Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Youth Wisdom Unveiled with Paralegals of Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 68)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features three Gen Z paralegals, Bijan Khaghani, Crystal Kang, and Theo Ennis, who are currently working on the team at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, & Stone, LLP, as a step in their journey toward a degree in law. In this conversation, they explore shared experiences, growth in the legal profession, and the value of networking and mentorship in their careers. 
Bijan Khaghani aspires to become a lawyer committed to advocacy and mentorship. He graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in 2023 with a B.A. in Sociology and learning meaningful lessons during his time at Kenyon in and outside the classroom. 
Throughout his life, community has been central to Bijan’s identity. At Kenyon, he served as Chairperson of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Vice President of Student Life, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus. Beyond academics, Bijan actively organized and fundraised for local and national causes, including New Directions, a domestic-abuse shelter in Knox County, Ohio, and gun-violence prevention organizations across the United States. 
Mentorship is one of Bijan's greatest passions. He believes in uplifting others and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Bijan strives to embody these values in both his personal and professional life, mentoring young professionals and building connections within the legal community. As he continues to develop his career, Bijan aspires to become not only a skilled lawyer but also a compassionate advocate, dedicated to empowering others and driving meaningful change. 
Connect with Bijan on LinkedIn. 
 
Crystal Kang supports lawyers in patent litigation cases, which informs and inspires her own aspirations to pursue a career in intellectual property law representing innovators working at the cutting-edge of science and technology. At the University of Pennsylvania, Crystal was a Research Assistant at the Penn Carey Law School’s Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition where she explored the legal implications of advances in quantum technology. She also helped establish PIT@Penn, the first organization of her university dedicated to public interest technology, was a Legal Humanities Fellow at the Collegium Institute, and worked as a Programming & Communications Associate at the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal. 
Passionate about mentorship and outreach, Crystal advises students though events hosted by organizations such as the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics in Pennsylvania and Asian Americas for Equality’s Youth Center in New York. She has also led several projects donating to and fundraising for the Ali Forney Center, a New York-based non-profit organization that provides wrap-around services for LGBTQ+ homeless youth. 
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences in 2022 with a B.A. in Physics, summa cum laude, and a concentration in Computer Techniques.  
Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn. 
 
Theo Ennis graduated cum laude from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Philosophy in 2023 and will be starting at The New York University School of Law in August. 
Connect with Theo on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Creativity Unleashed with Alyssa Gangaram | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 67)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Alyssa Gangaram, an Illustrator born and raised in Schenectady, New York. She began drawing art inspired by her favorite books in elementary school, studied traditional techniques through middle school, and her digital art journey began in high school. 
At 16, murals for local schools were her step into freelance art. Now, her work is based in storytelling through Illustration, with a focus on colors, light, and shapes. 
While a student in college studying Art and Business, she is developing work for murals, animated short films, and book Illustrations among other projects. Alyssa is passionate about building worlds and characters in her illustrations, appreciating the intentionally inherent to Entertainment Design for Animation. This also translates to her commercial work- she enjoys exploring ideas with her clients and bringing them to life so their stories can be told.  
When not drawing in her home office, she can be found with her friends at a local cafe trying the newest seasonal latte or at her local church putting together fun events with her peers in the community! 
Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn.
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Expecting It All’s Journey with Author Janet Bruins | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 66)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Janet Bruins on her personal and professional journey, including how her book, Expecting It All, came to be. 
Janet holds bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in engineering from Purdue University. With over fifteen years of experience as a professional engineer, she is a strong advocate for STEM education and global experience opportunities for young professionals. Janet has mentored many engineering students, connecting them with underserved communities in Honduras, India, and the Philippines, to address local climate change challenges.  
The birth of her daughter sparked a transformative shift in Janet’s life. Seeing the overwhelming focus on maternal responsibilities and a lack of focus on personal fulfillment for mothers, she now dedicates herself to empowering women to pursue their aspirations. Cultivating personal growth and ambition among women has become her primary mission and Expecting It All guides mothers through the transformative journey from woman to parent, encouraging them to dream beyond self-sacrifice. 
In 2018, Janet earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University and now works in corporate finance. She lives with her husband and daughter in Virginia. 
Connect with Janet on LinkedIn.  
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Beyond Boundaries with Christopher Y. Chan | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 65)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features Christopher Y. Chan, who leads a team of over 70 lawyers across Asia as the APAC General Counsel at Jones Lang LaSalle. Prior to his current position, he helped grow e-commerce in Southeast Asia at pioneering companies Lazada Singapore and RedMart. He has clerked for the Hon. Raymond T. Chen at the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and was a patent litigator for Finnegan Henderson. Chris has industry expertise in tech, transportation, logistics, media, mobile, e-commerce, FMCG, food, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and commercial real estate. He has been recognized for his work with numerous awards, including NAPABA's Best Lawyers Under 40, the Association of Corporate Counsel's Top 10 30-Somethings, and Asia Legal Business' South East Asia's In-house Lawyer of the Year, and even his law school's Distinguished Recent Graduate of the Year. Chris has diverse background, expertise, and leadership skills from working at an AmLaw 100 firm, in-house MNC, US judiciary, nonprofits, management consulting, and start-ups in Asia and the US.  
Chris is a sought-after speaker on start-up law, intellectual property, leadership, and diversity issues. He has appeared on HGTV's “House Hunters International,” “My First Place," and MediaCorp's "Your Personal Data, Our Responsibility.” Chris is also a recognized leader in his community, having served on the Association of Corporate Counsel Singapore Board, President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association Washington DC, and its Educational Foundation. Chris enjoys rock climbing, scuba diving, sailing, and hosting at his rooftop craft beer speakeasy in Singapore.  
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn. 
 
Our guest interview is Eli Chan, a third-year undergraduate Biology student at the University of Santa Barbara. Through working as a marketing and business development intern for the past two years at Murgitroyd and RWS, he has gained valuable skills in the communication, technology, and legal fields; having conversations with many experts in corporate and intellectual property law has given him a new passion to find a career in patent law. By studying biology, Eli is hoping that he will be able to apply his background to assist with patent ideas and better understand new inventions with biotech and pharma.  
Eli has been an ADAPT.legal mentee for the past year, enabling him to meet both in-house and outside counsel, and learn about the processes to enter the field and how to succeed. In his free time, Eli enjoys playing basketball, golfing, and reading sci-fi novels. 
Connect with Eli on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This video is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

The Ethical Imperative with Andrew C.M. Cooper | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 64)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Andrew C.M. Cooper, an internationally recognized executive leader and apologist for compassionate business practices.  
Andrew made history as the first Millennial and Black executive to serve as General Counsel of UPS Airlines, the world’s largest logistics airline, with over 20,000 employees operating in 220 countries; his team was essential to the success of Operation Warp Speed, the United States pandemic vaccine relief effort.  
Andrew helps organizations regain and retain high performance through leadership transformation. Published in August 2024, his first book, The Ethical Imperative, was praised for its compelling argument that ethical considerations should be a primary focus for businesses, urging leaders to prioritize social responsibility and long-term sustainability over short-term profits, making it a must-read for executives seeking to navigate modern business with conscience and integrity. 
Learn more about Andrew Cooper here. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This episode is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

The Trust Factor with Jonathan Stroud | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 63)

Today’s Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Jonathan Stroud, General Counsel at Unified Patents, LLC.  
In his role at Unified Patents, Jon manages a growing team of diverse and talented attorneys, and oversees a docket of administrative challenges, appeals, licensing, pooling, and district court work in addition to trademark, copyright, administrative, amicus, policy, marketing, and corporate matters.  
Prior to Unified, Jon was a litigator with Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, and prior to that, he was a patent examiner at the USPTO.  
He earned his J.D. with honors from the American University Washington College of Law, his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University, and his M.A. in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California.  
In his spare time, Jon enjoys teaching, writing, and speaking on patent and administrative law. 
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 
 
Legal Disclaimer: This video is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Inclusive Ride with Janice Jabido | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast Episode 62

Disclaimer: The content of this discussion is for educational purposes. The opinions expressed here belong solely to Janice Jabido and do not reflect the views of Peloton Interactive.
This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Janice Jabido, Managing Director, IP Litigation & Licensing for Peloton Interactive. Peloton uses technology and design to connect the world through fitness, empowering people to be the best version of themselves anywhere, anytime. Janice is responsible for all aspects of intellectual property disputes, including litigation and post-grant review as well as developing strategies to manage and license patents, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademark portfolios. She also provides counsel on general, transactional, and compliance client matters related to intellectual property. 
Prior to joining Peloton, Janice was Director & Senior IP Counsel for Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of commercial and military aircraft engines; prior to moving in-house, she spent nearly a decade in private practice and has litigated in many district courts throughout the country as well as the Federal Circuit, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. 
Janice serves as Peloton’s corporate sponsor of the Peloton Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) and has previously served as a vice-chair of the diversity committee of the PTAB Bar Association. She has also been active on the board of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association as Regional Governor, Secretary, Vice President for Membership and At-Large. In addition, Janice served as secretary for the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. 
Janice received her J.D. and B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She has also spent visiting semesters studying at the University of Chicago and Cambridge University, Trinity College in England. Outside of work and enjoying her family time, Janice also volunteers as a firefighter and EMT in her hometown. 
Connect with Janice on LinkedIn. 
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

Decoding Brand Strategy with McNeal Maddox | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 60

Today’s episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features McNeal Maddox, an independent brand consultant and former Group Director of Brand Strategy at Innovation Protocol, a Los Angeles-based brand strategy consultancy.  
Legends and stories have always intrigued him, but understanding the deeper meaning contained within them has driven McNeal’s creative focus for years. As a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, he channeled his interest in creative storytelling and problem-solving into a degree in graphic design. His desire to understand the "why" behind the marketing communications he created for ERP software and investment finance companies led him back to college to complete his MBA at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business; his innate curiosity and desire to use design thinking to solve business challenges have helped him deliver strategic B2B brand solutions for enterprise clients across a range of industries including gaming (Sony Playstation), bio-tech (Amgen), enterprise software (Microsoft), logistics (Prologis) and semiconductors (NXP).  
McNeal draws inspiration from the magic that happens when timeless wisdom meets the latest innovation. A husband, a father of two, and a maker at heart, he enjoys solving puzzles and exploring ways to scale small ideas to achieve bigger impact. 
Connect with McNeal on LinkedIn.  
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here.

Leveling Up Work Culture with Megan Raymond, Partner, Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 59

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Megan F. Raymond, Partner, Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP.  
Megan is one of the top 50 women in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) trials, representing clients in over 100 post-grant proceedings to date. She also tries patent cases in federal district courts and in the International Trade Commission and argues appeals before the Federal Circuit. 
Ranked in Chambers USA as a leading practitioner for Intellectual Property: Patent, Chambers describes Megan as having expertise in PTAB proceedings and describes her as “a very smart and capable lawyer, who represents clients in a very effective way.” She has also been recognized by IAM 1000 and The Legal 500, as “a rising star who can handle difficult arguments and witnesses with grace and effectiveness.”, and was named to the PTAB Bar Association’s “Top 50 Women in PTAB Trials” list in 2019 and 2021. Megan also authored the latest edition of PLI’s treatise, Post-Grant Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. 
Megan currently serves as Vice President of the PTAB Bar Association, and is also the chair of the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Patent Litigation Committee.  She previously served as a chair of the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s PTAB and Mock Argument Committees, and served previously as the vice-chair of the PTAB Bar Association’s Programming Committee and Women’s Committee. On the Women’s Committee she worked on preparing the PTAB Bar Association Women at the PTAB report on gender diversity in the PTAB. She received the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s George Hutchinson Committee Award recognizing committee leadership in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. She is a frequent speaker on developments in patent law, including topics primarily related to the PTAB. 
Megan was the Managing Editor of Virginia Law and Technology at the University of Virginia School of Law. Before law school, Megan was a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Laboratory of Immunoregulation (Center for Biologics, Evaluation, and Research), where she coauthored papers on vaccine design and development. 
Megan received her A.B. in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University, and her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. She was a clerk to the Hon. Haldane Robert Mayer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 
Connect with Megan on LinkedIn.  
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here. 

A Chat with Franklin Chu, Senior Associate at Gemini Law | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 58

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Franklin Chu, a senior associate at Gemini Law LLP.  
Franklin holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the Cooper Union (New York, NY) and is licensed to practice in Washington state, Texas, and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Prior to joining Gemini Law, Franklin was an associate in the PTAB Practice Group of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Seattle, WA) and an associate in the intellectual property group of Baker McKenzie (Dallas, TX).  
Franklin has experience in both patent litigation and patent prosecution and with a wide range of technologies. Franklin is conversational in Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese. On weekends, he enjoys exploring various hikes in the PNW area. 
Connect with Franklin on LinkedIn.  
 
Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   
Learn more about VPG here.