IPO’s D&I Committee’s Hiring & Retention Guide – An Introduction and Overview

Shruti Costales is the Owner & Founder at Shruti Law PLLC®. Shruti is a licensed US 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 patent and trademark application drafting and prosecution, patent counseling, patent litigation, IP transactions, complex commercial transactions including drafting and negotiating XaaS agreements and handling FED/SLED agreements, supply chain agreements, product counseling, and due diligence and mergers & acquisitions related assessments. Her experience includes working in the chemicals/materials technologies (e.g., microelectronics including semiconductors, integrated circuits/chips, microprocessors, and memory devices; batteries and fuel cells; catalysts; polymers; additive manufacturing; food/nutrition; nanotechnology; oil and gas; tire and rubber; building materials/composites; water treatment/purification; tobacco/nicotine products; filtration solutions; performance materials; and consumer goods), life sciences/healthcare technologies (e.g., biotechnology & diagnostics; pharmaceutical – small molecule and large molecule; medical surgical products; dental & ophthalmological solutions; and purification and filtration technologies), electrical & computer technologies (e.g., electronic devices and components; consumer electronics; microelectronics including semiconductors; and financial, business, and fintech services), and mechanical technologies (e.g., automotive and smart mobility technology; mechanical components; and medical devices). 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 a member of the Patent Pathways® Board of Directors. Shruti is currently Vice-Chair of IPO's Small/Micro Company & Law Firm Committee. Over the last decade, Shruti has co-led IPO's DEI and Women in IP committees where she co-authored many white papers, guides, and toolkits. Recently, Shruti led and co-authored a collaboration between ADAPT and IPO for a Practical Guide on Allyship, Mentorship, & Sponsorship. 

Keisha Hylton-Rodic, Ph.D. is a registered patent attorney with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. She specializes in assisting pharmaceutical companies, start-ups, universities, chemical companies, and venture capital funds, achieve their IP objectives. Dr. Hylton-Rodic’s practice includes patent procurement, patent-related risk assessments (including freedom-to-operate, IP due diligence investigations, non-infringement, and validity), design-around strategies and opinions. She has extensive experience developing and managing domestic and foreign patent portfolios in a variety of technical areas including biotech, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and paper.

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.

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. Most recently, Elaine worked in-house for 6 years at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, where she managed over 500 matters in medical and software related technologies. As an avid believer in giving-back, Elaine serves a Board Member at No More Stolen Childhoods. She is also dedicated to improving diversity in the field of patent law through her numerous diversity leadership roles. Elaine hosts Driving Diversity, a weekly vlog sharing diversity-related tips and FAQ’s, as well as quarterly webinars in a series called Diversity Dialogue as part of Harrity’s Diversity Channel.