Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Forge Your Path with Tiffany Ishihara | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 86)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Tiffany Ishihara, a Senior Program Manager at Google specializing in patent prosecution, operations, and matter management.  
 
Tiffany’s career spans over a decade in patent prosecution, with eight years dedicated to Google, starting in the San Francisco office and then moving to the New York office. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including program managing the inaugural launch of Google's Legal Summer Institute and launching Google's patent matter management system. She is currently focused on optimizing legal operations and advancing technological solutions in the patent space. 
Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn. 
 
Today's guest interviewer is Ella Bump, a Litigation Assistant at VPG from Sacramento, California. She is currently studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and plans to pursue a career in patent law. Ella is passionate about the intersection of technology and intellectual property and enjoys exploring the innovations that shape the future of law and science while engaging in discussion about ethical dilemmas in engineering. 
Connect with Ella 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Assistive Innovation: Connecting Hearts with Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D, PLY | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 85)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat is a special collaboration featuring Dr. Rory Cooper, VPG Founder Ashley Cheung and guest interviewer Shirley Fung representing ADAPT.legal. This is a special collaboration between Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), VPG and ADAPT.legal. 
National Medal Laureate Rory A. Cooper, PhD, PLY is the founding director of the HERL, a joint center of the University of Pitt and US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He is also a VA Senior Research Career Scientist, and the FISA Foundation – Paralyzed Veterans of America Distinguished Professor at Pitt.  
Cooper has authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed journal publications and is the author of two books: "Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation” and “Wheelchair Selection and Configuration”, and co-editor of “An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering”, “Warrior Transition Leader: Medical Rehabilitation Handbook”, and the award-winning book “Care of the Combat Amputee”. With over 30 patents awarded or pending, Cooper is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, as well as RESNA, IEEE, AIMBE and BMES.  
In October 2023, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Biden, and was inducted into the 50th class of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. His students have won numerous awards and are leaders throughout the world. 
Connect with Dr. Cooper on LinkedIn.  
 
Ashley Cheung is the creator of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast and is the Principal & Founder of VPG.
 
Guest interviewer Shirley Fung is the Co-Founder and Patent Agent of Akona IP, bringing a wealth of experience to her role in legal operations. With a solid academic foundation, (holding both a bachelor’s and master's from MIT in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Shirley has honed her expertise across various esteemed organizations, including big law in Boston, boutique IP firms in the Netherlands and in the US, and a global semiconductor leader. 
As a seasoned patent agent, Fung adeptly navigates the complexities of patent law, drawing on her experiences as both outside counsel and in-house. This dual perspective enhances her effectiveness in client relationship management and firm operations. Shirley emphasizes the importance of understanding client needs—often anticipating them before they arise. Her commitment to delivering on promises, coupled with her creative problem-solving skills, allows her to balance the big picture with meticulous attention to detail, making her an invaluable leader in the IP boutique sector. 
Connect with Shirley Fung on LinkedIn. 
 
ADAPT.legal was founded in December 2021 when a community of friends from different companies came together to brainstorm ways to grow and support the IP profession. 
Learn more about ADAPT.legal 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Longing for Belonging with Socheth McCutcheon | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 84)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Socheth McCutcheon, a privacy and technology lawyer.  
Socheth is founder and President of the National Association of Cambodian American Lawyers, and lives in New Jersey with her husband and two kids.  
Connect with Socheth 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Women in AI with Dina Blikshteyn | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 83)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat is Dina Blikshteyn, a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP. 
Dina co-chairs the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice and specializes in patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and providing legal opinions on patent infringement and validity. With her extensive background in technology, Dina assists clients across a wide range of industries, including AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and telecommunications. 
Dina is highly regarded for her insights into AI and machine learning and, prior to her legal career, she developed high-frequency trading systems for financial markets, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of law, technology, and business. 
Connect with Dina on LinkedIn. 
 
The guest interviewer for this episode is Shenique Reid. Shenique is a dedicated case manager in the healthcare field, supporting clients with Medicaid and Medicare services. She also interns at Virtual Patent Gateway as a litigation and communication specialist, gaining exposure to legal processes. Shenique is a member of the Diversity Committee of the PTAB Bar Association and is passionate about equity and advocacy. With a strong commitment to learning and justice, she aspires to attend law school and become an attorney who fights for others. 
Connect with Shenique 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Protecting Technology for Tomorrow’s Future with Kevin Jakel | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 82)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Kevin Jakel, Founder and CEO of Unified Patents, a company that deters non-practicing entities from monetizing patents in strategic technology areas.  
Prior to founding Unified Patents, Kevin served as Intuit’s Head of IP Litigation. Kevin previously practiced as a patent litigator with Kaye Scholer LLP and Howrey LLP and advised clients on intellectual property strategy, litigation, and patent prosecution. Kevin began his career in IP as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.  
Kevin has a JD from George Washington University Law School and a BS in mechanical engineering from UCLA. 
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn. 
Learn more about Unified Patents. 
 
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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Voice of Women Leaders with Kandis Gibson | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 81)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast features Kandis Gibson, an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Kandis focuses her practice on Section 337 proceedings at the U.S. International Trade Commission. She has participated in over 50 Section 337 investigations involving unfair trade practices, including patent, trademark, and copyright infringement, and misappropriation of trade secrets. Kandis also has experience in complex civil litigation matters and has handled matters before U.S. District Courts and U.S. Agencies, including representing clients in enforcement issues related to Section 337 exclusion orders before the United States Customs and Border Protection.  
Kandis is a graduate of Cornell University and Howard University School of Law. She is an active Cornell University alumna and serves on the President’s Council of Cornell Women. Kandis is the Immediate Past President of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia. During her term, the WBA focused on equipping women lawyers with the skills necessary to become the leaders of tomorrow. Kandis is a member of the American Bar Association, the International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. She serves on the Board of Trustees of I Dream Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Connect with Kandis on LinkedIn. 
 
Today’s guest interviewer is Sydney Ricks, who recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Statistics with a minor in Music from Virginia Tech.
During her undergraduate studies, she spent two years with Virtual Patent Gateway, serving first as a Learning Engineer and later as a Data Analyst and Digital Media Strategist, while also assisting with litigation preparation. With a passion for learning and interdisciplinary work, she plans to explore roles at the intersection of data, creativity, and technology.
Connect with Sydney 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Bridging Technology and Law with Wayne Zou, Ph.D. | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 80)

Today’s Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast episode features Dr. Wayne Zou. Dr. Zou is one of the founding Partner of Bayes PLLC, and has 15 years of experience in patent practice, including patent procurement, client counseling, patent portfolio management & transactions, post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and patent litigation in U.S. federal district courts and Section 337 investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). 
Dr. Zou has developed and managed patent portfolios each including thousands of patents for multiple clients, and prepared and prosecuted thousands of patent applications in the electrical, software, Internet, electro-mechanical, medical device, and business methods fields, such as in the areas of semiconductor device and manufacturing, wireless communication, video coding, processor and circuit design, automobile, artificial intelligence, and display technology. He has also been actively involved in over twenty patent office post-grant proceedings, representing both patent owners and petitioners, and has also assisted in due diligence and opinion work on semiconductor device, manufacturing, and medical device-related patent matters. In addition, his extensive technical experience in the areas of semiconductors, microfabrication, MEMS, biosensors, microfluidics, telecommunications, and networking has allowed him to assist in patent litigation matters related to thin film transistors (TFTs), LCD panels, processors, biometric devices, and Internet services in federal district courts and ITC. 
He has published 14 peer-reviewed journal articles; one of his journal papers related to biosensors and microfluidics was recognized with the IEEE Sensor Journal Best Paper Award in 2009. 
Prior to founding Bayes PLLC, Dr. Zou practiced at both general practice law firms and IP boutique law firms, including Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and Dentons US LLP. 
Connect with Dr. Zou 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 postcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

You are an IP Company with Katherine Rubino | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 79)

Today’s spotlight features Katherine Rubino, a seasoned IP Lawyer and Pharmacist. As a Partner at Wiggin & Dana, Katherine combines her expertise in legal writing, patent strategy, and corporate governance to drive innovation. With over six years as a licensed Patent Attorney, she has advised clients on complex intellectual property matters and regulatory compliance. Her career also includes roles as an IP Consultant at KAR Strategy and a Pharmacist at ACCRX, INC., where she developed customized pharmaceutical solutions for patients with rare and complex conditions. 
Renowned for her intellectual acumen, Katherine has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, and Nature Biotechnology for her contributions to legal and scientific advancements. She chairs the Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society and actively supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing pro-bono legal counsel through MIT Sandbox and the Oregon Bioscience Incubator. Katherine’s dedication to fostering innovation and her exceptional ability to bridge scientific and legal disciplines make her a leader in life sciences and intellectual property law. 
Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn. 
 
The guest interviewer for this episode is Shenique Reid. Shenique is a dedicated case manager in the healthcare field, supporting clients with Medicaid and Medicare services. She also interns at Virtual Patent Gateway as a litigation and communication specialist, gaining exposure to legal processes. Shenique is a member of the Diversity Committee of the PTAB Bar Association and is passionate about equity and advocacy. With a strong commitment to learning and justice, she aspires to attend law school and become an attorney who fights for others. 
Connect with Shenique 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Building Something New in IP Law with Nick Groombridge | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 78)

This episode features Nick Groombridge, a founding partner of Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP, where he represents clients in their most crucial patent and trade secret cases. 
Nick has been lead counsel in over 150 patent cases in federal district courts, has tried dozens of bench and jury trials, and has argued more than 30 cases in the Federal Circuit. He has litigated patents across a wide range of life-sciences and other technology areas, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, drug delivery systems, genetic analysis and medical devices, as well as software, semiconductors, wireless networking, consumer electronics, specialty chemicals, automotive parts, and financial services, and has been called an “incredibly good trial attorney who takes the time to master every detail of a case and dominates the courtroom with his knowledge of both the law and the facts.”  
Nick is also an adjunct professor at NYU Law School and an active board member with several non-profit organizations.  
Connect with Nick 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

Start-Up Niche Practice with Kevin McNish | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast — Empowering Voices (Episode 77)

This episode features Kevin McNish, managing member of the Maine law firm McNish, PLLC. Kevin represents clients in  inter partes reviews, post-grant reviews, ex parte reexaminations, and other proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. With first-chair experience spanning more than 90 IPRs and other post-grant proceedings, he has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most prolific and effective post-grant practitioners in the United States. He also maintains an active appellate practice at the Federal Circuit. 
 Outside of his practice, Kevin is a committed member of the PTAB Bar Association, where he serves as Chair of the Technology Committee and the District Court / International Trade Commission Desk Editor for the Association’s biweekly PTAB Roundup newsletter.  He also regularly speaks about practice before the PTAB and Federal Circuit and has spoken at national events hosted by the PTAB Bar Association and the Practising Law Institute (PLI).  Kevin's writing has been published in IAM and The Patent Lawyer, and he has been quoted in IAM, Law360, Bloomberg Law, and Legaltech News on topics such as practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, recent Federal Circuit decisions, and legal technology and practice management. 
Connect with Kevin 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 podcast is posted for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.