Speakers

Merchant & Gould | Partner & Chairman Emeritus

Brian Batzli is an intellectual property attorney and partner at Merchant & Gould’s Minneapolis office. He is also now Chairman Emeritus, having led the firm as CEO, Managing Director and Chairman from 2011 to mid-2018. He is also a Past President of AIPLA.

Bauer, Stephen

Medtronic | Senior Legal Director - International IP and IP Policy, Chief IP Counsel – Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure, and Lead IP Counsel Neuromodulation (Retired)

Steve recently retired from Medtronic. During his twenty years at Medtronic, Steve was Senior Legal Director - International IP and IP Policy, Chief IP Counsel – Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure, and Lead IP Counsel Neuromodulation.

Baydurcan, Robin

Fross Zelnick | Counsel

Robin Baydurcan advises clients on all aspects of international trademark searching and clearance, filing, prosecution, and enforcement. Robin works with established brands and startups to identify and fill gaps in coverage, and to formulate effective enforcement strategies. She is especially well-versed in Chinese and Turkish examination practices and court proceedings. With more than 10 years of experience in international trademark matters, Robin most enjoys explaining the international rules and procedures to domestic clients as they seek straightforward solutions to complex problems.

Beach, Thomas

Department of Commerce | Interim Chief Data Officer

As the interim Chief Data Officer (CDO) at the Department of Commerce, Thomas leads the Department’s data governance activities; executes key data collection, inventory and quality processes; and provides strategic direction and guidance for the bureaus’ collection, storage, use, and access for their data assets across twelve bureaus/offices. Thomas chairs the Department’s Commerce Data Governance Board and leads implementation of the Federal Data Strategy and represents the Department on the new Federal CDO Council.

Beasley, Tony

Microsoft | Senior Corporate Counsel

Tony is Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, supporting the Dynamics 365 team and business applications related to sales and industrial metaverse and advising on issues such as privacy, competition, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI. Prior to his role at Microsoft, Tony was at several law firms, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in intellectual property litigation in the semiconductor, consumer electronics, medical device, software, and other industries. Tony is also active in pro bono work and serves as pro bono lead for the Microsoft Hispanic and Latinx in-house lawyers network.

Becher, Thomas

Hoffman Eitle | Partner

Thomas studied general mechanical engineering at the Technical University (RWTH) in Aachen. In 1995/96 he completed his final thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Technology (IPT) on 3D printing. Thomas joined Hoffmann Eitle, a pan-European IP boutique headquartered in Munich, in 1996. He qualified as a German patent attorney in 2000, as a European patent attorney in 2001, and as a Higher Courts litigator for England and Wales in 2016. Thomas was the founding partner of the firm's Dusseldorf office in 2012, which he continues to manage.

Beck, Russell

Beck Reed Riden LLP | Founder

Russell Beck is a business, trade secrets, and employee mobility litigator, nationally recognized for his trade secrets and noncompete experience. He was invited to the Obama White House to develop guidelines for the proper use of noncompetes, and has been cited as an expert on trade secrets and noncompetes by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the White House, the Treasury Department, National Public Radio, the BBC World News Service, PBS Newshour, Le Monde, and many others.

Becker, Jordan

Van Hoven PC | Partner

Jordan Becker has 30 years of experience as a patent lawyer, successfully obtaining thousands of patents for his clients across a wide range of technologies, including software, electronics, and mechanical devices. As a trusted advisor to startups and public companies, Jordan focuses on patenting cutting-edge, high-tech inventions. He loves science and technology, and is passionate about using his skills and experience to give his clients a competitive advantage in the marketplace. To protect their investments in research and development (R&D), Jordan develops customized patent strategies, applies for and obtains patents, and builds patent portfolios that support his clients’ business goals.

Beebe, Barton

New York University School of Law | Professor of Intellectual Property Law

Barton Beebe specializes in the doctrinal, empirical, and cultural analysis of intellectual property law. He has been the Anne Urowsky Visiting Professor of Law at Yale Law School, a Visiting Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, and a Visiting Research Fellow at Merton College, Oxford.

Beebe, James

Baker Hughes | Executive Counsel, IP

James Beebe is Executive Counsel, Intellectual Property for Baker Hughes Company, an energy technology company. James is responsible for the identification and protection of technologies and services developed by Baker Hughes’ oilfield and industrial chemical business. Additionally, he leads the IP operations team at Baker Hughes.

Beffel, Ernie

Haynes Beffel & Wolfeld LLP | Founding Partner

Ernie is valued for creativity and excellence in the practice of intellectual property law. His experience is both broad and deep, and includes patent prosecution and development, the preparation of opinions on infringement and validity of patents, pre-litigation analysis and resolution of licensing issues, due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions, as well as general advice pertaining to IP strategies and portfolio management.

Bellum, Stephen

Raphael Bellum PLLC | Co-Managing Member

Stephen Bellum is a co-managing member of Raphael Bellum PLLC and a seasoned patent prosecutor focused on innovations in the pharmaceutical and life sciences. Drawing on a broad medical research background and extensive experience managing international patent prosecution for clients, Stephen works with emerging and established companies, alike, providing bespoke IP guidance that aligns with their business and product development objectives.

Benjamin, Adrienne

Artist & Cultural Educator

Adrienne Benjamin is an Anishinaabe artist and cultural educator shaping conversations about Indigenous representation and equity. As a multifaceted creator, she channels her experiences as a special needs mother, GBS survivor, and modern Indigenous woman into powerful, socially conscious work. A passionate advocate for justice, Benjamin champions arts and education initiatives within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and beyond. Benjamin’s work as Minnetonka Moccasin’s reconciliation advisor created avenues for Native artists to receive design fees and product royalties. An accomplished arts administrator and avid collector, Benjamin supports Indigenous and BIPOC artists, amplifying voices often marginalized in creative spaces. Her approach centers on restoring cultural dignity, challenging historical narratives, and creating genuine, respectful collaboration.

Bennett, Steven

IBM | IP Counsel

Steven Bennett is IP Counsel at IBM Corporation. He originally supported IBM storage division in San Jose, CA. Then he moved to Portland, OR to support the Linux development group. Now he is located in Rochester, MN where he originally was the lead IP Counsel for IBM Power/Cognitive Systems. For the past three years, Steven has been the manager for the IP Systems Operations team.

Bentham, Andrew

J A Kemp | Partner

Andy joined J A Kemp from Cambridge University in the early 1990s and is an experienced European and UK Patent Attorney in the life sciences field. He is currently particularly active in patent prosecution and oppositions in the areas of antibody therapeutics, gene therapy and transgenic animal platforms for antibody discovery. As a plant scientist by training, he also has a deep understanding of and interest in the complex area of plant patent-eligibility in Europe and a lot of experience in patent and plant variety right work in the agricultural sector.

Benton, Gary

Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center | Founder

Gary Benton is an internationally recognized Arbitrator and Mediator with over thirty years major law firm and in-house expertise in US and international business, corporate investment, technology and emerging growth matters.

Beres, Joel T.

Stites & Harbison, PLLC | Member

With more than 30 years of Intellectual Property experience, Joel Beres is a seasoned trial attorney who litigates complex IP disputes in both federal and state courts. A founding member and former co-chair of Stites & Harbison’s Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group, he manages all aspects of infringement litigation from trial strategy to appellate advocacy. He also maintains a robust practice in trademark and copyright prosecution, portfolio management, and licensing.

Berezutskaya, E. Kate

Greer Burns & Crain, Ltd. | Partner

Kate Berezutskaya is a licensed U.S. patent attorney with over 15 years of experience in representing clients in connection with numerous patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including patent drafting and prosecution, appeals, and re-exam proceedings. She develops, procures, manages and defends global patent portfolios, and counsels clients regarding patent exclusivity, patent due diligence, license agreements, freedom-to-operate opinions and inventorship/ownership.

Bergeson, Scott

Troutman Pepper Locke | Associate

Scott Bergeson is a highly experienced intellectual property attorney at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP with more than a decade of practice. Drawing on deep experience in chemical, software, and mechanical technologies, Scott delivers strategic IP counsel to clients ranging from emerging companies and universities to global enterprises. His practice spans patent prosecution, counseling, and litigation, as well as IP due diligence, drafting and negotiating intellectual property agreements, and handling post grant proceedings. He oversees domestic and international patent portfolios, helping clients create, strengthen, and safeguard high value IP assets. Clients turn to Scott for sophisticated guidance on complex patent issues and benefit from his broad technical background and extensive, real world IP experience.

Berkowitz, Nicole

Baker Donelson | Associate

Ms. Berkowitz has a diverse practice assisting clients in various intellectual property and complex commercial litigation matters. She has substantial experience litigating patent, trademark, and copyright infringement disputes as well as trade secret matters.

Speakers

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