Updated Strategies on Examiner Interviews at the USPTO

Derek Abeyta is a patent attorney with considerable experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications for clients, both in the United States and in foreign countries. Such patent applications relate to a variety of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical fields, including telecommunications, extended reality systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, camera processing, power electronics, video coding, aerospace systems, autonomous vehicles, and medical device arts. Prior to joining Harrity & Harrity, Derek practiced as a patent attorney at Quarles & Brady, LLP in Arizona. Previously, Derek worked as an IP associate for Shumaker & Sieffert, P.A. and Knobbe, Martens, Olson, & Bear, LLP. His law practice has focused on patent preparation and prosecution, as well as patent infringement and validity counseling.

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 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 electrical & computer technologies, mechanical technologies, chemicals/materials technologies, and life sciences/healthcare technologies. 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 the Vice Chair of the Patent Pathways® Board of Directors. Shruti is currently one of the Vice-Chairs of IPO's Artificial Intelligence (AI),Data, and New Emerging Technologies 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 co-authored the Data Use Agreement Template for IPO's AI/D/NET Committee.

Dave Easwaran is a partner and patent attorney at K&L Gates LLP.  He manages a team of patent attorneys, agents and technical specialists to support the IP objectives of a diverse client base.  In this capacity, he helps clients build patent portfolios that provide leverage to accomplish business goals, and he helps clients resolve contentious IP matters.  Having in the past held positions as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and as an in-house attorney at a Fortune 50 company, Dave understands how to position patent applications for success and how to allocate limited IP spend in a cost-effective manner.  Beyond representing his clients, Dave is passionate about engaging with industry stakeholders and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to improve the U.S. patent system and ensure it promotes the development and deployment of new technology.

Priscilla Reyes is a patent agent with diversified experience in medical devices and oil and gas industries. She has expertise in chemistry, medical devices, control release technologies, and oil and gas technologies. Priscilla is known as a dependable, innovative, goal oriented team player/lead who possesses strong interpersonal and communication skills to achieve bottom line results. She is also fluent in Spanish.