The Women in Law & Leadership Summit: Chicago

Anne Burkhart has been registered before the USPTO since 1992. Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Cincinnati and a Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall Law School. Anne provides IP portfolio management and evaluation services for Medela. A key aspect of Medela’s success is a relentless focus on research-based medical technology. Medela produces products and innovations related to Breastfeeding and Medical Vacuum Technology. Medela was founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson. Since then, the company manufactures its key products in Switzerland and the USA and has further subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia. The company employs over 1000 people worldwide.

Cheryl Mendelson is a Senior Counsel with over 18 years of experience working in-house, with the last 14 years with GMR Marketing, an innovative global sponsorship and experiential company.  Cheryl’s focus is on contract negotiations and development for GMR’s multitude of clients, along with general corporate practices.  Cheryl has been successful at maintaining a work-life balance through self-advocacy, while continuing to further her career in the law working part-time from home and GMR’s offices in Milwaukee, WI.  Prior to GMR, Cheryl worked at Miller Brewing Company focusing on sponsorship and alcohol compliance.  Before attending law school, Cheryl worked as the Special Events Director at the Milwaukee County Zoo, planning events for the general zoo public.  Along with the law, Cheryl has a passion for decorating, gardening, painting, hiking, biking and most importantly, Golden Retrievers.  She and her husband have two boys, the oldest serving in the Peace Corps in The Gambia and the other will begin his senior year at Vanderbilt University.

A legal and civic leader, Mindi is a staunch advocate for her clients and community. She serves as managing partner of Husch Blackwell’s Madison office and co-leads the firm’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Privacy, Security & Breach Response teams. She closely tracks developments in the law and ensures the firm’s service and offerings in these areas address the rapidly changing and complex legal, regulatory and risk environments in which clients operate. 

Mindi is a seasoned counselor in emerging information technology and intellectual property matters and a key member of the Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation group. She works closely with companies and individuals to achieve success in the following areas:

• Recognizing and addressing privacy and security issues in all levels of product development, vendor contracting and in providing products and services to customers
• Developing and launching IoT products and services
• Using open source software and preparing open source policies and procedures
• Data breach preparedness planning
• Responding to large and small data breaches, including those involving sensitive information (including credit card information) and hacker extortion attempts
• Identifying and protecting valuable intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and data
• Litigating and resolving intellectual property and technology disputes in state and federal courts, as well as before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
• Litigating and resolving defamation, right of privacy and right of publicity actions
• Licensing, selling and acquiring intellectual property and technology assets
• Developing and maintaining enforceable confidentiality and trade secret programs
• Preparing and negotiating complex technology transactions
• Ensuring compliance with advertising laws and regulatory guidelines
• Developing online contests and promotions, enforceable website terms and policies, and ADA-compliant websites

Mindi also focuses on making the Madison area a better place to live, especially for young people. Her community service work includes founding a chapter of, and serving in leadership roles for, Girls on the Run; and contributing volunteer legal hours to the Student Expulsion and Prevention Project (StEPP), which helps keep students learning in the classroom.

Jessica Mead is General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for North America at Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, which was recently acquired by the Alter Domus Group.  Prior to joining Cortland as a founding member of the Company in 2008, Jessica was the head of the Closing Team and Quality Assurance for the Global Trust Services Group at LaSalle Bank.  Jessica earned her J.D. from Drake University and her B.A. from Coe College.

Joan McDonagh, who received a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 1985, practices law in the employee benefits area. She has worked for the organization since 2004 and for its wholly owned subsidiary EMJAY Corporation since 1988. Joan’s areas of expertise include ERISA compliance with an emphasis on fiduciary requirement.

Joan is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. She is on the Government Relations Committee of the Society of Professional Asset-Managers and Record Keepers (SPARK) and formerly chaired the Public Policy Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA). She is also a member and past Vice President of Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals Ltd.

Joan has written numerous articles and has presented a variety of seminars on retirement plan issues. She is a co-author of the 401(k) Answer Book, part of the Aspen Publishers’ Answer Book series.

Amy is a member of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation group with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. She practices intellectual property law, including patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and enforcement.

Amy's extensive industry knowledge benefits her U.S. and international clients in the manufacturing and technology sectors, most notably in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the following areas:

• Ambient condition detection systems
• AntennaControl systems
• Detection and measurement technologies
• Electronics
• Fire and smoke detection systems
• Gas detection systems
• Mechanical and electro-mechanical devices
• Security systems
• Software-based systems
• Telecommunications systems

Amy manages patent and trademark portfolios for clients of all sizes, including large and mid-sized publicly traded and Fortune 500 companies, small privately owned companies, and individuals. She specializes in both domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution and has extensive experience practicing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Clients depend on Elizabeth Cummings to use her experience and client-centered approach to help them navigate litigation related to products liability and allegedly toxic substances.  She represents business of all types and sizes, including manufacturers, suppliers and premises owners. By partnering with the companies she represents to develop and implement proactive and efficient strategies, Elizabeth is able to assist her clients in navigating toxic and mass tort litigation in some of the country's most challenging jurisdictions. She understands that the successful defense of clients takes place both inside and outside the courtroom. She works with clients to evaluate their risks and develop a comprehensive litigation strategy that takes all of their interests into account. Elizabeth has experience in all phases of litigation, including extensive deposition experience, drafting and arguing pre-trial and dispositive motions, and participating in mediation and trial.

DeVona Wright Cottrell joined Baird in 2007 and is a Director and Associate General Counsel.  DeVona partners with Baird’s Fixed Income Capital Markets business unit and provides legal support to several of the firm’s corporate resource groups, including Risk Management, Compliance and Facilities with regard to information security, privacy, regulatory and commercial real estate related matters. DeVona earned her Executive M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and B.A in Political Science from Jackson State University.

DeVona is a Milwaukee native and diligent volunteer and mentor in the greater Milwaukee-area community and received one of The Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2017 Women in the Law Awards and The Milwaukee Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 winners for 2014.

Executive at the intersection of financial services and technology. Seasoned member of C-suite known for sound business judgment. Expertise in domestic and international M&A, finance, regulatory affairs, compliance leadership, human capital, strategy development/execution, crisis management/high-risk litigation, corporate governance and fiduciary duties, process improvements. Experienced member of boards of directors of for-profit companies. Interested in C-suite and Board opportunities.

 Tiffany S. Fordyce is Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s Workforce Compliance & Regulatory Enforcement group. She concentrates her practice on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on labor and employment. Her employment litigation practice includes virtually all types of discrimination and retaliation claims, wage and hour claims, trade secret misappropriation claims, whistleblower claims, restrictive covenants, Fair Credit Reporting Act claims, and WARN Act claims. Tiffany defends both single plaintiff and class action employment cases. Tiffany represents employers in federal, state and administrative courts, as well as before administrative agencies.

Casey K. Fleming is a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP where she focuses her practice on employee benefits and executive compensation. Ms. Fleming’s employee benefits work includes advising private and public employers on the issues that affect retirement plans, health and welfare benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, executive compensation and severance arrangements, and employment agreements.

As Corporate - IP counsel for Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas (headquartered in London, England), Sara is responsible for mobilizing innovation, directing IP strategy, building, managing, protecting and leveraging Tate & Lyle’s worldwide patent assets for the Specialty Food Ingredients, Innovation & Commercial Development, Bulk Ingredients and Food Systems business units. She is also involved in various aspects of corporate IP practice, including IP agreements, technology licensing, IP due diligence for M&A transactions, open innovation matters and IP dispute resolution. Prior to joining Tate & Lyle, she was a partner in the IP group of the national law firm of Quarles & Brady. She is a registered patent attorney with over 15 years of patent prosecution and complex portfolio Management experience, specializing in the biochemical and biotech industries. She earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Trinity University in Texas, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Marquette University. Besides her children, one of her prized accomplishments as an attorney was being invited to speak at the National Academy of Sciences in 2004 to share her expertise with the nation's policy makers in the area of patenting structural genomics and proteomics.

Nancy A. Peterman is Chair of the Chicago Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice. She focuses her practice on corporate restructurings, bankruptcy and creditors' rights law, and has a wide range of experience representing debtors, purchasers of assets, committees and secured creditors. Nancy has restructuring experience in numerous industries, including energy, gaming, manufacturing, real estate, and retail, with a particular focus on health care.

Mary is a partner in the Nashville office with experience involving every aspect of the employment relationship. She has been involved in complex litigation involving all aspects of Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, the FLSA, USERRA, retaliatory discharge, and state law claims for breach of contract, fraud, negligence, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Before joining Constangy, Mary worked in human resources in both unionized and non-unionized facilities. As a result, Mary believes strongly in working closely with clients to resolve issues before they become lawsuits. Mary also enjoys speaking and providing training on relevant legal topics based on her experience, such as the re-employment of soldiers pursuant to USERRA, harassment and termination procedures.

Ms. Hartzell has significant experience in intellectual property litigation, including cases involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. She also has experience enforcing covenants not-to-compete and confidentiality agreements. Clients hire her to protect their intellectual property rights and to defend them against infringement allegations. She works closely with her clients to understand their business needs and aggressively defends her clients’ interests, seeking the most efficient route to resolve litigation in a way that satisfies those needs.

Rebecca Lynn Dandy is an Associate in the Chicago office of Vedder Price with substantial litigation experience representing a wide variety of clients in complex matters across various industries. She counsels clients on business and commercial disputes involving governmental and regulatory investigations, financial institutions liability, securities fraud, restrictive-covenant violations, software license disputes and other commercial matters in both U.S. state and federal courts. Rebecca has also represented clients before the American Arbitration Association, JAMS and FINRA.

Rebecca serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) and is a Co-Editor of the WBAI Newsletter. She was selected for inclusion as an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2017 and was also selected as an Illinois Emerging Lawyer, an affiliate of Leading Lawyers, from 2014 to 2017. Rebecca received her J.D. from John Marshall Law school, magna cum laude, and a B.A. from the University of Missouri, cum laude.

Darlene concentrates her practice on complex commercial litigation and insurance coverage disputes. She defends clients in complex litigation, including class actions, mass consolidated actions, arbitrations, and mediation. She represents a wide range of clients in state and federal courts across the country in matters involving consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, insurance coverage, mass torts, products liability, insurance sale practices, breach of contract, trade secrets, and bad faith and extracontractual liability claims.

Darlene regularly advises domestic and international insurers on complex claims and coverage issues. She counsels insurers on a wide array of issues related to large exposure claims involving professional services (lawyers, accountants, healthcare, architects & engineers), toxic torts, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, environmental contamination, employment related practices, sexual molestation and abuse, workers’ compensation, and catastrophic losses, including representing various US and London insurers in 9/11 World Trade Center litigation. Darlene also works closely with insurance clients on product development and insurance policy wording.

Erica Longfield is a trial attorney who represents corporate clients and insurance companies in all phases of litigation. She focuses her practice in the defense of product liability and toxic tort matters, specializing in asbestos and benzene lawsuits. For the past decade Erica has played a key role in national and local cases and has worked closely with her clients to develop and carry out defense strategy as well as case management.  Erica has experience trying cases to verdict in multiple venues throughout Illinois, as well as extensive arbitration and deposition experience. She is also an active member of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Chicago Bar Association. Erica received her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and her B.S. with honors from Indiana University Bloomington.

Kathy Ehrhart is a partner at Freeborn & Peters LLP in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the Insurance Brokerage and Insurance/Reinsurance Teams.  Before joining Freeborn, Kathy was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

First and foremost, Kathy Ehrhart is a litigator and has tried cases and arbitrations in federal and state courts throughout the United States.  As one client has described, “(Kathy’s) cross-examinations are strict and unfaltering, and she irritates counterparties with her thorough preparation.”  In this role, Kathy represents a variety of individuals, corporations, business and professional firms.  She is well-versed in and enjoys representing both the Davids and Goliaths of the world.

She has extensive experience working with executives, senior management and in-house counsel of corporations in managing litigation as well as advising on litigation risks and strategy.  Her areas of focus include complex commercial litigation with particular emphasis on restrictive covenant cases, class actions, reinsurance, antitrust, securities fraud, accountant liability, employment and breach of contract claims.

Kathy graduated with highest honors from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received her J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago.  She is raising two precocious and adorable kids and a behemoth Bernese Mountain dog named Butkus.  They collectively work to keep Kathy on her toes most days but also give her a chance to practice her cross-examination skills even when she is at home.

Victoria Friedman is an IP attorney specializing in client counseling, procurement and management of intellectual property. Her technical background is in Computer Information Systems and her patent practice primarily focuses on software, telecommunications, computer, search, email and social network arts.

In her trademark practice, she manages international portfolios for top global brands in various industries. Friedman is one of a handful of attorneys who have been successful in registering a color mark. She enjoys developing and implementing efficient, practical solutions to her clients' IP challenges.

Victoria Friedman speaks English and Russian and has been active in the field of IP since 2003.

Nicole Behnen takes pride in helping clients in the defense of lawsuits involving products liability, premises liability and toxic torts. Nicole serves as Vice Chair of the firm’s national Products Liability and Toxic Tort practice. She serves as regional and local counsel for several major asbestos defendants. Nicole also represents clients in state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois. She has been involved in asbestos litigation since 1996 and has extensive litigation experience in cases involving benzene, perchloroethylene, chrome, and other industry exposures. Nicole also serves as local counsel for several pharmaceutical and medical device companies.