator. He handles all facets of complex litigation, including pre-filing investigations to examining witnesses at trial. His court successes range from patent jury trials – including one that defined the written description law – to a landmark trade secret case under section 337 proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission. His cases have included both single patent, single forum cases and multi-venue, multi-IP, multi-party litigations that proceed in numerous countries. Wil’s appellate practice concentrates on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

In procurement, Wil harnesses his litigation experience to provide forward-thinking strategic counseling in patent prosecution, written opinions, licensing, and inter partes/post-grant reviews. His work here has involved a wide range of technology areas, including medical devices, gaming equipment, sporting goods and equipment, HVAC, railway equipment, heavy machinery, baby/children’s products, consumer electronics, graphical user interfaces, furniture, hardware and tools, dental equipment, pigments, lubricants, and product design.

Jeffrey is a seasoned litigator with a national practice that focuses on resolving business disputes with an emphasis on trade secret, supply agreement, UCC Article 2 warranty, and agricultural litigation.

Jeffrey co-chairs Fredrikson’s Commercial Law group. He understands that success in commercial litigation demands controlling costs, assessing risk and providing practical solutions.

Jeffrey has successfully resolved numerous disputes through arbitration or trial. He has litigated in twenty-four different states. He was invited to teach trial practice at both Louisiana State University and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has also supervised Fredrikson’s litigation associate training for five years.

Most litigation is resolved through written advocacy, and Jeffrey has won numerous summary judgments and has prevailed at the appellate level. Jeffrey is a prolific writer on trade-secret and UCC Article 2 issues and presented numerous times on these issues at state bar events and national conferences. The Minnesota State Bar gave him its author of the year award in 2006.

Jeffrey proactively advises clients on trade-secret and UCC issues based on his hard-earned knowledge of what factors are decisive with arbitrators, judges and juries. Jeffrey’s advice allows clients to make the difficult decision prior to incurring significant fees about whether to compromise or litigate based on his twenty plus years of experience.

The size and scope of his clients have ranged from start-up companies, to agribusiness market leaders, to large publicly-held companies. His pro bono activities include having served as a volunteer conciliation court referee in Scott County, Minnesota, and he was part of a team that won the Minnesota First Judicial District Amicus Curiae Award.