Introduction to the Myth of the Meritocracy in the Legal Profession (RECORDING)

Shruti Costales (she/her)is the Managing Member at Shruti Law PLLC. Shruti is a licensed patent attorney and has worked in private practice, in-house, and with the Federal Government. She has 20+ years of deep legal experience in handling IP transactions, complex commercial transactions including drafting and negotiating XaaS agreements and handling FED/SLED agreements, product counseling, procurement agreements, due diligence and mergers & acquisitions related assessments, patent counseling, patent litigation, patent and trademark application drafting and prosecution. Her experience includes working in the technology (XaaS, IoT, AI,HW, and SW), microelectronics (e.g., semiconductors, integrated circuits/chips, microprocessors, memory devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS),optoelectronic devices, etc.), electronic devices, healthcare (including biotechnology, medical devices, and pharmaceutical – small molecule and large molecule), chemical (including catalysts and polymers), automotive, and petrochemical/energy technology areas. Shruti has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and a JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law). She is an Advisory Board member for Patent Pathways® and is the former co-chair of the DEI committee for the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) where she co-authored many white papers and guides. Shruti loves reading mystery novels, writing poetry, and sewing.

Susi Fish is a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in the High Tech and Electrical Group of Boult Wade Tennant. Susi works across a range of technologies; mainly focused on biomedical engineering, medical physics and aerospace related matters. However, Susi has additional experience working in the fields of design, manufacture and testing of mechanical systems. She also involves colleagues with expertise in other specialties where more appropriate for particular matters. As well as prosecuting patent applications before the UKIPO and EPO, Susi has also had significant successes in opposition and appeal work before the EPO. Susi is an active supporter of IP Inclusive, and serves as co-chair for the Women in IP group. She also sits on the Diversity and Inclusion and Women in IP committees of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). Susi is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and sits on their Women in IP and IP Practice in Europe committee. She spoke on diversity and inclusion matters at the IQPC Global IP Exchange. She is a co-author on a couple of whitepapers issued by the IPO; one entitled “Diversity in the European Innovation Industry and IP profession” and the other entitled “The myth of the meritocracy in law firms and corporate legal departments“.

Mercedes K. Meyer, Ph.D., represents leading life science and technology companies maintaining an extensive biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent management, prosecution, opinion and due diligence practice. With a doctorate in virology and degree in chemistry, Mercedes has a deep understanding of complex biotechnology and scientific research, which is key for advising life science clients on commercializing and protecting product innovations as well as performing diligence for investing in new technologies, particularly in corporate joint development projects. Mercedes advises on developing patent strategies, managing the intellectual property rights, and making associated investments and acquisitions. Mercedes also handles patent reexaminations and inter partes matters.

Priya Subramony is an experienced IP professional with 23+ years of U.S. patent prosecution as well as in-house expertise in handling large cross-business patent portfolios across many jurisdictions, working with clients in innovation sensing, capture, competitor intelligence, IP due diligence, product clearance and in- and out- licensing in biotechnology and other mechanical art areas.

Jim Thomas joined Fletcher Yoder in November 2011. His areas of technological familiarity include electrical power systems, control systems, semiconductor fabrication and design, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, database management, seismic data processing, and a wide variety of other electrical and mechanical arts.