How Allyship Advances Diversity & Inclusion in the IP Legal Profession: Part 1-Personal Experiences (RECORDING)

Natalie practices in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent and trade secret litigation, patent prosecution, and IP and technology transactions. Ms. Gonzales works on patent litigation matters involving a variety of technologies, including mechanical and electrical devices and computer systems. Her litigation experience also includes copyright infringement and Lanham Act actions. Ms. Gonzales practices before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, preparing and prosecuting patent applications involving an equally wide array of technologies. Ms. Gonzales advises clients on the IP-related aspects of corporate and technology transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, joint development arrangements, licensing, contracting and employment arrangements. Ms. Gonzales assists clients in crafting and negotiating agreements relating to IP ownership, IP transfers, confidentiality, software development and other commercial arrangements, including MSAs and SaaS agreements.

Joshua focuses his practice on appellate and trial court litigation, intellectual property counseling and strategic portfolio management, as well as regulatory and legislative policy.  This “exceptional” and “creative” (Chambers), “Top Attorney” (Law360), and “big-picture thought leader” (WTR) litigates copyright, patent, right of publicity, trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition cases—particularly complex cases and those of first impression—along with contract, licensing, and domain name disputes.  In addition to maintaining a full-time litigation practice, Josh is a member of Kirkland’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and the Coordinator of its New York Kirkland Pride affinity group.  He also is a frequent speaker and author on emerging trends in intellectual property, as well as an active member of the intellectual property bar, including serving as Vice Chair of IPO’s Copyright Law & Anti-Piracy Committee, and a former Vice Chair of its Software-Related Inventions Committee.

Ritu is a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP focusing her practice on patent preparation and prosecution. She has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering and J.D. from The Ohio State University. She has significant experience working with intellectual property in the biomedical, mechanical, software, and electronic realms. She is actively involved as a community volunteer, ranging from roles as Treasurer of the South Asian Bar Association of North America Foundation to being Co-Chair of the Asian IP Professionals Resource Group of the IPO’s D&I Committee.  

Richard Watkins is a senior principal legal counsel at Medtronic and has practiced IP Law for 20 years. He holds a BS in Chemistry from Morehouse College and a law degree from Georgetown University. Prior to Medtronic, Richard spent time in private practice and corporate in house positions in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Memphis. He has been active in the IPO Diversity and Inclusion committee and is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Black IP Professionals in IPO.