Discussion of issues foremost to Patent Attorneys. Moderated by Laura Peter, Executive Director, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Former USPTO Deputy Director. Confirmed Panelists: Keith Agisim, Chief IP Counsel, Bank of America; David Easwaran, IP Attorney, K&L Gates; Koichiro Nakamura, Patent Attorney, Cantor Colburn.
Bios:Laura Peter, is the Executive Director of the Office of Research and Partnerships at UNC Charlotte, providing strategic leadership for the university's innovation, corporate research, and technology commercialization efforts. Previously, she served as Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO, overseeing 13,000 employees and a $3.5 billion budget. With over 25 years of experience in intellectual property law, she is recognized as one of the “Most Influential Women in IP” by World IP Review. Laura holds degrees from Cornell University, the University of Chicago, Santa Clara University School of Law, and King’s College London.
Keith Agisim is the Deputy General Counsel for Global Technology Legal, leading a worldwide team of lawyers that support the bank’s Global Technology organization. He also leads the Intellectual Property (IP) teams that manages trademarks, copyrights and the innovation efforts of the bank’s inventors spanning across all lines of eight businesses. Keith also serves as Chairman of the Technology and IP Committees for the Bank Policy Institute and The Clearinghouse, and is also the Chair and lead negotiator for the Quality Patent Coalition. Previously he has served on the Advisory Board for Central Michigan University’s Entrepreneurship Program and Johnson & Wales University’s Entrepreneurship Program.
David Easwaran is a partner and a member of the IP Procurement and Portfolio Management practice group. His practice focuses on IP counseling for clients of all types, from universities and emerging startups to some of the largest companies in the world. He brings a unique understanding of the patent questions affecting software innovation. He has worked on these issues from various perspectives in private practice, in-house, and as a patent examiner. With his diverse experience in the IP field, David offers his clients practical guidance to capture the economic value of their innovation while mitigating the risks posed by third-party IP. David has rich experience in the financial services sector, having previously focused on financial services innovation as a patent examiner and an in-house IP counsel.
Koichiro "Ko" Nakamura, Counsel for Cantor Colburn LLP, has almost 20 years of experience in intellectual property, including performing and managing patent prosecution, IP counseling, invalidity and non-infringement opinions, and clearances for both domestic and international clients in a broad range of industries. Ko concentrates his practice in the mechanical and electromechanical fields and has experience handling technologies including automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, medical devices, oilfield, desalination, manufacturing, 3-D printing, and sporting equipment. Ko is fluent in Japanese, has extensive experience handling Japan-origin patent applications, and has represented both the Houston Intellectual Property Association and the Carolina Patent Trademark Copyright Law Association as a delegate in annual meetings with the Japan Patent Office. Before joining Cantor Colburn, Ko practiced patent prosecution at two IP boutique firms and worked as in-house IP counsel for Techtronic Industries Power Equipment.