12th Annual
IP Dealmakers
forum
November 5-7, 2025
AUSTIN, texas
Get Updates
If you’d like to know as soon as more information is available, please join the Dealmakers email list below.
About The Event
Driving IP Transactions
We’re bringing the unparalleled IP Dealmakers experience to one of the most dynamic and fast-growing markets in the U.S.—Texas. This year’s 12th Annual IP Dealmakers Forum, taking place November 5-7 in Austin, promises to be our most impactful yet, delivering exceptional value to the global IP community.
Widely regarded as the gold standard for IP events, the Forum convenes a highly curated audience of senior IP executives, investors, innovators, and advisors driving the market forward.
New for 2025, we’re introducing several exciting additions to elevate the experience:
- Dedicated breakout designed for corporate IP leaders, focused on actionable strategies to transform IP portfolios from cost centers into strategic drivers of growth and revenue
- Expanded networking and enhanced one-to-one meetings built to foster high-value connections and drive deal flow and real business results
- Debut of a special women’s reception designed to connect and elevate women in IP. Join female leaders and rising stars for meaningful dialogue and networking
Held alongside the inaugural IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech on November 5, this one-day event explores how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming IP strategy and monetization—making it a powerful complement to the main Forum.
This exclusive gathering remains the premier destination for forging meaningful relationships, unlocking business opportunities, and shaping the future of the IP market. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
96Percent
Overall networking was rated very good to excellent
96Percent
Program quality was rated very good to excellent
98Percent
1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent
STATS FROM OUR 2024 ANNUAL FORUM
IP Dealmakers by the numbers
325
Decision
Makers
400+
one to one
meetings
65
EXPERT
SPEAKERS
16
INTERACTIVE
SESSIONS
sponsorship opportunities
Become a sponsor
2025 PRELIMINARY AGENDA
The preliminary program below is in development. Get updates and inquire about speaking below.
Get Updates
If you’d like to know as soon as more information is available, please join the Dealmakers email list below.
Please note: The inaugural IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech will take place on November 5, 2025. This event is not included with the IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech registration. If you would like to attend both events, register with an all access ticket. For more information about the inaugural IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech, click here.
PRE-DAY: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH
Launching in direct response to insights gathered from leading IP executives and innovators, IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech offers a unique, purpose-driven forum to explore the tangible impact of AI and emerging technologies across the entire patent lifecycle and IP monetization landscape.
Uniquely structured for depth and interaction, IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech combines:
- Insight-Rich Discussions: Three focused, high-level panel sessions featuring top industry experts sharing real-world experiences, successful use cases, practical challenges, and actionable takeaways.
- Interactive Roundtables: Peer-to-peer working groups designed specifically for candid benchmarking, real-time feedback, collaborative problem-solving, and sharing best practices.
- Curated Networking: Intentionally designed opportunities to build meaningful, high-value relationships with peers actively navigating the integration and application of AI and emerging technologies.
For further information visit: https://dealmakersforums.com/event/ip-ai-emtech.
DAY ONE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH
Start your day with a refreshing group run to explore a bit of Austin! We’ll meet in the lobby of Hotel Van Zandt and head out for a scenic jog along the Anne and Roy Butler Trail by the Colorado River. Distance and pace will be based on group interest—all levels welcome!
07:00 – 8:30 AM:
THE IN-HOUSE IP LEADERS COUNCIL
By invitation-only – Email [email protected] to request an invitation.
- The year’s biggest deals, awards, and settlements – and what they signal for the future
- Monetization tailwinds and headwinds
- The policy environment: how the second Trump administration is shaping IP dealmaking
Speakers:
- Elvir Causevic, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Tech+IP (moderator)
- Russell Genet, Managing Director, Longford Capital
- Erez Levy, Co-CIO, IP Finance Group, Fortress Investment Group
- John Lindgren, CEO, IPValue Management
- Ceyda Maisami, Chief IP Counsel, HP
- How the Tillis Tax impacted deal flow, strategies, and access to capital
- How corporates, law firms, and investors are adapting
- Where the litigation funding market is heading
Speakers:
- Patrick Fitch, Partner, Prince Lobel Tye (moderator)
- Christopher Freeman, Managing Director, Burford Capital
- Anup Misra, Managing Director, IP, Curiam Capital
- Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty
- Jayme Patridge, Partner, Brown Rudnick
- How policy shifts and administrative changes have reshaped the PTAB
- The drop in instituted petitions and what it means for strategy and enforcement
- Shifting standards, discretionary denials, and procedural changes affecting post-grant strategies
Speakers:
- Charles Eldering, CEO, CAsE Analysis (moderator)
- Gene H. Cherng, Partner, Spencer Fane
- Timothy Dewberry, Partner, Folio Law Group
- Jamie Simpson, Chief Policy Officer & Counsel, Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS
Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilizing our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.
1:30 - 3:45 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS
These breakout sessions will dive into the art of dealmaking, revealing how transactions are being closed, and uncovering key opportunities for those driving IP monetization.
- Fresh data on volumes, win rates, damages, and awards
- Emerging hotspots beyond WDTX and D. Del.
- Coordinating district court, ITC, and PTAB actions to maximize leverage and minimize risk
Speakers:
- Ari J. Jaffess, Partner, Liston Abramson (moderator)
- Michael Kahn, Partner, Akin Gump
- Kevin O’Riordan, VP, Associate General Counsel, Corporate, Tennant Company
- Bridge Smith, Assistant General Counsel, IP, Relativity Space
- Jonathan K. Waldrop, Partner & Chair, IP Group, Kasowitz
- Latest filing and enforcement trends outside the US
- Coordinating cross-border litigation
- UPC, China and beyond: impacts on damages, injunctions and speed
Speakers:
- Alexandra Brodie, Partner, Gowling WLG (moderator)
- Carlos Aboim, Founding Partner, Licks Attorneys
- Steven Carlson, Partner, Robins Kaplan
- Dragon Wang, Managing Partner, SITAO IP
- Key factors driving funder and firm decisions on case acceptance or rejection
- Using data and analytics to assess value and guide strategic decisions
- Best practices for engaging damages experts and avoiding common pitfalls in settlement and litigation planning
Speakers:
- Michael T. Renaud, Chair, IP Division, Mintz (moderator)
- Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant
- Tom Mavrakakis, Head of Patents, IBM
- Mike Pellegrino, President, Pellegrino & Associates
- Courtney Quish, Managing Director, IP Finance Group, Fortress Investment Group
NEW FOR 2025: These breakout sessions are tailored for corporate IP business leaders, focusing on their unique challenges and strategic opportunities.
- Aligning IP programs with current market conditions
- Generating revenue, managing risk, and supporting business goals
- How shifts in enforcement, policy, and dealmaking practices are shaping corporate IP strategy
Speakers:
- Michelle Eber, Managing Director, West U Capital (moderator)
- Ken Kaskoun, EVP, Chief Growth Officer, InterDigital
- Andrew Maas, Assistant Vice President, Technology Transfer, UT Austin
- Kiran Patel, Senior IP Counsel, Philips
- Kim Vo, Corporate VP, Legal & Chief IP Officer, AMD
- Framing IP monetization as a strategic growth driver, not just a legal function
- How to anticipate and address common C-suite concerns
- Storytelling techniques: making IP accessible and persuasive to non-technical executives
Speakers:
- Shival Virmani, Chief IP and Licensing Officer, Radian Memory (moderator)
- Harish Daiya, Co-Founder & CEO, Lumenci
- Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel, Virent
- Brian Niznik, Head of IP Strategy and Licensing, ResMed
- Jinnie Reed, General Counsel, Qomplx
- Understanding the range of monetization partners and how each can support corporate IP objectives
- Aligning partnerships with long term monetization goals
- Structuring and leveraging partnerships
Speakers:
- Abha Divine, Managing Director & Founder, Techquity Growth Capital (moderator)
- Bill Geary, Chief Strategy Officer, IDEAHUB
- Rob Kramer, Partner, Kramer Alberti Lim & Tonkovich
- Changhae Park, SVP & Chief IP Officer, NXP Semiconductors
- Ilkka Rahnasto, President, Avanci Solutions
4:15 - 5:45 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS
These breakout sessions will dive into the art of dealmaking, revealing how transactions are being closed, and uncovering key opportunities for those driving IP monetization.
This session reviews the three most significant SEP cases of 2025, exploring their impact on FRAND negotiations, licensing strategies, and enforcement. Attendees will gain insights on how these rulings are shaping the market and what corporates, licensors, and implementers need to know to navigate the evolving SEP landscape.
Speakers:
- Natalie Alfaro Gonzales, Partner, Yetter Coleman (moderator)
- Brian Blasius, President & CEO, PanOptis
- Steve Jedlinski, President, US & General Counsel, Sisvel
- Jack McKinney, Director, IP, HP
This session will provide a must-know guide to video licensing, covering the key layers of the technology stack, FRAND versus non-FRAND obligations, and strategic approaches, and challenges for both licensors and licensees.
Speakers:
- Arvin Patel, Managing Director, SIM IP (moderator)
- Noel Egnatios, CEO & Chief Legal Officer, DivX
- Peter Toto, SVP, IP, Sony
- Aaron Waxler, Senior Director, Multimedia Licensing, Nokia
NEW FOR 2025: These sessions are tailored for corporate IP business leaders, focusing on their unique challenges and strategic opportunities.
- Structuring patents and maximizing the appeal to buyers and licensees
- Enhancing deal terms, offerings, and over return
- Practical guidance for improving negotiation and closing
Speakers:
- Gregory J. Lundell, Partner, Haley Guiliano (moderator)
- Chris Hilker, Assistant General Counsel, IP, BASF
- Blair M. Jacobs, Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner
- Sheila Kadura, Chief Innovation Officer & Associate General Counsel, The University of Texas System
- Ajit Narang, VP, Associate General Counsel, Solventum
Companies are increasingly partnering with licensing companies, licensing platforms and IP focused investors to strategically expand their IP monetization programs. In this panel discussion, we will get a deeper look at how these transactions are being developed, structured and executed with an eye toward the IP licensing landscape over the next 5 years. The Ericsson–NovaCloud Licensing transaction will serve as a case study, offering practical insights for companies considering similar moves.
Speakers:
- Joe Chernesky, CEO, VideoLabs
- Denise De Mory, Managing Partner, Bunsow De Mory
- Michael Gulliford, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Soryn IP Capital
- Mathias Hellman, VP, IPR Strategy & Value, Ericsson
The IP Dealmakers Women’s Reception, hosted by Techquity Growth Capital and Yetter Coleman, is an intimate gathering offered by invitation to conference registrants. RSVP is required, and space is limited. Request an invite at [email protected].
DAY TWO: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH
Start your day with a refreshing group run to explore a bit of Austin! We’ll meet in the lobby of Hotel Van Zandt and head out for a scenic jog along the Anne and Roy Butler Trail by the Colorado River. Distance and pace will be based on group interest—all levels welcome!
This session brings together leading judges to share their perspectives on the evolving patent litigation landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insight from judges, and their views for the coming years.
Speakers:
- Mark D. Siegmund, Partner, Cherry Johnson Siegmund James (moderator)
- Hon. Alan D. Albright, U.S. District Judge, Western District of Texas
- Hon. Derek T. Gilliland, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Western District of Texas
- Hon. Dustin M. Howell, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Western District of Texas
In this fireside discussion, the audience will hear two IP owners share their perspectives on how today’s patent market is evolving — and what it means for valuation and returns on R&D investment. The conversation will explore how market dynamics, buyer and seller priorities, and strategic portfolio management shape patent value, and how companies can better align innovation, investment, and commercialization to achieve meaningful returns.
Speakers:
- Archana Bhuta, Senior Executive, IP Strategy and Commercialization, SRI
- Tony Trippe, Senior Leader AI Initiatives & IP Strategy Manager, Owens Corning
As the IP landscape continues to evolve, this session will explore what dealmaking is likely to look like in 2026 and beyond. Experts will discuss emerging trends, market dynamics, and strategic approaches that will shape patent monetization in the coming years.
Speakers:
- Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant (moderator)
- Josue Ortiz, Managing Director, ClearViewIP
- Francis Rushford, Managing Director & Head of IP Finance, Pretium
- Patricia Stepp, AVP for Technology Transfer, Rice University
- Tarianna Stewart, Manager, Technology Licensing and Business Development, NYU Technology Opportunities & Ventures
12:00 - 12:45 PM: STRATEGY LABS & PLAYBOOK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS
Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilizing our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.
Exploring high-level IP monetization strategies and portfolio potential, with a focus on opportunity identification, analytics, and market positioning.
These sessions are about thinking strategically, understanding where value lies, and uncovering actionable opportunities across portfolios.
- AI Patents: Opportunities, Valuation, and Strategic Positioning
- Licensing Beyond SEPs: Finding Hidden IP Value
- Optimizing Patent Portfolio Analytics
- Managing Risk In IP Monetization
- Corporate IP Strategy in Emerging Tech Sectors
- International IP Monetization: Key Markets and Jurisdictions
- Navigating PTAB Changes & Implications for Portfolio Value
Practical, actionable guidance for executing monetization, structuring deals, and building repeatable in-house processes.
These sessions are about hands-on strategies: turning IP into revenue, internal alignment, and managing transactions effectively.
- Building the Internal IP Monetization Playbook
- Choosing the Right Monetization Partners
- Structuring Deals for Maximum Value
- Litigation vs. Licensing: When to Enforce vs. Sell
- From Cost Center to Revenue Generator: Demonstrating ROI of IP
- Negotiation & Deal Tactics for In-House Teams
- Lessons from Successful Patent Divestitures
2025 SPEAKERs
The program for the 12th Annual IP Dealmakers Forum is in development. Inquire about speaking below.
Get Updates
If you’d like to know as soon as more information is available, please join the Dealmakers email list below.
Christopher Freeman
MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL
Christopher Freeman is a Managing Director with responsibility for assessing and underwriting legal risk as part of Burford’s patent group. As part of Burford’s investment team, Mr. Freeman evaluates intellectual property cases and patent monetization campaigns and crafts investment structures that align incentives between funder, law firm and claimant.
Prior to joining Burford, Mr. Freeman was Vice President and Head of Litigation at Blackbird Technologies, a company he co-founded in 2014. At Blackbird, Mr. Freeman oversaw all business operations and successfully built and managed one of the most prominent patent acquisition and licensing entities in the US, growing the firm to a dozen employees and a portfolio of over 100 patents and applications. Earlier in his career, Mr. Freeman was an IP partner at Kirkland & Ellis and practiced at Latham & Watkins and at Quinn Emanuel.
Mr. Freeman graduated from the Boston University School of Law and earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Industrial Engineering and Economics.
Carlos Aboim
Founding Partner
licks Attorneys
Carlos Aboim
FOUNDING PARTNER, LICKS ATTORNEYS
Carlos Aboim, founding partner at Licks Attorneys, built a remarkable career spanning over two decades. He has been acting as a first-chair trial and appellate litigator before state and federal courts, handling success high-stakes and leading cases in intellectual property, unfair competition, antitrust and regulatory compliance, mainly in the areas of telecommunications, ICT and life sciences. He also has a global portfolio licensing in the areas of standard essential patents (SEPs) and patent pooling. He is a frequent speaker in the most relevant international IP panels and advises high-profile clients in licensing negotiations and international disputes.
Hon. Alan D. Albright
U.S. District Judge
Western District of Texas
Hon. Alan D. Albright
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE, WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Judge Alan Albright is the federal district judge for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division. He was nominated by President Trump in January 2018, Judge Albright earned his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law where he was a member of the Texas Law Review. He clerked for The Honorable James R. Nowlin in Austin, Texas. From 1992–99, he served as a Magistrate Judge. In 2016 he was admitted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is also a member of the American Law Institute. Prior to taking the district court bench in 2018, Judge Albright practiced IP litigation as a partner in the Austin office of Bracewell, LLP. He has run 26 marathons. Judge has two sons and he some day aspires to write his first novel.
Archana Bhuta
Senior Executive, IP Strategy and Commercialization
SRI
Archana Bhuta
SENIOR EXECUTIVE, IP STRATEGY AND COMMERCIALIZATION, SRI
As Senior Executive, IP Strategy & Commercialization at SRI International, Archana Bhuta manages SRI’s patent sales and licensing program as well as strategic patent portfolio growth. She previously served for 8 years as Head of IP, Associate General Counsel, leading the legal team in the creation, licensing, and enforcement of SRI IP. Her experience, prior to joining SRI, spans leading IP portfolio management, licensing, acquisition, and litigation across major companies and new ventures. She built IP programs from scratch at startups Pebble Technology and LeEco US, covering smart devices (smartphones, smart TVs, VR, smart watches) and streaming platforms. Ms. Bhuta was the Director of Patents at Juniper Networks, managing the overall patent program and counseling business groups on product issues and portfolio growth. She also worked at Sun Microsystems and in private practice, focusing on IP litigation at Weil Gotshal & Manges and patent prosecution at Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman.
Brian Blasius
President & CEO
PanOptis
Brian Blasius
PRESIDENT & CEO, PANOPTIS
Brian is currently the CEO of PanOptis, which manages the licensing activities for Optis Wireless, Optis Cellular and Unwired Planet. He has held IP leadership roles at a variety of companies that have been at the forefront of many key SEP licensing matters over the past two decades, including the Smartphone Wars of the late 2000’s, Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility and many groundbreaking FRAND disputes around the world. Prior to PanOptis, Brian led SEP licensing initiatives at Marconi, Google and Motorola. Throughout his 30-year career with corporate patent owners, implementers and mediators, Brian has gained a unique perspective to understand how SEP licensing issues impact the broader industry from all sides of the negotiating table. He holds an M.B.A from the Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University and a B.S in Finance from Northern Illinois University.
Alexandra Brodie
Partner
Gowling WLG
Alexandra Brodie
PARTNER, GOWLING WLG
Alexandra Brodie is one of the UK’s leading IP litigators. Based in London, she is described as “a great strategist and tactician who knows how to position for success at every level of trial” in Chambers, 2016 and by Managing Intellectual Property as one of the Global Top 250 Women in IP 2016. World Trademark Review recognised Alexandra in the 2017 edition of its prestigious annual guide, WTR 1000, for enforcement and litigation.
Alexandra has been litigating all IP rights for many years and has enjoyed particular success in the field of telco patents and big brands, having represented clients such as Hasbro in its Play-Doh litigation and various technology companies in relation to setting strategy in multi-jurisdictional standards essential disputes. She has recently secured victories at the High Court and Court of Appeal against BT in connection with its provision of internet services to the UK.
She chairs the firm’s tech sector and ensures that our firm-wide team is immersed in the sector such that it can provide not just sector focussed advice and strategy but also connections and introductions for our clients. She is intrigued by the ever-increasing reach of tech into all industries and her team has recently provided networking events for clients in fields as diverse as autonomous cars, e-retail, additive manufacturing, connected health and FinTech.
Alexandra is passionate about the need to encourage a diverse environment with opportunities for all and heads up our initiative to provide mentoring and coaching to our people as part of our More Women project.
She is also an active member of our US Sales Initiative with responsibility for the Boston territories alongside colleagues from around the business.
Alex was recognised as both a ‘trade mark star’ and ‘patent star’ in the IP Stars guide 2017.
Steven C. Carlson
Partner
Robins Kaplan
Steven C. Carlson
PARTNER, ROBINS KAPLAN
Steven Carlson is a first-chair courtroom IP litigator practicing at the Silicon Valley office of Robins Kaplan LLP. Based on his experiences in cross-border enforcement matters, he co-authored a series of books on the German patent litigation system and the Unified Patent Court, including most recently “Patent Litigation Through the Unified Patent Court and German Courts.” Steve clerked for judges on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He teaches advanced patent litigation at UC Berkeley, focusing on litigation before the PTAB and the International Trade Commission. His courtroom work includes patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters in cases involving medical devices, chemistry, software, connected appliances, genomics, robotics, and industrial products.
Elvir Causevic
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Tech+IP Advisory
Elvir Causevic
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, TECH+IP ADVISORY
Dr. Elvir Causevic, Esq., is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Tech+IP Capital, a boutique investment bank empowering clients to realize tangible value from intangible assets.
Dr. Causevic was Co-Head of the Tech+IP Advisory Group at Houlihan Lokey, a $6B investment bank, after they acquired BSIP LLC, an IP boutique he founded. He was an MD at Ocean Tomo, heading Strategic Advisory Services and serving as technical and damages expert witness on patent infringement, licensing, and antitrust matters. Earlier he was on the faculty at Yale University, and founded three neurotechnology companies – two were acquired by Fortune 500s, and the third, BrainScope, is a maker of the only FDA-cleared concussion device. He is a named inventor on 30+ patents.
Dr. Causevic holds B.S., M.S. and D.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Washington University and a JD from the University of California Hastings College of Law, licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
Joe Chernesky
CEO
VideoLabs
Joe Chernesky
CEO, VIDEOLABS
Joe is the Founder and CEO of VideoLabs and NovaCloud Licensing and has more than 30 years of general management and P&L experience at Fortune 100 technology companies, private equity, and innovative start-ups. Joe also serves as a Board Director and Board Advisor for several technology companies and non-profit organizations.
Most recently, Joe was President of Nagra IP, Inc and SVP of innovation, intellectual property and corporate development at the Kudelski Group.
Prior to Kudelski, Joe served as Vice President and General Manager of Global Licensing at Intellectual Ventures (IV).
Joe co-founded and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of IPotential, a leading provider of IP strategy and patent monetization services.
Prior to IPotential, Joe served as Vice President of Boeing Management Company, where he was responsible for its IP policy, strategies and initiatives.
Before joining Boeing, Joe held several management positions at Intel Corporation in IP licensing and business development, new product development and corporate treasury.
Joe earned a BS and MBA from the University of Arizona and served for 10 years as a US naval officer in various assignments throughout the world.
Gene H. Cherng
Partner
Spencer Fane
Gene H. Cherng
PARTNER, SPENCER FANE
Gene Cherng is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. Admitted to the patent bar, he has successfully represented patent owners and accused infringers alike in the district courts and the U.S. Patent Office in cases involving technologies in the software, electrical, and mechanical arts.
Harish Daiya
Co-Founder & CEO
Lumenci
Harish Daiya
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, LUMENCI
Harish Daiya is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lumenci, a full-service IP consulting firm dedicated to extracting maximum value from IP assets and providing technical, valuation, and strategic advice to patent owners and law firms to drive successful results. With over 18 years of experience in IP litigation, licensing, and monetization strategies, he has supported global law firms, Fortune 500 corporations and investors in more than 175 matters across the United States, Europe, China, India, and Brazil, contributing to over $3 billion in IP value creation.
Harish has been individually recognized in the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists in both 2024 and 2025. A frequent speaker on IP valuation, litigation funding, and technology due diligence, he is also a former member of the Forbes Business Council and has written thought-leadership pieces for Forbes, NASDAQ, and the Litigation Finance Journal. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science Engineering from the IIT, Kharagpur, India.
Denise De Mory
Managing Partner
Bunsow De Mory
Denise De Mory
MANAGING PARTNER, BUNSOW DE MORY
Denise De Mory is the managing partner and co-founder of Bunsow De Mory, a top IP litigation boutique. She has litigated patent and other IP cases for over 30 years.
Denise is a courtroom star. She has appeared in more than 150 patent cases in every major jurisdiction and tried 11 cases to verdict.
Denise is the go-to lawyer for universities, university professors, small companies and individual inventors looking to maximize the value of their IP assets.
In the past year, she has been ranked by Chambers USA for patent litigation, IAM 300 as a Strategy 300 Global Leader, the Daily Journal as a Top Woman Lawyer and as a Top IP Lawyer, Managing IP as a Global Top 250 Women in IP and an IP Star, and US News & Report as a Best Lawyer.
Timothy Dewberry
Partner
Folio Law Group
Timothy Dewberry
PARTNER, FOLIO LAW GROUP
Tim has spent more than 15 years representing both plaintiff and defendant clients in patent disputes in venues including United States District Courts, the International Trade Commission, and USPTO PTAB. In front of the PTAB Tim has represented clients in numerous IPR and Covered Business Method Patent proceedings, including several discretionary denial proceedings on behalf of patent holders. Tim also obtained a top 10 jury verdict ($43,000,000) in Texas in 2019 on behalf of Intellectual Ventures. As a registered patent attorney with a degree in electrical engineering, Tim brings his legal and technical expertise to bear on disputes involving a wide variety of technical fields such as wireless telecommunications standards, central processing unit substrates, networking, graphics processing, computer databases, capacitive touch sensors, and oil and gas extraction. His current practice focuses on assisting patent holders with increasing their return on investment in patent portfolios.
Abha Divine
Managing Director & Founder
Techquity Growth Capital
Abha Divine
MANAGING DIRECTOR & FOUNDER, TECHQUITY GROWTH CAPITAL
Abha Divine is the Founder and CEO of Techquity Growth Capital (TGC), a private investment firm dedicated to helping innovators scale and delivering investors thoughtfully evaluated and structured deals poised for attractive returns and reduced downside risk.
At TGC, Ms. Divine leads investments in growth-stage companies with proven IP and demonstrated market demand. TGC provides a range of financing solutions tailored to meet borrowers’ specific needs and strategies. For investors, TGC’s offers disciplined sourcing, syndication, and risk-mitigated opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including communications, media, dual-use, and healthcare.
In addition to TGC, Ms. Divine founded and leads Techquity Capital Management to work with innovators, large and small, to broaden market access to important IP assets and provide liquidity to those innovators. She and her team have also sourced, managed, and overseen investments in IP portfolio companies. In this capacity, she has overseen numerous licensing programs, managed strategic investment in extending the portfolios, and defended against unauthorized use of portfolio company IP.
Prior to leading the Techquity family of companies, Ms. Divine spent 15 years at AT&T and its predecessor SBC Communications where she launched and led various technology and business ventures for the companies as VP of Corporate Strategy, VP of National Data, and President and CEO of AT&T Knowledge Ventures, the global intellectual property business for the AT&T family of companies. At AT&T Knowledge Ventures, she oversaw the development and licensing of the worldwide IP portfolio, delivering measurable EPS impact annually. In her other roles, Ms. Divine was responsible for the creation of SBC’s data networking, managed services, and hosting businesses on a national scale, as well as the restructuring of its consumer broadband strategy to achieve SBC’s broadband leadership position at the time.
Ms. Divine earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from MIT where she completed her research at the Media Lab. Ms. Divine also holds Bachelor degrees in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Southern Methodist University.
Ms. Divine chairs the Executive Board of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering, serves on the Visiting Committee for Sponsored Research at MIT, and has served as a founding advisory board member of the Dealmakers Forum. She has been recognized annually as one of IAM’s Leading IP Strategists since the inception of the list.
Michelle Eber
Managing Director
West U Capital
Michelle Eber
MANAGING DIRECTOR, WEST U CAPITAL
Michelle Eber is a managing director at West U Capital, a firm focused on IP investments, including patent acquisitions and monetization as well as patent litigation funding and law firm financing.
Prior to joining West U Capital, Michelle was the Director of Patent Investments at Validity Finance, where she led the patent investment team.
Before joining the investment world, Michelle spent ten years practicing law as a patent and trade secret litigator at Baker Botts in Houston.
Noel Egnatios
CEO & Chief Legal Officer
DivX
Noel Egnatios
CEO & CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, DIVX
Noel Egnatios is the CEO and Chief Legal Officer at DivX, a leading video technology company based in San Diego, CA that has been innovating in the video codec and streaming space for over 20 years. Noel is a longtime DivX employee who shepherded the growth of the company’s IP portfolio and spearheaded pivotal corporate transactions and licensing deals. She now directs DivX’s IP protection and enforcement programs and manages DivX’s consumer and business licensing efforts. Before joining DivX, she advised companies on IP portfolio management, enforcement and licensing matters. She began her career in private practice at Cooley, where she oversaw the portfolios of major Silicon Valley technology companies and represented wireless technology firms in global patent litigation and arbitration.
Charles Eldering
CEO
CAsE Analysis
Charles Eldering
CEO, CASE ANALYSIS
Charles is an entrepreneur, inventor, and patent specialist with over 20 years of experience in the patent field and extensive experience in patent monetization, including having monetized four of his own portfolios in areas ranging from targeted advertising to bioinformatics.
At CAsE Analysis Charles helps patent holders by providing portfolio management and strategic patenting services as well as preparing portfolios for sale and enforcement. This includes reverse engineering of existing products, development of claim charts, development of targeted continuation applications, and packaging of assets for sale or litigation. He also serves as an expert witness and has participated in several jury trials.
Charles has a BS in physics from Carnegie Mellon University, an MS in solid state science from Syracuse University, and a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of California at Davis. He is a registered patent agent and previously served as an officer in the US Air Force.
Fred Fabricant
Managing Partner
Fabricant
Fred Fabricant
MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT
Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters.
Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.”
Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters.
Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB.
In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options.
Education
The University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)
The University of Miami (magna cum laude)
Admissions
- New York
- Arizona
Patrick Fitch
Partner
Prince Lobel Tye
Patrick Fitch
PARTNER, PRINCE LOBEL TYE
Patrick A. Fitch is a partner at Prince Lobel Tye LLP, based in Boston. Pat has established himself as a go-to strategist and outside counsel for devising and executing creative and successful approaches to clients’ intellectual property enforcement efforts.
Pat represents clients in commercial, patent, and trade secret litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before the ITC and the PTAB. Pat began his career at Alston & Bird LLP as part of the small team that later established the Washington, DC office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. Pat later worked at Intellectual Ventures, where he developed and managed IP monetization campaigns, before returning to private practice. In addition to his U.S. litigation practice, Pat coordinates global strategies for cross-border IP licensing campaigns. He also advises clients in the purchase and sale of IP assets and in securing capital for IP monetization efforts.
Christopher Freeman
Managing Director
Burford Capital
Christopher Freeman
MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL
Christopher Freeman is a Managing Director with responsibility for assessing and underwriting legal risk as part of Burford’s patent group. As part of Burford’s investment team, Mr. Freeman evaluates intellectual property cases and patent monetization campaigns and crafts investment structures that align incentives between funder, law firm and claimant.
Prior to joining Burford, Mr. Freeman was Vice President and Head of Litigation at Blackbird Technologies, a company he co-founded in 2014. At Blackbird, Mr. Freeman oversaw all business operations and successfully built and managed one of the most prominent patent acquisition and licensing entities in the US, growing the firm to a dozen employees and a portfolio of over 100 patents and applications. Earlier in his career, Mr. Freeman was an IP partner at Kirkland & Ellis and practiced at Latham & Watkins and at Quinn Emanuel.
Mr. Freeman graduated from the Boston University School of Law and earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Industrial Engineering and Economics.
Russell Genet
Managing Director
Longford Capital
Russell Genet
MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL
Russell J. Genet is a Managing Director at Longford Capital, responsible for investment sourcing, underwriting and monitoring. Russ has over 25 years experience representing clients in enforcing intellectual property rights in a wide array of industries. Russ has litigated complex intellectual property matters in federal courts throughout the United States and before the Federal Circuit. He has prosecuted patent applications and represented clients in interferences, ex parte reexaminations, and inter partes reviews in the U.S. Patent Office. He has been recognized by Chambers for Litigation Finance in IP, LawDragon as Global Leader in Litigation Finance, and as an Illinois Super Lawyer. Prior to joining Longford, Russ was a partner in the international law firm, Nixon Peabody LLP where he served as leader of the firm’s IP Litigation practice group. He is a graduate of Purdue University, with a degree in electrical engineering, and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Hon. Derek T. Gilliland
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Western District of Texas
Derek T. Gilliland
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE, WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Derek T. Gilliland serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Texas in the Waco Division. In that role he oversees federal civil and criminal cases, with a significant number of patent cases on his docket. He also handles the divisions central violations bureau cases and the VETS (Veterans Endeavor for Treatment and Support) Court that assists active and former military personnel who are charged with crimes and struggling with mental health issues. Judge Gilliland is a registered patent attorney, and for twenty-four years before taking the bench, he worked in private practice as a trial lawyer primarily handling patent cases throughout the country. He is a 1998 graduate of Baylor Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude, and was ranked second in his graduating class. Before law school he worked as an engineer for a defense contractor after graduating magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales
Partner
Yetter Coleman
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales
PARTNER, YETTER COLEMAN
Natalie is a skilled trial lawyer at Yetter Coleman who represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex intellectual property disputes in federal district courts across the country and in adversarial proceedings before the USPTO. As a registered patent attorney with an engineering background, Natalie offers comprehensive IP counsel beyond litigation, including pre-suit investigations, licensing arrangements, and IP agreements.
Natalie’s courtroom success is enhanced by both her ability to connect with witnesses, judges, and juries, and the ease with which she simplifies complex technologies into clear, compelling narratives. She has been recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America for her excellence in IP litigation, and included in IAM Strategy 300 for her exemplary work in developing and implementing strategies that maximize the value of her client’s IP portfolios.
Natalie earned her mechanical engineering degree from UT Austin and her law degree from UH Law Center and went on to clerk for Chief Judge Leonard E. Davis in the Eastern District of Texas. Before joining Yetter Coleman, she was a partner at an AmLaw 100 law firm.
Natalie is active in several professional and community organizations, including serving as a leader within ChIPs—a global community of women in tech, law, and policy.
Michael Gulliford
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Soryn IP Capital
Michael Gulliford
MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, SORYN IP CAPITAL
Michael Gulliford has more than two decades of experience in the intellectual property arena as an investor, advisor, dealmaker and former law firm partner. At Soryn IP Capital Management, Michael oversees the firm’s portfolio of private credit, legal finance and other IP-specific investments. Prior to Soryn IP Capital Management, Michael founded Soryn IP Group, an intellectual property advisory and finance firm that guided the management of private and publicly traded companies with respect to patent strategy, and that closed more than $175 million in patent-centric deals. Prior to founding Soryn IP Group, Michael was a partner in the IP litigation group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he counseled clients on IP issues in a host of industries. Michael holds a BA in Neuroscience from Columbia University and a JD from the Seton Hall University School of Law. Michael regularly speaks and publishes on the latest IP monetization and finance developments. Among various industry distinctions, Michael has been recognized as a Global Leader in Intellectual Property, as one of the Leading IP Strategists in the World and as a Patent Master. Chambers and Partners has also repeatedly recognized Michael as a top practitioner of IP Litigation Finance.
Mathias Hellman
VP, IPR Strategy and Value
Ericsson
Mathias Hellman
VP, IPR STRATEGY AND VALUE, ERICSSON
As Vice President of Strategy & Value at Ericsson’s IPR & Licensing unit, Mr. Hellman is responsible for managing the strategic aspects of Ericsson’s industry-leading portfolio of over 60,000 granted patents. He has developed Ericsson’s licensing models, ensuring a fair return on the company’s substantial investment in various research areas including cellular standards, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
Mr. Hellman joined Ericsson in 2011 and has held various roles within the strategy and portfolio management team, helping to cement Ericsson’s position in the technological and IPR landscape. As part of Ericsson’s leadership team for IPR & Licensing, his responsibilities also encompass IPR strategy development, patent portfolio management, patent acquisitions and divestments, open-source policies, IPR in R&D collaborations, and IPR in standardization and technology strategy. Mr. Hellman’s breadth of responsibilities showcases his ability to combine a detail-oriented perspective with visionary thinking.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hellman has had a steadfast dedication to navigating the intricate landscape of intellectual property rights, recognizing its pivotal role in fostering innovation and growth in the technology industry.
Mr. Hellman holds an M.Sc. in Intellectual Capital Management and a B.Sc. in Software Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology.
Chris Hilker
Assistant General Counsel, IP
BASF
Chris Hilker
ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL, IP, BASF
Chris is a chemical engineer by training. He started his career as a process development engineer at the Lubrizol Corporation, part of Berkshire Hathaway. After several years in engineering roles he went back to get his law degree and moved to an in house role, providing commercial and IP legal support to business units in the chemical and performance material markets. He added an MBA while completing an R&D management role, and was then named lead counsel for Lubrizol’s Life Sciences division. About 8 years ago he moved to BASF where, as Assistant GC for IP, he supports multiple operating divisions in North America on all IP topics. He is also part of the company’s global IP monetization team. Chris and his family live in Michigan just south of Detroit.
Hon. Dustin M. Howell
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Western District of Texas
Hon. Dustin M. Howell
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE, WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
Judge Howell is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas. He’s graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University School of Law. He started his legal career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson of the Supreme Court of Texas. He then worked as a trial and appellate litigator in the Austin offices of Baker Botts and McKool Smith, and as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Texas Attorney General’s Office. He is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Prior to joining the federal bench, Judge Howell served for over three years as a state district judge for Travis County, Texas. He lives in Austin with his wife and four boys, ages 5, 7, 12, and 14.
Bill Geary
Chief Strategy Officer
IDEAHUB
Bill Geary
EVP, ACQUISITION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, IDEAHUB
Bill Geary is executive vice president of acquisition and business development at IDEAHUB Inc. He has more than 30 years of patent licensing, litigation, and patent pool experience. Previously, from 2006 to 2023, he was vice president of business development at MPEG LA, responsible for creating and launching patent pools. From 1995 to 2006 he worked for Samsung Electronics as general patent counsel and head of the Samsung Washington DC office, responsible for patent licensing and litigation. He has a law degree, JD, from Washington and Lee University, an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology, post-graduate work in electrical engineering, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and BS in electrical engineering from Tulane University.
Blair M. Jacobs
Partner
Boies Schiller Flexner
Blair M. Jacobs
PARTNER, BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER
Blair Jacobs is a nationally recognized trial attorney with extensive experience trying and winning cases in courts throughout the country. Blair is routinely sought out to handle and has led teams in bet-the-company cases destined for trial from the outset.
Blair and his team work closely on identifying significant monetization opportunities in the intellectual property space and partners with many to provide universities and small to medium sized companies with the opportunity to take on many of the largest known infringers out there.
He has been elected a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an honor limited to less than one-half of one percent of North American lawyers, judges and scholars.
Blair serves as the leader of Spencer Fane’s patent litigation practice group and routinely handles contentious cases involving IP, antitrust, unfair competition and Trade Secret issues.
He speaks often on litigation funding strategies and is a recognized expert on trial and appellate strategy.
Ari J. Jaffess
Partner
Liston Abramson
Ari J. Jaffess
PARTNER, LISTON ABRAMSON
Ari Jaffess is a partner at Liston Abramson LLP, based in New York. He is a trial lawyer who focuses on patent cases in district courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the International Trade Commission, and the Federal Circuit. His practice involves technology spanning software, electronics, mechanical devices, medical devices, and chemistry. Ari also advises clients on IP licensing and strategy, both offensive and defensive. He has extensive experience with litigation funding, representing clients in funded litigations, performing due diligence, and drafting, negotiating, and advising on funding agreements.
Steve Jedlinski
President, US & General Counsel
Sisvel
Steve Jedlinski
PRESIDENT, US & GENERAL COUNSEL, SISVEL
Sheila Kadura
Chief Innovation Officer & Associate GC
UT System
Sheila Kadura
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER & ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
In her dual role, Dr. Sheila Kadura leads efforts to promote innovation across The University of Texas System and advises clients on legal matters involving intellectual property and research. Before UT System, Sheila was a Senior Legal Director at Dell Technologies, a Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, and a law clerk to the Honorable Arthur J. Gajarsa on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Sheila has a B.S. in biology from Texas State University; a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from Baylor College of Medicine; and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law, where she graduated as a Chancellor and served on the Texas Law Review. Among other community engagements, Sheila chairs the Public Policy Legal Task Force for AUTM and received AUTM’s 2025 Bayh-Dole Award for fostering intellectual property activities on behalf of universities and the non-profit community.
Michael Kahn
Partner
Akin Gump
Michael Kahn
PARTNER, AKIN GUMP
Michael is a Chambers USA-ranked lead trial lawyer with significant victories at virtually every stage of litigation. With a global practice, Michael is a full-service strategic advisor for prominent life sciences and high-tech companies. Building upon long-term relationships of trust, Michael is called upon to take the lead on business-critical matters involving IP and related complex commercial disputes.
Alongside Akin’s market-leading investment funds, special situations, private credit and finance teams, Michael also advises operating companies, funders, lenders, insurers and other investors on issues related to active and potential litigation assets. Whether in connection with large defense matters on behalf of operating companies or in connection with funding and investment decision making, Michael wields his knowledge of intellectual property law and the litigation finance ecosystem to drive successful outcomes for his clients. Michael sits alongside partners in London and Hong Kong to support the firm’s worldwide, cross-practice collaboration on litigation assets.
Ken Kaskoun
EVP, Chief Growth Officer
InterDigital
Ken Kaskoun
EVP, CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER, INTERDIGITAL
Ken Kaskoun is InterDigital’s EVP, Chief Growth Officer. Mr. Kaskoun joined InterDigital in February 2024 from the life sciences company, SomaLogic, where he was Sr. VP of Strategy and Business Development. Prior to SomaLogic Mr. Kaskoun spent 15 years at Qualcomm in various IP-related roles. Mr. Kaskoun’s last role at Qualcomm was VP of the Strategy and Analysis team in the Qualcomm Technology Licensing business unit (QTL). In this role, Mr. Kaskoun was a key driver of the yearly strategic planning process, led the analysis of potential new licensing programs and was the QTL lead in M&A due diligence. Before Qualcomm, Mr. Kaskoun spent over 15 years in the semiconductor field. Mr. Kaskoun has a BSEE from Old Dominion University and a JD from the University of San Diego. He is a member of the State Bar of California and a named inventor on more than 30 patents and applications.
Dave Kettner
President & General Counsel
Virent
Dave Kettner
PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL, VIRENT
Dave Kettner is the former President & General Counsel for Virent, Inc., a renewable fuels and chemicals company working to commercialize its BioForming® technology for the conversion of biobased feedstocks to drop-in renewable fuels and chemicals. Dave is a licensed patent attorney with extensive years of experience in intellectual property management and other legal matters, including patent prosecution, licensing, enforcement, and strategic planning. Before joining Virent, Dave served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and was as an attorney in private practice. He holds a JD in Law and BS in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Minnesota.
Robert Kramer
Partner
Kramer Alberti Lim & Tonkovich
Robert Kramer
PARTNER, KRAMER ALBERTI LIM & TONKOVICH
Rob Kramer is a passionate courtroom champion of his clients’ inventions, and is nationally known as among the very best and most experienced patent litigators in the country. He has been named by IP Law360 a “Legal Lion” for his lead counsel patent infringement jury trial victories. Lawdragon named Rob to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America for his work in Intellectual Property Litigation. He was also named to IAM 1000’s distinguished list of top patent litigators for year 2025, which described Rob as “enjoy[ing] a national reputation for his trial expertise, with wisdom distilled from three decades of experience.” In 2025 and for the past 15 years, Rob was also peer selected as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” in IP Litigation, reserved for the top 5% of attorneys nationally. And he was named to IAM 300’s prestigious national list of the top 300 IP strategists in 2025 and 2026.
Consecutively, in 2023 and 2024, Rob was selected by California’s premier legal publication, The California Daily Journal, to its prestigious list of Top Plaintiff’s Attorneys of The Year. “Robert Kramer has spent more than three decades fighting for innovators’ rights in intellectual property law, driven by a deep fascination with technology and a commitment to protecting inventors. As a leading IP litigator, Kramer has built a career representing universities and innovative companies against some of the world’s largest technology corporations,” reported The Journal (Nov. 20, 2024). Likewise, Rob has been called a “fabulous trial lawyer” who “won a complete victory for defendant in a six patent case” by The Legal 500 US, which described Rob and his team as being “consistently excellent” and creating “a comprehensive strategy based on patent knowledge, the industry landscape and opposing counsel.” And and he received a top national ranking in Patexia’s Report of Best Patent Litigators being named to the top 30 patent litigators in the country.
Recently, Rob was lead counsel for plaintiff winning a $172.6 million jury verdict of willful infringement against Micro Focus Corp., a Hewlett-Packard spin-off company that acquired HP’s software business. This resounding victory was the largest jury verdict in the history of the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Rob was likewise lead trial counsel winning two major jury trials in the widely followed Finisar litigation, one of the largest patent infringement cases in the country between competitor optical networking companies. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Mr. Kramer’s client in two trials, and within two hours of his closing argument in the second of these heavily fought jury trials.
Erez Levy
Co-CIO, IP Finance Group
Fortress Investment Group
Erez Levy
CO-CIO, IP FINANCE GROUP, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP
Mr. Levy is the Deputy CIO of the Fortress Intellectual Property Opportunities Fund II and a Managing Director in Fortress’s Intellectual Property Group, where he focuses on a wide variety of investment opportunities in connection with intellectual property, technology and life-sciences.
Prior to joining Fortress in 2013, Mr. Levy was a co-founder of Koru Ventures, an asset-based lending fund that provided technology companies with capital in the form of patent backed loans. Before Koru Ventures, Mr. Levy served as a Managing Director with TriplePoint Capital, a leading global specialty finance company providing financing solutions to venture capital backed companies throughout their lifespan.
Prior to joining TriplePoint Capital, Mr. Levy served as a senior investment banker in JPMorgan’s technology investment banking group in San Francisco, where he worked with many leading technology, high growth companies, and private equity clients. Mr. Levy was responsible for raising capital and providing advice on mergers and acquisitions to the firm’s clients.
Prior to JPMorgan, Mr. Levy was an investment banker at Hambrecht & Quist, a leading technology and life-sciences investment bank. Mr. Levy was involved with several of the firm’s equity investments in leading technology and high-growth companies.
Mr. Levy received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.
John Lindgren
CEO
IPValue
John Lindgren
CEO, IPVALUE
John became CEO of IPValue in August 2017. IPValue’s mission is to fuel innovation by working with leading technology enterprises to unlock value from their intellectual property portfolios. Since inception in 2001, IPValue has generated billions of dollars from patent licenses for its partners, while promoting freedom to operate and delivering other strategic benefits. IPValue currently owns and manages the commercialization of over 10,000 patents representing the creative works of thousands of inventors.
Prior to joining IPValue, he spent 10 years as the President and CEO of Conversant Intellectual Property Management in Ottawa, Ontario. For the first five of those years, Conversant was a publicly traded company called MOSAID Technologies, Inc. After becoming the first publicly traded patent licensing company to be taken private, MOSAID changed its name to Conversant. Prior to joining Conversant, John enjoyed a 20-year career with Texas Instruments Incorporated in Dallas and Tokyo. He was a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel when he left the company, and his entire career there focused on patent licensing.
John holds a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and was editor-in-chief of the SMU Law Review. He earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Duke University School of Engineering. John is a member of the Texas, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark bars. He is on the Advisory Council for Center for American and International Law.
Gregory J. Lundell
Partner
Haley Guiliano
Gregory J. Lundell
PARTNER, HALEY GUILIANO
Greg Lundell is a partner in Haley Guiliano’s Silicon Valley office. His practice reflects his unique mix of outside counsel trial experience and a decade of leading corporate IP groups as inside counsel. Before joining Haley Guiliano, Mr. Lundell served as Vice President of IP Strategy and Licensing at two global public technology companies focused on video delivery and content management. In these roles he led IP departments though both daily, routine IP activities and long-term, complex IP objectives. His experience includes successful litigations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America; in-bound and out-bound technology licensing; evaluating businesses and IP portfolios for M&A activity; and driving innovation as chief patent counsel.
ANDREW MAAS
Assistant Vice President, Technology Transfer, Discovery to Impact
The University of Texas at Austin
Andrew Maas
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, DISCOVERY TO IMPACT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Andy Maas is the Assistant Vice President – Technology Transfer, with more than 20 years of experience in technology licensing and commercialization. Andy’s activities have taken him from an engineering startup where he built a company from two to 14 employees to academic roles in both university and research foundation settings.
Currently, Andy leads a team at Discovery to Impact, the commercialization arm of the University of Texas at Austin, supporting Intellectual Property Management, Licensing, Business Development, and Collaborative Research. Prior to his role at UT Austin, Andy was the Associate Vice President for Research over the office Innovation and Ecosystem Development at Louisiana State University where he was responsible for all technology commercialization, small business support, incubation, acceleration, and SBIR/STTR activities. At LSU, Andy was the Principal Investigator for a $160M National Science Foundation (NSF) Engine award, Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), which brought together 65+ partners across the state and over 165 individuals during the ideation, planning, development and submission process. In addition to the $160M from the NSF, Louisiana Economic Development committed $67.5M to support the program.
Andy has served on the AUTM Board for the past 5 years, and most recently served as the Board Chair in 2024. He is also an Honorary member of the National Academy of Inventors.
Ceyda Maisami
Chief IP Counsel
HP
Ceyda Maisami
CHIEF IP COUNSEL, HP
Ceyda Maisami is the Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at HP, guiding the company’s global intellectual property strategy. She leads a team of professionals managing a comprehensive range of IP matters, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and marketing, as well as overseeing IP transactions. Her team also supports litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactional issues.
Previously, Ceyda worked on high profile patent prosecution and litigation matters at Finnegan and Chadbourne & Parke. Her career began in the technical field as an electrical engineer at Osram Sylvania in the lighting industry, providing her with a strong foundation for an in-house intellectual property law role.
Tom Mavrakakis
Head of Patents
IBM
Tom Mavrakakis
HEAD OF PATENTS, IBM
Tom Mavrakakis has 30 years’ experience in combining legal analysis, negotiation acumen with an understanding of business dynamics to create favourable outcomes in all legal matters. He’s currently IBM’s director of patents and focused on monetising IBM’s significant patent portfolio in North America. Prior to his current position, he has lead IP Departments at companies like ServiceNow as well as being the director of patent strategy at Apple for the release of the first iPhone. At the beginning of his legal career, Tom was a patent litigator at big law firms for more than a decade and before that was a semiconductor chip designer prior to attending law school in the evening.
Jack McKinney
Director, IP
HP
Jack McKinney
DIRECTOR OF IP, HP
Jack McKinney is a Director for Intellectual Property at HP. With over 25 years of experience spanning patent prosecution, IP licensing and litigation, Mr. McKinney is a thought leader and trusted business and legal advisor on HP’s technology ventures. Following a decade in private practice, Mr. McKinney joined HP’s patent development team to drive patent portfolio strategy for several HP businesses. Currently, Mr. McKinney leads a team of IP professionals supporting HP’s Personal Systems business. Mr. McKinney’s team manages and advises on a wide variety of IP matters across a variety of technologies. Mr. McKinney’s practice extends across patent portfolio management, development agreements with industry partners, M&A due diligence, litigation support, and inbound licensing for technologies integrated into HP’s products and services. Of recent note, Mr. McKinney has successfully managed HP’s negotiations for a number of inbound SEP licenses.
Anup Misra
Managing Director, IP
Curiam
Anup Misra
MANAGING DIRECTOR, IP, CURIAM
Anup Misra serves as a Managing Director – IP at Curiam Capital and is responsible for the underwriting of financing opportunities related to intellectual property litigation. He also works on business development and the monitoring of ongoing litigation for Curiam’s investments. This year he was individually ranked by Chambers and Partners under Intellectual Property, Litigation Funding.
Anup has over a decade of experience representing clients in complex intellectual property and general commercial litigation. Prior to joining Curiam, Anup was a senior associate at Winston & Strawn LLP, where he defended large technology companies in high-stakes patent litigation and provided guidance and counseling related to the management and acquisition of patent portfolios. He was also previously an associate in the intellectual property and litigation groups at Mayer Brown LLP and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
Anup graduated from Pennsylvania State University with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics and cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was an editor on the Law Review.
Andrew Mutter
EVP, Contingent Risk
CAC Specialty
Andrew Mutter
EVP, CONTINGENT RISK, CAC SPECIALTY
Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.
Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.
As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.
Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.
Ajit Narang
VP, Associate General Counsel
Solventum
Ajit Narang
VP, ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL, SOLVENTUM
Ajit Narang is a seasoned General Counsel and business executive with 21 years of commercial, intellectual property, and litigation experiences, currently serving as Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Solventum where Ajit leads legal matters for the Medical Surgical division. Prior to Solventum, Ajit had a long tenure at Medtronic where he held various senior legal positions across the Diabetes and Pelvic Health divisions, contributing significantly to commercial execution, intellectual property enforcement, and strategic transactions. Ajit received his law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego.
Brian Niznik
Head of IP Strategy and Licensing
ResMed
Brian Niznik
HEAD OF IP STRATEGY AND LICENSING, RESMED
Brian Niznik is the Head of Licensing & IP Strategy at Resmed, Inc. He leads inbound and outbound licensing including SEP & non-SEP licensing & technology transfer agreements as well as IP strategy. Prior to Resmed, Niznik served at Qualcomm for a total of 19 years, several of which were in QC’s Strategic IP Group and another seven years in QC’s life sciences business, Qualcomm Life. He led a reference design group at QC for connected medical devices which were licensed to large pharma and med tech companies. He is a named inventor on more than a dozen patents and patent applications primarily related to connected devices. Niznik has an engineering background with degrees from Texas A&M & Penn State University in Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology and Telecommunications Engineering.
Kevin O’Riordan
VP, Associate General Counsel, Corporate
Tennant Company
Kevin O'Riordan
VP, ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL, CORPORATE, TENNANT COMPANY
Kevin M. O’Riordan is Vice President and Associate General Counsel – Corporate at Tennant Company, where he leads a global legal team supporting commercial, corporate, and strategic matters. With over 15 years of experience, Kevin has advised on complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, SEC compliance, and intellectual property strategy. Prior to Tennant, he held senior legal roles at UnitedHealth Group and The Dow Chemical Company, where he led legal efforts on multi-billion-dollar transactions and international joint ventures. Kevin began his career in private practice and served as a federal judicial clerk. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Minnesota Law Review.
Josue Ortiz
Managing Director
ClearViewIP
Josue Ortiz
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLEARVIEWIP
Based in London, UK, Josue is a Founder and Managing Director at ClearViewIP, which was recently acquired by S&W Group, the fastest-growing advisory firm in the UK. Prior to this, he was a Partner at Deloitte where he led the IP Transactions business. In an earlier life, Josue advised Coller Capital in the monetization of large IP portfolios, having started his career at BTG out of Philadelphia, where he was responsible for developing and licensing ground-breaking technologies in the TMT and Med-Tech sectors, as well as advising on investment decisions of a joint venture fund. Josue was part of the team that licensed and sold BTG’s high-tech IP assets, including out of patent litigation, when the company became a life sciences business.
Overall, Josue has over twenty years of experience creating and extracting value from IP portfolios. His experience includes advising clients on cross-border IP divestments, strategic IP acquisition programs, licensing strategy, technology transfer, and assessing the value of IP for a variety of purposes including joint venturing, fund raising, IP commercialization and in support of strategic corporate events. At ClearViewIP, Josue’s team is spearheading an exciting AI Transformation consulting offering as well as the company’s own internal AI journey.
Changhae Park
SVP & Chief IP Officer
NXP Semiconductors
Changhae Park
SVP & CHIEF IP OFFICER, NXP SEMICONDUCTORS
Changhae Park is senior vice president and chief IP officer at NXP Semiconductors and is based in Austin, Texas. In this role he leads all aspects of IP matters including IP creation, IP counseling and IP monetization. Before this he was the head of IP monetization at NXP and chief IP officer at Freescale Semiconductor. Dr Park started as a research engineer in semiconductor industry and has an extensive technical background in semiconductor design, manufacturing and applications. He held several technical and managerial positions in Cypress semiconductor and Motorola’s semiconductor products sector before completing his MBA program and becoming the head of an R&D organization in Motorola. His career in IP monetization started while leading an R&D organization and was initially focused on technology transfer and licensing. This eventually led to an expanded role of managing all IP licensing activities in Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector and later Freescale Semiconductor. He has led a large number of IP monetization campaigns and generated close to $2B from a number of licensing and sales transactions with major corporations in the semiconductor and electronics industries around the world. Dr Park is originally from South Korea. He received his bachelor’s degree from Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea, his master’s and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA degree from Arizona State University.
Jayme Partridge
Partner
Brown Rudnick
Jayme Partridge
PARTNER, BROWN RUDNICK
Jayme Partridge, a partner in Brown Rudnick’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, is a veteran litigator who focuses on complex, high-stakes patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation disputes.
Combining proven trial advocacy skills and an engineering background, Jayme has years of courtroom and mediation experience. Always guided by her clients’ business objectives, she has tried and resolved dozens of high-profile competitor-to-competitor disputes for global companies.
Recognized as leading practitioner by publications such as IAM Patent 1000 and Best Lawyers, Jayme has extensive experience handling litigation matters related to a wide range of industries and technologies, including fiber optics, chemical processes, ethylene oxide catalysis, olefin catalysis, filtering technologies, characterization of polyolefin molecules, motor oil additives, hydraulic fracturing of hydrocarbon formations, downhole tools for oil and gas wells, offshore drilling rigs, drill bits, computer hardware and software, and high-speed internet services.
Arvin Patel
Managing Director
SIM IP
Arvin Patel
MANAGING DIRECTOR, SIM IP
Arvin Patel is a distinguished inventor, lawyer, and thought leader in intellectual property and technological innovations across diverse sectors, from AI to entertainment. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, where he lectures on global IP infrastructures, and a board member of UCLA’s Technology Development Group. As a Technology Executive Council Member for CNBC, Arvin leads discussions on using breakthrough technologies to drive growth while addressing challenges. He also contributes to major publications on diversity in law, entertainment innovations, and IP policy.
In his current role as Chief Licensing Officer at Nokia, Arvin drives revenue and expands the company’s global reach through strategic licensing agreements. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Intellectual Ventures, managing a vast portfolio across industries and fostering global partnerships to unlock revenue potential.
Earlier in his career, Arvin was the Executive Vice President and Chief IP Officer at TiVo, where he managed the company’s patent and licensing business. His leadership extended to roles at Technicolor and Rovi Corporation, where he was recognized as an expert in IP strategy. He also led IBM’s global IP strategy, orchestrating significant patent licensing deals.
Arvin holds a B.A. in legal studies from UC Berkeley and a law degree from California Western School of Law. He has also completed advanced negotiation training at Harvard Law School.
Kiran Patel
Senior IP Counsel
Philips
Kiran Patel
SENIOR IP COUNSEL, PHILIPS
Kiran K. Patel is a Senior Intellectual Property Counsel with General Licensing at Koninklijke Philips N.V., where he is part of a team responsible for creating, developing, and leading licensing programs to obtain financial value for patent portfolios. Kiran holds a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Drexel University, a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property Law from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a Master of Science in Computer Science/Engineering from John Hopkins University School of Engineering. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the USPTO. Prior to joining Philips, Kiran worked for over eight years in private practice. He also worked on transactional work including negotiating license agreements and litigation work. Kiran is also an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University School of Law where he enjoys lecturing on patent law topics.
Michael Pellegrino
President
Pellegrino and Associates
Michael Pellegrino
PRESIDENT, PELLEGRINO AND ASSOCIATES
Mike Pellegrino is the Founder and President of Pellegrino & Associates, LLC. He has significant experience valuing patents and other forms of intellectual property, establishing royalty rates, and evaluating businesses. Mike is the author of first and second editions of BVR’s Guide to Intellectual Property Valuation. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Indiana Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in business administration from Ball State University.
Courtney Quish
Managing Director, IP Finance Group
Fortress Investment Group
Courtney Quish
MANAGING DIRECTOR, IP FINANCE GROUP, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP
Ms. Quish is a Managing Director based in Menlo Park for the Fortress Credit Funds Business. Ms. Quish leads the Fortress Intellectual Property Group’s Asset Management team, where she oversees investment monetization strategies, including licensing and litigation. Ms. Quish has nearly 20 years of experience assessing and monetizing patent assets. Prior to joining Fortress in 2018, Ms. Quish held the position of Vice President of Patent Strategy and M&A at Rovi Corporation, a TiVo Company where she was responsible for leading patent acquisitions and patent-heavy corporate acquisitions as well as designing and implementing IP monetization strategies. Prior to joining Rovi, Ms. Quish was a Member of Mintz Levin’s patent litigation practice where she spent the majority of her time representing patent owners in licensing and litigation matters including litigation in U.S. district courts and the International Trade Commission. Ms. Quish has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Magazine on a number of occasions, including being identified as one of the World’s Global Leaders in IP and the World’s Leading IP Strategists, where individuals are recognized for their experience related to creating and enforcing critical patent rights to help maximize the value of IP portfolios. In the past, Ms. Quish was also identified as one of the 40 world “Elite Dealmakers” and 1 of 10 “IP Personalities” of 2016 by the same publication. Ms. Quish earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A. with High Honors from Middlebury College.
Ilkka Rahnasto
President
Avanci Solutions
Ilkka Rahnasto
PRESIDENT, AVANCI SOLUTIONS
llkka Rahnasto is President at Avanci Broadcast and Avanci Solutions. Avanci Broadcast is a one-stop licensing platform for the ATSC 3.0 TV standard, whilst Avanci Solutions provides tailored solutions for industries and technologies without existing open platforms.
Before joining the company in 2018, Ilkka spent more than 20 years at Nokia, first leading the Intellectual Property function at the time when Nokia was the world’s largest mobile phone company, later transforming the Nokia IP organization into a successful business.
Ilkka has a PhD in law from the University of Helsinki, Finland and an LLM from George Washington University, US. Among the IAM Patent Strategy 300 for several years, in 2017 he ranked #1 in IAM’s annual Top 40 Market Makers. A Finnish citizen, Ilkka is based in Dallas, Texas.
Jinnie Reed
General Counsel
Qomplx
Jinnie Reed
GENERAL COUNSEL, QOMPLX
Jinnie Reed serves as General Counsel at Qomplx, LLC, a research and development company pioneering innovations in cybersecurity, analytics, simulation, and AI to create a more productive, accessible, and secure world.
Before joining Qomplx, Jinnie advised companies on developing strategic IP monetization frameworks across jurisdictions. Distinguished by her ability to resolve critical issues and implement growth initiatives, Jinnie possesses a unique ability to leverage intellectual property as a value driver and competitive advantage. She excels at understanding stakeholder motivations and invigorating teams around common objectives. Known for her mantra “let’s fix what’s broken and then build what’s possible,” Jinnie combines legal expertise with commercial acumen to transform innovative technologies into sustainable revenue streams.
Michael T. Renaud
Chair, IP Division
Mintz
Michael T. Renaud
CHAIR, IP DIVISION, MINTZ
Michael Renaud is known as one of the world’s leading intellectual property strategists. As Chair of Mintz’s IP Division and a member of the firm’s policy committee, Michael leads an international team of IP prosecutors, litigators, transaction and technology specialists. A pioneer in IP strategy, Michael has unique experience and expertise in formulating and executing multi-national enforcement and monetization strategies. Through traditional litigation and licensing approaches, and by creating markets for, and brokering the sale and acquisition of, IP portfolios, Michael has helped his clients realize returns of over $1 billion.
Michael is driven to realize his clients’ business objectives employing his decades of experience in all aspects of IP, including: evaluating and valuing diverse patent portfolios, including portfolios with substantial SEPs, identifying untapped assets and value drivers, conducting IP due diligence, counselling investment firms on implementing strategies for leveraging patent value, negotiating deals and generating revenue through strategic partnerships, and prosecuting enforcement actions before the International Trade Commission, in the federal district and appellate courts and international patent courts. Michael’s renowned success both in and out of the courtroom, stems from his combination of seasoned legal judgment, strong business acumen, and tactical knowledge of global IP market conditions.
He is annually recognized in Chambers, IAM’s Patent 1000 and Strategy 300, and by Managing IP, including as a finalist for Massachusetts Litigator of the Year (2021-2023, 2025) and Patent Star – Contentious (2018-2024). He has also consistently been ranked by Patexia among the most active and best performing ITC attorneys. In 2023, he was named by Business Today as one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Section 337 Intellectual Property Lawyers in USA.”
Francis Rushford
Managing Director & Head of IP Finance
Pretium
Francis Rushford
MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD OF IP FINANCE, PRETIUM
Francis G. Rushford is a Managing Director and Head of IP Finance within Pretium Partner’s Legal Group. Mr. Rushford is a recognized global authority on Intellectual Property valuation and monetization through the successful monetization of IP assets for well over 25 years.
Prior to joining Pretium in 2021, Mr. Rushford was in private practice in California and New York. Before that, Mr. Rushford was the Chief Operating Officer for HEVC Advance. Previous to HEVC Advance, Mr. Rushford was a Managing Director and Co-Founder of RSL Holdings, a premier intellectual property valuation and monetization business. Preceding RSL, Mr. Rushford founded the Patent Trading Desk at ICAP. Before ICAP, Mr. Rushford practiced law privately and as a corporate counsel. Mr. Rushford has successfully generated hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for his clients through the proper valuation and monetization of patents and other IP globally through litigation, licensing, and sales.
Mr. Rushford was trained as a metallurgical engineer at New York University and worked as an engineer and product development manager for Texas Instruments prior to his commencing his legal career after graduating from New England Law Boston.
Mark Siegmund
Partner
Cherry Johnson Siegmund James
Mark Siegmund
PARTNER, CHERRY JOHNSON SIEGMUND JAMES
Mark D. Siegmund is a seasoned trial lawyer who brings the discipline, resilience, and strategic mindset honed during his service in the US Marine Corps to his thriving legal practice. As a proud Marine, Mark faced some of the most demanding challenges imaginable, shaping him into the tenacious and determined advocate he is today.
During his time in the Marine Corps, Mark learned to remain calm and focused under pressure, qualities that seamlessly translate into the legal arena. Mark has secured multiple successful jury verdicts on both sides of the “v”, including one of the largest jury verdicts in the U.S. in 2023. He has built a reputation as a fearless advocate, handling high-stakes litigation with a strategic focus on trial success. Whether representing individuals or corporations, Mark approaches every case with meticulous preparation, a deep understanding of the law, and an eye toward trial from the outset. Prior to beginning in private practice, Mark clerked for United States Federal District Judge Alan D Albright, giving him a unique and advantageous perspective for handling litigation matters. Mark is a member of American Board of Trial Advocates and graduated Baylor Law as the top graduate in his class.
Jamie Simpson
Chief Policy Officer & Counsel
Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
Jamie Simpson
CHIEF POLICY OFFICER & COUNSEL, COUNCIL FOR INNOVATION PROMOTION (C4IP)
Jamie L. Simpson is the Chief Policy Officer and Counsel at C4IP (the Council for Innovation Promotion), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting strong intellectual property policy to advance prosperity and well-being for people everywhere. She was previously the Chief Counsel for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet and a counsel, on detail, to the Senate Judiciary Committee where she advised on IP policy. She served as a Senior Advisor to the Director of the USPTO, providing input on pending legislation, Congressional testimony, and USPTO initiatives. Jamie started at the USPTO as an Associate Solicitor, where she briefed and argued appeals before the Federal Circuit and helped to inform agency policy on patent issues. Earlier in her career, she litigated patent and contract disputes in private practice and was a clerk on the Federal Circuit. She holds a B.A. in biochemistry from Harvard College, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a master’s in public policy from the London School of Economics.
Bridget Smith
Assistant General Counsel, IP
Relativity Space
Bridget Smith
ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL, IP, RELATIVITY SPACE
Bridget Smith is Assistant General Counsel and Director of IP at Relativity Space. She has worked on over 160 AIA trials, led a precedential win at the Ninth Circuit, and had her amicus work favorably cited in the Supreme Court case United States v. Arthrex. Bridget was twice named a top 50 woman in PTAB trials and repeatedly appears on the IAM Strategy 300. She co-chairs ABA-IPL’s Business & Trade Division and chairs AIPLA’s PTAB Trial Committee. She is steering committee member for the Sedona Conference working groups on patent litigation, and she is co-founder/co-chair of ChIPs Orange County.
Patricia Stepp
AVP, Technology Transfer
Rice University
Patricia Stepp
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, RICE UNIVERSITY
Patricia Stepp is the Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer at Rice University, where she leads the Office of Technology Transfer. She oversees a multidisciplinary team that helps commercialize Rice technologies by managing Rice’s patent portfolio, licensing Rice’s IP, and drafting and negotiating related research contracts. Her role involves building relationships across Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and the broader Houston innovation ecosystem. Previously, she served as Director of Intellectual Property – Life Sciences at Skysong Innovations, Arizona State University’s technology transfer office. Her career also includes roles as a Patent Agent at Sealed Air Corporation and Pepper Hamilton LLP.
Patricia holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas. Her early career included research roles at the University of Pittsburgh and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, focusing on cartilage repair and molecular biology.
Tarianna Stewart
Manager, Technology Licensing
NYU
Tarianna Stewart
MANAGER TECHNOLOGY LICENSING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, NYU TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES & VENTURES
Tarianna Stewart, PhD, an adept technology licensing and business development manager at NYU and NYU Langone Health, leverages a background in technical expertise and legal acumen. Formerly excelling as a technical specialist in renowned IP law firms, she honed her skills in patent strategy. Dr. Stewart’s pivotal role at NYU encompasses working with faculty from the departments of engineering, physical sciences, quantum, and radiology, manifesting in skillful licensing strategy, negotiation, and agreement drafting. Notably, her tenure at Georgia Tech Research Corp., overseeing 500+ technologies, and subsequent role as core AI licensing executive and quantum ambassador at IBM Research underline her prowess in catalyzing innovation-commercialization convergence.
Peter Toto
SVP, IP
Sony
Peter Toto
SVP, IP, SONY
Mr. Toto joined Sony Corporation of America’s Intellectual Property Department in 1993 and is currently its Senior VP for Intellectual Property.
Prior to joining SCA he was an associate with Pennie & Edmonds in New York City focusing on patent litigation.
At SCA Mr. Toto heads the group responsible for IP licensing, litigation, and transactions, as well as patent procurement and prosecution. The group leads various IP centric alliances and supports SEP, cross and other global licensing activities of Sony, while providing day-to-day advice to local business units.
Mr. Toto earned a B.S.E.E from Lafayette College and a J.D. with distinction from Hofstra Law School where he was a member of the Law Review. He is a member of the New York, New Jersey, and USPTO bars as well as numerous professional and legal organizations and has been regularly included in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.
Tony Trippe
Senior Program Leader, AI Initiatives & IP Strategy Manager
Owens Corning
Tony Trippe
SENIOR PROGRAM LEADER, AI INITIATIVES & IP STRATEGY MANAGER, OWENS CORNING
Anthony (Tony) Trippe is the IP Strategy Manager for Owens Corning. In this role, Mr. Trippe is responsible for aligning R&D planning with the development of Intellectual Property to leverage the investment Owens Corning makes in its innovation efforts. Tony is also a member of the AI for S&T Steering Committee at Owens Corning. Before joining Owens Corning, Tony founded Patinformatics, an advisory firm specializing in patent analytics and landscaping to support decision-making for technology-based businesses. Tony is an influential thought leader in the patent analysis space, wrote the Guidelines for the Preparation of Patent Landscape Reports for the World Intellectual Property Organization, has been named one of the Top 300 IP Strategists by IAM Magazine, and is the developer of ML4Patents.com the industry’s online resource for the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the field of Intellectual Property.
Shival Virmani
EVP, Chief IP and Licensing Officer
Radian Memory
Shival Virmani
EVP, CHIEF IP AND LICENSING OFFICER, RADIAN MEMORY
Shival Virmani is Chief IP and Licensing Officer of Radian Memory Systems.
He is also the founder and president of Merion Point, an IP advisory and licensing firm.
Before launching Merion Point, Mr. Virmani led the mobile licensing program at InterDigital. Prior to InterDigital, Mr. Virmani directed licensing businesses and Rockstar Consortium, and held IP leadership roles at Vonage and Infineon. He began his career at the USPTO in 1996, then moved to the USITC’s as an Investigative Staff Attorney before being hired by an Am Law 100 firm.
Mr. Virmani has also regularly recognized in the IAM 300. He holds a J.D. from Tulane University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from George Mason University, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. Finally, Mr. Virmani teaches Patent Licensing & Strategy as an adjunct professor at Villanova University Law School.
Kim Vo
Corporate VP, Legal & Chief IP Officer
AMD
Kim Vo
CORPORATE VP, LEGAL & CHIEF IP OFFICER, AMD
Kim is the Corporate Vice President, Chief IP Officer of Legal at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD). With a technical foundation in materials science and engineering degrees from MIT and a legal degree from UT Law, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s IP assets, the legal support of AMD’s engineering organizations and the legal strategy and guidelines for using and deploying AI tools. Additionally, she serves as the legal representative of the AMD Innovation Technology Committee, which assists the Board in its oversight responsibilities relating to matters of our products and technology.
Kim has negotiated contracts tied to major wins (including the current #1 and #2 supercomputers, Frontier and El Capitan), taken lead roles in M&A and acquihire activities, and supported national policy efforts under the CHIPS Act and NSTC formation.
Outside the company Kim has served in leadership roles in various IP organizations, spoken on IP legal matters and the semiconductor industry and been recognized as a “Woman Worth Watching in Leadership.”
Jonathan K. Waldrop
Partner and Chair,
IP Group
Kasowitz
Jonathan K. Waldrop
PARTNER & CHAIR, IP GROUP, KASOWITZ LLP
Jonathan K. Waldrop, Chair of Kasowitz’s Intellectual Property group, represents industry-leading companies in patent and trademark litigation involving interactive web technologies, video-on-demand telecommunications, cable technology, computer-assisted sales processes, medical devices, cooking ovens, gaming systems and complex financial transactions. He is also experienced in handling commercial and antitrust litigation matters.
Jon’s clients include Google, LG, ASUS, Uber and Adobe, world-leading global technology companies, and Cox Communications, the third largest cable television provider in the United States. He has acted as lead trial counsel in many cases for his clients and has a history of achieving favorable jury verdicts, including his representation of Google and YouTube in a case with such broad potential implications that Wired.com declared, “Texas Jury Strikes Down Patent Troll’s Claim to Own the Interactive Web.” In a separate patent litigation, Jon achieved a verdict touted as the largest verdict of the year in the district in which it was handed down.
Jon is regularly recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. He was named an Intellectual Property Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, as well as a Top Intellectual Property Lawyer and a Top Plaintiff Lawyer in California by The Daily Journal, both of which annually honor individuals who have advanced their intellectual property practice through the use of innovative, creative and winning strategies. He was also named California Practitioner of the Year in Litigation by Managing IP Americas and as a Leading Lawyer in America and a Leading Litigator in America by Lawdragon. Jon was shortlisted for a Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Contribution Award by Chambers USA and listed among the Black Leaders Worth Watching by Profiles in Diversity Journal. Jon also earned the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s “Master Advocate” designation, and is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America’s Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, in which less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers are invited to join.
Dragon Wang
Managing Partner
SITAO IP
Dragon Wang
MANAGING PARTNER, SITAO IP
Mr. Dragon Wang is the founding and managing partner of SITAO. He is a patent attorney qualified by the CNIPA and a patent litigator qualified by the Supreme People’s Court of China.
Before establishing SITAO, Mr. Wang has accumulated over 20 years’ experience as both an in-house patent counsel at a multinational company where he was responsible for the creation and enforcement of global patent portfolios, and then as a private patent practitioner at a leading PRC IP law firm serving as vice president responsible for marketing and client relationship management.
In past few years, Mr. Wang has been working with global top-tier licensing firms, sovereign patent funds, patent pools, operating firms, and innovative SMEs to provide consulting services regarding the transaction, licensing, and enforcement of patent assets in China.
Aaron Waxler
Senior Director, Multimedia Licensing
Nokia
Aaron Waxler
SENIOR DIRECTOR, MULTIMEDIA LICENSING, NOKIA
Mr. Waxler is a Senior Director of Multimedia Licensing for Nokia focused on generating value opportunities from Nokia’s extensive beyond-cellular portfolio, particularly in the areas of video, gaming, social media and ecommerce. Prior to joining Nokia in early 2022, he was the Vice President of IP Licensing for Nagra responsible for generating value opportunities in OTT, security and IoT. Before joining Nagra he co-founded North Forty Consulting, an IP consultancy specializing in assisting companies in monetizing their assets. Before North Forty he was the Vice President of IP Licensing at NXP Semiconductors where he spearheaded their NFC licensing campaign and helped grow their monetization business. He also held various additional IP counsel positions at Time Warner Cable and Philips. Mr. Waxler holds BAs in Chemistry and English Literature from Brandeis University as well as a JD from the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. In his spare time he also a competitive fencer and is an owner of one of the largest fencing clubs in the US.
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Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.
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Inventors, research institutes, and technology companies around the world count on Bunsow De Mory to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights by prosecuting in federal courts and the International Trade Commission, petitioning for and defending against challenges to patents, including Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and formulating and executing on patent license programs. In every forum, Bunsow De Mory takes on law firms 50 times its size and succeeds with a combination of legal, technical, and strategic expertise.

CAC Specialty’s Contingent & Litigation Risk Solutions Group is an integrated team of seasoned corporate litigators and senior investment bankers. Whether you are a litigation finance group, law firm, or corporate litigant, CAC’s industry-leading team can help you protect against downside litigation risk, lock in a core value to a legal asset, secure non-recourse financing to bring forward litigation proceeds, and decrease your cost of capital. CAC Specialty brings an innovative, proactive approach to insurance broking and structured solutions to solve your risk challenges – from the simple to the previously unsolvable.

Cherry Johnson Siegmund James is a powerhouse litigation firm built for high-stakes intellectual property disputes. With experience in hundreds of patent cases—including in the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas and before the USPTO—we bring rare procedural insight into venues that matter most. From offices in Central Texas to Palo Alto, we represent clients across the U.S., Asia, and Europe in industries including software, machine learning, mobile apps, semiconductors, and medical devices. We combine courtroom experience with technical fluency as former engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. Whether enforcing rights, building value, or going to trial—we protect what sets your business apart.

IDEAHUB, Inc., based in South Korea, is Asia’s leading patent monetization and investment platform with a portfolio of over 6,000 patents. The company has secured licensing agreements with more than 240 global corporations and is recognized as Asia’s first IP company preparing for an IPO. With expertise across telecommunications, semiconductors, streaming, and Wi-Fi, IDEAHUB manages the entire monetization process from patent discovery to licensing. Its differentiated strategy has driven strong revenue growth from 2017 to 2024, establishing IDEAHUB as one of the most trusted and profitable patent monetization firms in Asia.

InterDigital develops mobile and video technologies that are at the core of devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks, better video delivery, and richer multimedia experiences years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading technology companies.

Longford Capital is a leading private investment company providing capital to law firms, public and private companies, universities, and others involved in large-scale, commercial legal disputes. Longford was one of the first litigation funds in the U.S. and is among the world’s largest litigation finance companies with more than $1.2 billion in assets under management. Longford offers a range of solutions to fund litigation costs and manage the financial risks of litigation. The firm invests in a variety of areas, including, contract breaches, antitrust/trade regulation, intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret), bankruptcy, arbitrations, insurance matters, and mass/class actions.

Mintz creates breakthrough legal strategies that help clients solve problems and forge ahead. Our attorneys combine legal, business, and industry insight to help navigate shifting challenges. We help clients comply with evolving regulations and compete in emerging markets. While meeting their increasing financing needs, we can also assist with handling employment and labor issues. To compete tomorrow, you need the best business strategy now. We’ll help you make the next move.

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. The world is facing fundamental challenges. Pressure on the planet is increasing, productivity is stalling and access to opportunity remains stubbornly unequal. Technology is central to the solution. Through technology leadership and trusted partnerships, we deliver critical networks to help address global issues. We have the power to bring together the world’s people, machines and devices, sensing and acting in real time at massive scale. Our critical networks go beyond connectivity to enable self-optimizing, intelligent systems both locally and globally.

Robins Kaplan LLP is a national trial law firm with a long history of extraordinary courtroom victories in high stakes intellectual property and technology disputes. We have led multiple enforcement campaigns on behalf of IP rights holders where recoveries in each exceeded $100 million. We zealously represent and share risk with a broad range of clients, including some of world’s largest technology-oriented companies, innovative emerging companies, as well as individual inventors, authors, and developers.

SITAO IP, established in 2018, offers comprehensive IP services in China with a focus on patent monetization. The firm provides top-notch service from technical, legal, and business perspectives as required for a successful licensing, transaction, and litigation. SITAO’s team of seasoned professionals excels in handling patent disputes, FRAND/SEP negotiations, and IP monetization programs involving advanced technologies. With extensive experience and a strategic approach, SITAO is dedicated to maximizing the value of clients' patent assets. At SITAO we firmly believe that great innovation should be respected and rewarded. It’s SITAO’s mission to help clients “Attaining True Value of Great IP”.

We work to unlock and add value in new and inventive ways. This is our passion; it’s what drives us. Our approach to serving our clients, colleagues, and our communities has made us one of the highest performing firms nationally in workplace satisfaction, client satisfaction, diversity traction, and growth. Spencer Fane is a full-service law firm with more than 520 attorneys across 26 offices. Attorneys are organized into 22 primary practices.

Tech+IP Capital leverages a unique blend of industry knowledge, Wall Street banking experience, and large-scale IP monetization expertise to create bespoke solutions for assets not best measured by EBITDA. Our deep expertise in assessing the intrinsic financial value of intangible assets allows us to design tailored monetization strategies for any context. With a proven track record of executing Tech+IP M&A transactions and financings through changing market conditions, we have consistently helped our clients maximize the value of their IP. Our success is reflected in the significant financial gains and strategic advantages our clients achieve, demonstrating our commitment to exceptional results.
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Akin is an elite global law firm with over 900 lawyers across 17 offices, dedicated to providing innovative legal services and business solutions. Our intellectual property group excels in client service, with a strong record of success and a deep understanding of both the law and the technologies that form the foundation of our clients' core businesses.

Avanci is an independent provider of one-stop joint licensing solutions, bringing efficiency, convenience and predictability to patent licensing at the intersection of different industries. From our first open platform for connected vehicles, we have grown to offer programs for aftermarket auto products, connected EV chargers and smart meters, ATSC 3.0 / NEXTGEN TV devices, and video technologies used by internet streaming providers. Avanci Solutions provides tailored solutions for industries and technologies without existing open platforms.

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Generating revenue from a patent portfolio involves much more than finding “valuable” assets. Litigation finance firms are willing to underwrite monetization efforts, but need to have a compelling case. At CAsE Analysis we specialize in helping you build that case, acting as your strategic business partner through identification of infringed assets, advising on the development of damages cases and continuations/re-exams, and overall monetization strategy.

Since its foundation in 2007, ClearViewIP has been delivering strategic and business-transforming IP advice to our valued clients. Our team has decades of experience, including spending 5 years running the Global IP Advisory practice of one of the Big 4. Whether the context is IP transactions, fund raising, M&A, licensing, industry collaboration, risk & compliance management, AI transformation, tax & incentives related, our services help organisations across the globe to maximise value through the identification, protection, management and commercialisation of intangible assets.

Curiam Capital is a private investment firm that provides financing for high-value litigation. Curiam specializes in finding flexible and creative solutions that allow parties to hire the lawyers of their choice to pursue strong legal claims. The investment process with Curiam is thorough but straightforward and efficient. Curiam’s team has decades of experience working on some of the largest and most complex litigations in United States history.

Folio Law Group PLLC is a leading intellectual property firm with a presence in Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Austin. The firm specializes in patent monetization, defense, and complex technology disputes, combining seasoned trial attorneys with former engineers to deliver technically rigorous and persuasive advocacy. Since 2020, Folio has generated over $200 million for clients through litigation, licensing, and strategic transactions. The team is recognized for its deep patent expertise, courtroom strength, and results-driven approach.

Fortress is a $49.3 billon global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over 900 employees, serving approximately 2,000 institutions and private investors. Fortress Credit business was launched in 2002 by Pete Briger. The Fortress Credit and Real Estate Platform of more than 600 people is a recognized leader in the private lender space and has invested over $195 billion in thousands of transactions across varied asset types, capital structures, and credits.

With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 19 cities worldwide, international law firm Gowling WLG provides clients with in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We pair this specific industry knowledge with renowned service area expertise to meet each client's unique needs. We see the world through our clients’ eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed.

Haley Guiliano handles high-stakes IP challenges. Our clients include start-ups and established businesses, across engineering and life science technologies. HG crafts and implements scaled solutions to support our clients' needs throughout the full lifecycle of IP; from securing rights to monetization. While HG is focused on meeting its clients' needs today, the firm is dedicated to developing the next generation of IP leadership to ensure long-term support for its clients' strategies.

IPValue’s mission is to fuel innovation by working with leading technology enterprises to unlock value from their intellectual property portfolios. Since inception in 2001, IPValue has generated billions of dollars from patent licenses for its partners, while promoting freedom to operate and delivering other strategic benefits. IPValue currently owns and manages the commercialization of over 10,000 patents representing the creative works of thousands of inventors.

Kasowitz LLP’s core focus is commercial litigation, complemented by our exceptionally strong intellectual property, bankruptcy/restructuring and real estate transactional practices. We have extensive trial experience and are always trial-ready, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in every area of litigation. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, private equity and other investment firms across a wide range of industries, including significant experience across financial services, technology and real estate.

Licks Attorneys is recognized as Brazil’s leading patent litigation firm, with a team of over 350 professionals, including more than 180 lawyers and patent specialists with deep scientific and technical backgrounds. Since 2011, the firm has handled thousands of cases, representing 100% of patent owners in all ICT cases in Brazil (both SEP and non-SEP). Notably, all settled cases reached agreements before final decisions, with 95% helping parties secure global license agreements.

Liston Abramson is a U.S.-based litigation boutique with a focus on patent litigation. We have a winning record and a deep bench of technical and trial experience. We work extensively with litigation funding and funders. We also handle complex business disputes, white collar criminal matters, internal investigations, and criminal referrals.

Lumenci is a full-service IP consulting firm dedicated to extracting maximum value from IP assets and providing technical, valuation, and strategic advice to patent owners and law firms to drive successful results. With a global footprint spanning Austin, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and New Delhi, India, Lumenci gathers over 100 technical and valuation/damages experts under one roof. Lumenci’s work has saved clients over $3 billion in verdicts, settlements, and cost savings.

At PanOptis, we bring together some of the industry’s most talented IP minds to create an environment that encourages the use of inventions in a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) manner for patent holders and product manufacturers alike. We accomplish this by identifying the valuable patents in your IP portfolio, then marketing them to global businesses that utilize your technology. By leveraging our in-house patent management services, PanOptis will manage your portfolio so you can focus on innovation and new development.

Pellegrino & Associates, LLC is a boutique valuation company with a specialty in software and intellectual property valuations that include patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Formed in 2003, P&A focuses on building credible valuations for companies for a variety of purposes. P&A has been honored to work with small and large private and publicly traded companies across the globe.

Pretium is an alternative investment management firm with over $50 billion in assets under management focused on innovating in single-family real estate, residential credit and structured and corporate credit markets. Pretium’s investment strategy seeks to capitalize on disruptions in traditional markets and drive superior returns through a unique platform-oriented approach.
Prince Lobel Tye LLP is a full-service law firm headquartered in Boston. The firm’s IP group focuses on monetization programs, often beginning at the mining stage with a tested process to select patents and craft an assertion strategy supported by the firm’s trial-tested litigation team. Prince Lobel partners with clients to reach practical, profitable resolutions. The firm’s IP partners have earned clients more than $1 billion in revenue from licensing and settlements to date.

Sisvel is driven by a belief in the importance of collaboration, ingenuity and efficiency to bridge the needs of patent owners and those who wish to access their technologies. In a complex and constantly evolving marketplace, our guiding principle is to create a level playing field with the development and implementation of flexible, accessible, commercialisation solutions. www.sisvel.com

Soryn is an investment manager that provides credit and hybrid financing solutions to IP-rich companies and the law firms that represent them, so that these entities may realize the full potential of IP. Our bespoke investment structures go beyond legal finance to enable our partners' broader operational and strategic objectives.

West U Capital is a private investment firm dedicated to investments in intellectual property. We craft customized capital investment structures, incorporating debt, equity, and the direct acquisition of intellectual property. Founded by IP industry veterans and bolstered by top-tier talent, West U possesses the experience and expertise necessary for our bespoke investment approach. Our objective is to implement the optimal strategy for shared success.
BRONZE SPONSORs

Adeia is a leading R&D and intellectual property (IP) licensing company that accelerates the adoption of innovative technologies in the media and semiconductor industries. Adeia’s fundamental innovations underpin technology solutions that are shaping and elevating the future of digital entertainment and electronics.

Aperture is a national portfolio of best-in-class forensic expert companies providing full-service expert analysis. At the heart of our strategic thesis are three simple concepts: becoming the industry’s Employer of Choice and Partner of Choice, while creating a unique platform for unlocking potential economies of scale and scope from a larger network of professionals. Our Partnership Model creates strength, consistency and scale. Our best-in-class Partners provide unequaled access to services, geographies and vast expertise. We believe in the purpose of what we do, inspiring an authentic investment in each client from our entire organization.

LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions empowers innovators to shape the future. As the seeds of innovation are sown around the world, our solutions help decision-makers reveal clear insights, ultimately bringing confidence, driving efficiencies and helping them avoid falling behind in the highly competitive race to innovate. Built by experts and backed by science, our solutions bring clarity to innovation.

Patlytics redefines patent analytics and discovery with a focus on infringement detection, alongside patent drafting, office actions, and competitive intelligence. Powered by LLMs and cutting-edge tech, our platform boosts patent workflow efficiency by 70-90%. We offer proactive scans across the competitive landscape to secure IP portfolios and maintain a competitive edge with real-time alerts and comprehensive reports. We add value to in-house counsel, law firms, and the innovation ecosystem. We are selectively open to key customers from Fortune 500s, top IP law firms, boutique consulting companies and more.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Techson was founded in 2015 by attorneys, engineers, and technologists to holistically serve the patent asset class. Techson provides high-stakes patent research and consulting services, brokers the sale/purchase of hundreds of patents each year, and evaluates tens of thousands more with its AI SeS platform, Limestone|Report.

WiLAN acquires and manages innovative patented technologies. WiLAN uses it patent, technology, and legal expertise to unlock the value of companies’ patent portfolios and has signed over 500 licenses and generated more than $1B in IP revenue. WiLAN operates in a variety of markets, including automotive, digital television, internet, medical, semiconductor, and wireless communication technologies.
Women’s Reception

Techquity Growth Capital (TGC) fuels growth for IP-rich companies with non-dilutive funding and strategic guidance. Leveraging 75+ years of expertise in tech focused venture capital, IP, and new venture creation, TGC provides growth stage companies with private capital solutions to transform proven innovation into lasting success.

Yetter Coleman is a trial and appellate boutique with a strong presence in intellectual property and technology disputes. The firm also represents clients in complex commercial, energy, and business litigation. Its attorneys provide focused advocacy in federal courts, the ITC, and before the USPTO.
Networking Reception

Kramer Alberti Lim & Tonkovich LLP is a premier patent litigation firm recognized as one of the most active and high-performing firms in the country. They are highly experienced, battle tested patent trial attorneys described as “Legal Lions” by IP Law360 for substantial trial victories, nationally known as among the best in the country having a long track record of winning cases, including a $174 million patent infringement verdict, the largest verdict in the history of the Sherman Division of E.D. Texas. The firm has the prestigious honor of being named to both the National Law Journal’s and the Texas Lawyer’s lists of winners of Top Verdicts.
sponsorship opportunities
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VENUE & Accommodations
hotel Van zandt
The 12th Annual IP Dealmakers Forum will be held at one of Austin’s finest boutique hotels, the Hotel Van Zandt in the heart of the city’s Rainey Street district. The hotel is located at 605 Davis Street, Austin, TX 78701.
The Hotel Van Zandt embodies Austin’s vibrant music scene and culture. Their artistically designed accommodations and exceptional Southern hospitality weave the city’s stories into every detail.
Dealmakers has secured a limited number of discounted rooms for registered attendees. Reservation instructions will be shared with confirmed registrants.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
GENERAL FAQs
The 12th Annual IP Dealmakers Forum will be held on November 5-7, 2025 at one of Austin’s finest boutique hotels, the Hotel Van Zandt in the heart of the city’s Rainey Street district. It will occur directly after the inaugural IP Dealmakers AI+EmTech taking place on November 5.
Registration will open soon. Sign up for event updates to be among the first to hear when registration opens.
All registered attendees will have access to the following:
- Admission to main conference
- Networking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptions
- Online event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messaging
- Recorded sessions after the event to view on-demand
The IP Dealmakers Annual Forum brings together a select group of leaders in the business community to address critical issues impacting the IP industry and broader innovation landscape. In order to ensure the event has balanced representation from market leaders and to maintain an optimal networking dynamic, we have instituted an approval process for all registrations.
We actively seek thought leaders and senior executives with experience and decision-making power within their respective organizations. We review individual registrations based on organizational profile, level of seniority as represented by job title, biographical information, and referral source.
We consider the type of organization, aiming to achieve a balanced representation of corporate IP owners, licensing company executives, law firm executives, investors, advisors, and other key stakeholders.
Additionally, we look to include perspectives from those that have not previously attended the event, as well as historically underrepresented groups.
Once you have completed your online registration, you will receive an email notification regarding the status of your application within 48 hours.
Due to capacity limits at our event venue, along with our aim to achieve optimal dynamics for discussion and networking, we must be selective with registration approvals. If your registration was declined, we may have reached venue capacity, or it’s possible that you did not meet the criteria for attendance. We encourage you to reapply the following year.
Alternatively, you may be offered a place on the waiting list if we’ve reached our maximum capacity for your organization type (e.g., law firm, advisor, licensing company, etc.) Additionally, we limit the number of attendees per non-sponsoring organization to two individuals, so you may be offered a place on the waiting list if your organization has already registered two individuals.
Once you submit your registration, a hold will be placed on your card provided during registration. If your registration is approved, your payment will be processed using the credit card information you provide below.
If your registration is declined or you are waitlisted, your credit card will not be charged.
We welcome sponsorship inquiries and discussions regarding how to get involved in the event. Please contact us directly at info(at)dealmakersforums.com to request our prospectus which includes detailed information regarding sponsorship packages and opportunities to get involved in the event. We look forward to hearing from you.
We welcome speaking proposals from industry thought leaders and senior executives. Feel free to submit your proposal via this form. Please include as much detail as possible regarding your interest and relevant experience. Please note that we do not accept sales pitches or allow them at our events.
Leveraging our experience examining complex markets, we engage in a rigorous market-based research process to develop our program content, including identification of session topics, discussion points, and speakers. We rely on the expertise and valuable insights of our community, including industry advisors, sponsors, and partners in this process.
Registered participants will be invited to the 1:1 meetings platform via email approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the event start date, at which time all participants may begin scheduling their meetings.
Our 1-to-1 meetings feature is available to all registered attendees. You may request meetings with anyone attending the event, however, meetings are only confirmed and assigned a meeting location once the invited party accepts the request.
Cancellations received before 30 days prior to the event start date will receive a full refund minus processing fees. Cancellations received after this time will receive a credit with Dealmakers Forums that can be used toward a future event. No-shows will not be issued a refund or a credit.
To cancel your registration, contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your request.
Substitutions are allowed at any time prior to the start of the event, but the substituting individual must be approved for attendance. If the individual is not approved, the registration will be considered a cancellation subject to the cancellation policy above.
Contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your substitution request.
You may reach out to us at info(at)dealmakersforums.com or +1.914.365.7732. We look forward to hearing from you!


