Virtual Water Cooler Chat

Data Maverick: The Steve Gong Story | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 56

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Steve Gong, Patent Counsel, Head of Data Science, Technology and Ops at Google, and a data maverick at the cutting edge of legal innovation! 
Steve earned his B.S. in Bioengineering with a minor in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, his M.S. in Computer Engineering from Santa Clara University, his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, and completed Executive leadership programs at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. With a unique blend of expertise in law, product leadership, and data science, Steve is revolutionizing the way we approach legal strategy and decision-making. 
In his work at Google, Steve leads a team of trailblazers pioneering the use of AI and machine learning in the legal domain. Together, they are breaking new ground, transforming both the practice and business of law with their groundbreaking applications of advanced analytics. 
Steve’s impact doesn’t stop there. As a seasoned product leader, he has launched game-changing products that have become staples for Fortune 500 companies and tech innovators alike. His knack for understanding market needs and delivering solutions sets him apart as a true visionary in the field. Steve is also a co-founder of ADAPT.legal, a powerhouse of non-profit collective driving inclusive innovation in the patent landscape. Teaming up with industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Disney, and now with over 70 members, Steve and the team at ADAPT.legal are leveraging data and technology to empower legal professionals and foster a more diverse pipeline of patent practitioners. 
Connect with Steve 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 Innovation and Leadership with Olga V. Mack | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 55

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Olga V. Mack, a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT Computational Law Report. Additionally, she is an award-winning general counsel, operations specialist, and tech startup advisor who encourages lawyers to embrace disruptive technologies that make law more functional and accessible.  
She served as the lateral CEO of Parley Pro, a cutting-edge contract lifecycle platform that revolutionized digital negotiation. Under her leadership, Parley Pro was successfully taken to market, experienced significant growth, and was eventually sold and integrated into LexisNexis, showcasing her ability to drive innovation and execute strategic business decisions.  
A six-time TEDx presenter with an exceptional blend of legal, technological, and business expertise, Olga is one of today's top speakers and thought leaders. Find her latest insights at Above the Law, Forbes, Bloomberg Law, ACC Docket, law.MIT Computational Law Report, Newsweek, Venture Beat, and her podcast, Notes to My (Legal) Self.  
Connect with Olga 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. 

Growing with Transformation Coach Charlie Loulakis | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 54

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Charlie Loulakis, Transformation Coach and Chief Growth Officer at Cornerstone Agility. 
Charlie is not just a Transformation Architect; he's a visionary on a mission to revolutionize the way businesses operate and deliver value to their customers. At the heart of Charlie's approach lies a commitment to rallying people around a shared strategic vision. He understands that true transformation begins with aligning every individual within an organization towards a common goal. Through his expertise, he cultivates a culture where progress is not just encouraged but celebrated. 
Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation are three key pillars in Charlie's playbook of The Scrum Master’s Guide to the Galaxy. Partnering with his coauthor, Elisabeth White, they empower organizations to gain crystal-clear insights into their workflows, ensuring that every effort contributes meaningfully to the overarching people-centric objectives.  
And Charlie doesn’t stop there. He is a relentless advocate for continuous improvement, infusing organizations with a culture that embraces change as a catalyst for growth. By instilling this agile mindset, Charlie empowers teams to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. 
Effective product management is another cornerstone of Charlie's strategy. By helping clients hone their product management practices, he ensures that every product not only meets but exceeds customer expectations, driving unparalleled satisfaction and loyalty. 
Alignment is also paramount in Charlie's world. He works tirelessly to align team delivery with overarching organizational strategy, ensuring that every action propels the business towards its desired outcomes.  
Connect with Charlie 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 Deep Dive on Neurodiversity with Haley Moss, Esq. | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 52

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Haley Moss, Esq., in a conversation about ‘A Deep on Dive on Neurodiversity.’ 
Haley was diagnosed with autism when she was 3 years old. Today, she is an attorney, TEDx, and keynote speaker, author, advocate, and consultant. Though licensed to practice law in Florida, Haley is not currently in active practice, instead committed to ventures that make life better for individuals with disabilities through my speaking, writing, and consulting. The author of several books and numerous articles about neurodiversity in the workplace, Haley is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion and neurodiversity. 
As a consultant, Haley helps make organizations more inclusive and accessible places for people with disabilities. Speaking on these topics allows her to share her personal and professional experiences, bringing legal knowledge and individual perspectives across different professions and settings. She is thrilled to share what she knows and has learned in her life with everyone she can. 
Connect with Haley on LinkedIn or visit haleymoss.com. 
 
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 Michael Flanigan, IP Trial Attorney at Crowell & Moring LLP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 51

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Michael G. Flanigan, IP Trial Attorney at Crowell & Moring LLP.  
Based in San Francisco, Michael assists clients in technology and intellectual property litigation throughout the United States. He has broad experience in federal and state courts, including post-grant proceedings (Inter Partes Reviews and post-grant reviews) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission (ITC). 
Michael focuses his practice on complex civil and high-stakes intellectual property/high technology litigation in both state and federal courts and has experience in Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission (ITC). His practice centers around intellectual property litigation, including pre-trial strategy, patent and trade secret enforcement, patent defense, patent consulting and monetization, and patent portfolio analysis. Michael utilizes his background in electrical engineering and computer science to advise tech companies in cloud technology, consumer electronics, telecommunications, software, computer architecture, medical devices, and other technical fields. His practice also encompasses complex civil disputes such as contracts and business; real property or land disputes; misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright and trademark disputes.  
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Michael spent nearly a decade in private practice at elite national trial law firms, where he represented clients in high-stakes patent, trade secret, competition and complex commercial disputes through trial in the fields of cloud technology, consumer electronics, telecommunications, software, computer architecture, and other technical fields. 
Connect with Michael 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.

A Chat with Angela Oliver, Associate at Haynes and Boone, LLP — Appellate and IP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 50

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Angela Oliver, an appellate and intellectual property attorney with Haynes and Boone, LLP, who focuses her practice on appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, federal district court litigation, and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  
Angela was recently recognized in Patexia’s 2023 CAFC Intelligence Report as being in the top five best performing attorneys at the Federal Circuit, and in the top 30 most active attorneys before that court. 
She has also assisted clients throughout inter partes review and post-grant review proceedings, from drafting petitions and patent owner responses to presenting oral argument, and with critical issues in patent infringement litigation, including dispositive motion practice, appellate preservation, and development of the jury charge. 
Connect with Angela 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. 

Growth and Leadership with Irene Liu | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 49

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Irene Liu, the founder of Hypergrowth GC and an Executive in Residence at UC Berkeley, School of Law.  
After building and scaling international, multi-billion-dollar technology companies, Irene now helps spur growth at other companies as an advisor, thought leader, and executive coach. She is a frequent writer and contributor to the Thomson Reuters Institute and hosts the “Hypergrowth GC” video series on Luminate+ and “Coffee Break with Irene” on Berkeley Boost. 
Irene brings invaluable expertise on AI as an Advisor for Berkeley Law's AI Institute and Women Defining AI. She further contributes crucial insights on AI to the California government on AI-related matters and has previously spoken at an FTC public hearing on AI. 
 
Before going in-house, Irene worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, and the Federal Trade Commission in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Irene was the Chief Financial and Legal Officer of Hopin, a leading community engagement platform, where she managed legal, finance, policy, and trust & safety teams. She was also the General Counsel of Checkr, a provider of modern background checks, where she managed legal, compliance, policy, finance, and customer education teams. 
Connect with Irene 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.

Breaking Barriers — Legal Advocacy with Jeremiah Chan | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 48

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Jeremiah Chan, the Director and Associate General Counsel, Head of Patents, Licensing and Open Source at Meta. Jeremiah and his team are responsible for Meta’s worldwide patent portfolio, intellectual property transactions, and open-source software, as well as industry-wide efforts to promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in innovation and the IP profession. The team has launched several industry-wide DEI initiatives, including the Diversity Pledge, ADAPT.legal and the Patent Pipeline Program, and was featured in IAM Magazine.  
Meta’s approach to patents and innovation is described in this blog post. 
Prior to joining Meta, Jeremiah led an international team at Google that was focused on patent portfolio strategy, operations, and data science; before Google, he served as Head of IP for JDSU, a global supplier of broadband and optical solutions. Jeremiah started his career in private practice with the law firm of Fish & Neave, where he specialized in litigation, opinion work, and client counseling. He graduated from UC Berkeley with highest honors while working as a marketing assistant at the University of California Press, and received his JD from Cornell Law School, where he also worked in its Legal Aid Clinic.   
Jeremiah serves on the Executive Board of the National Council on Patent Practicum and the advisory boards for the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice, the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, and the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law. He previously served on the USPTO’s Patent Public Advisory Committee, the American Bar Association’s Task Force for diversity, equity and inclusion, and as chairman of the board for the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition. 
Connect with Jeremiah 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 Timothy Hsieh, Ph.D., Founding Partner of MH2 Technology Law Group | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 47

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Timothy M. Hsieh, Ph.D., Founding Partner of MH2 Technology Law Group LLP, a law firm focused on helping companies protect their innovations with U.S. and foreign patents.  
During his twenty-five years as patent attorney, Tim has acquired hundreds of patents for companies ranging from Fortune 500® to startups, as well as universities and other non-profit organizations. He began his legal career as an associate at the Finnegan firm and clerked for former Chief Judge Rader at the Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit.  
Tim obtained his JD from the University of Virgina School of Law and holds a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees from the Johns Hopkins University, in materials science and engineering.  
Prior to law school, Tim spent time at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) as a co-op student, worked as a materials scientist at several start-up companies, and conducted research and development for ground combat vehicles for FMC Defense Systems. When not working on clients’ patenting issues, he can be found on the golf course, hiking with family, or working as a volunteer ski patroller.  
Connect with Tim 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. 

GRAVITAS with Lisa Sun | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Episode 46

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat features Lisa Sun, CEO of GRAVITAS a company on a mission to catalyze confidence. 
Lisa has often been called the “dress whisperer.” Her company, GRAVITAS, offers innovative size-inclusive apparel, styling solutions, and content designed to make women from the inside out. Before founding GRAVITAS, Sun spent 11 years at McKinsey & Company, where she advised leading luxury fashion and beauty brands and retailers in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Latin America on strategic and operational issues. Her first collection was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, People, and The Today Show in the same month. Sun and GRAVITAS have been featured on CNN and in Forbes, Fast Company, New York magazine, Elle, Marie Claire, InStyle, and more. 
Lisa is also a highly sought-after public speaker, imparting her hard-won knowledge on gravitas, and how to best harness it, to others. 
 
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn or Instagram. 
Find GRAVITAS on Instagram.  
 
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.