Introduction to Diversity & Inclusion Practical Guide 3.0: Part 1 (RECORDING)

Rachael Rodman is an accomplished litigator who concentrates her practice in the area of IP litigation, and has experience representing clients in variety of cases involving patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret claims. She also has experience in complex business litigation, and has litigated cases involving contract, shareholder, and non-compete disputes. In addition to her substantial trial experience in state and federal court, Rachael has extensive appellate experience, in both Ohio and federal appellate courts. Prior to beginning her litigation practice, Rachael clerked for the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District.  She has participated in arbitrations through the American Arbitration Association and the dispute resolution forums of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the American Health Lawyers Association.

Serena Farquharson-Torres is a highly experienced and accomplished leader in the intellectual property field and in the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare industry.   Serena is Executive Director & Assistant General Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb where she has held various roles of increasing responsibility in the Intellectual Property/ Innovation Law group since joining the company in 2016.  Serena is one of the Co-Vice Chairs of IPO’s D&I committee and has chaired the BMS Law Department’s D&I Committee. Prior to joining Bristol Myers Squibb, she was Senior Patent Counsel at Merck and then Sanofi.  Before joining Merck, she worked in private practice at Kenyon & Kenyon.  Serena has significant experience in all aspects of patent practice including prosecution, counseling, and pharmaceutical licensing and acquisitions.   Serena received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina, her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from University of Minnesota, and her B.S. in Chemistry from Howard University. 

Gloria Fuentes is Vice President & Assistant General Counsel for Bristol-Meyers Squibb. Previously, Gloria worked at Schering-Plough, Inc. (2006-2009), Ropes & Gray LLP (1999-2002) and Fish & Neave LLP (2002-2006). Most recently, Gloria was with Merck. Gloria has a J.D. from Columbia University, a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester and a B.S. from Cornell University. 

Elaine Spector is a patent attorney with over 20 years of experience in intellectual property law.  Her current practice consists primarily of prosecuting patent applications with a focus on electromechanical technologies. Prior to joining Harrity & Harrity, Elaine worked in private practice for over 15 years handling various intellectual property matters, including patent application drafting and prosecution, trademark prosecution and enforcement, as well as litigating complex patent cases in federal courts. Elaine’s extensive litigation experience provides her with a unique perspective in prosecuting patent applications.

Claudia Stangle is a partner in Chicago with over 20 years of experience and specializes in trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, false and comparative advertising, Internet law (including cybersquatting and domain name disputes), trade secrets, trademark and copyright licensing, right of publicity/privacy, and trademark acquisitions and divestitures.  Ms. Stangle has significant experience in complex inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), has represented clients in federal courts around the U.S., and has won over fifty ICANN proceedings relating to domain name dispute matters for her clients.  She also has experience in patent infringement and trade secret litigation.  In addition to her litigation and dispute practice, Ms. Stangle has extensive experience in trademark counseling.  She has counseled clients by providing search advice and protectability opinions regarding domestic and global trademark availability.