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Luncheon Keynote: Partnering with Law Schools to Diversify the Intellectual Property Bar

Moderator: Barbara Fiacco, Foley Hoag, Boston, MA

Speaker: Dean Anthony Niedwiecki, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN

This past year has significantly increased awareness and interest in diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”).  The discussions have ranged from broad societal issues down to intellectual property practitioners and inventors.  While the discussions are useful, significant concrete steps are also needed to diversify the intellectual property bar.  Dean Niedwiecki will discuss DEI initiatives that are being undertaken and how law schools can assist the bar in overcoming historical gender and racial barriers.        

Speakers

• Fiacco, Barbara A.

  Foley Hoag, LLP | Co-Chair, Patent Litigation Practice

  Barbara Fiacco is a Partner, co-chair of the Intellectual Property Department and co-chair of the Patent, Trade Secrets, and Related Rights Litigation Practice at Foley Hoag LLP. In her practice, Barbara handles complex intellectual property and business disputes in the life sciences industry. She has successfully litigated patent, trade secret, and inventorship disputes for global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers and research institutions.
• Niedwiecki, Anthony

  Mitchell Hamline School of Law | Dean

  A longtime legal educator and activist on behalf of LGBTQ rights, Anthony Niedwiecki began serving as president and dean at Mitchell Hamline School of Law on July 1, 2020.