ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR U.S. PATENT COUNSEL AT THE EPO AND UPC

This is an IN-PERSON event. Space is limited.

Prior registration is required. Please register by Monday, February 10th.

Questions? Please email jtallman@lalaw.com.

Featured Speaker

Michael Fleuchaus

German and European Patent Attorney; Technically Qualified Judge at the Unified Patent Court

Michael is a Technically Qualified Judge (Physics) at the Unified Patent Court. He is also a Partner at Fleuchaus & Gallo Partnership in Munich, Germany.

Professional Experience in Intellectual Property:

Michael Fleuchaus qualified as a German and European Patent attorney in 2003 and 2004, respectively. He handles a diverse prosecution portfolio with a particular focus on computer-implemented inventions and medical technologies. He has been involved in numerous contentious matters throughout his career.

In June 2023, Michael was appointed Technically Qualified Judge to the Unified Patent Court with a technology focus on physics.

Michael has been an active member of the European Patent Institute’s European Patent Practice Committee since 2011 and chaired its Information and Communication Technologies sub-committee between 2013 and 2023.

Education and Professional Experience:

Michael Fleuchaus has 35+ years of applied experience in the IT sector, specifically system architecture, virtualized, distributed, and hyper-scalable environments, routing, including security, as well as user interface design. He has overseen several enterprise-grade software development projects in the legal-tech space.

Michael obtained a degree in technical physics from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1999 followed by a 2 years post-graduate science project.

Panelists

Craig R. Smith

Partner, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

Craig is a successful trial attorney who helps clients protect and defend their inventions in complex intellectual property litigation. Technology companies of all sizes, from Fortune 50 companies to start-ups, have relied on him to take care of their most sensitive intellectual property matters. He has represented entities such as Webasto, Foursquare Labs, MIT, Bose, and Avid Technology in IP litigation throughout the country and the world. Craig has handled matters before federal district courts and appellate courts, as well as the International Trade Commission (ITC). He also handles post-grant review proceedings before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, including inter partes review and reexaminations. Craig’s litigation strategy and management have resulted in many pre-trial victories, helping to avoid expensive trials and, in one case, averting potential damages in excess of a billion dollars.

Craig’s practice also focuses on advising clients on intellectual property matters, including acquisitions, strategic management of patent, trademark, and copyright portfolios, due diligence, licensing, and pre-suit investigations. He has extensive licensing experience, including initiating programs to monetize patent and copyright portfolios. His client-focused approach to litigation and licensing puts a premium value on the client’s input and insight and ensures a close and mutually beneficial relationship.

Thomas M. Sullivan

Partner, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

As a seasoned IP practitioner and founding partner of L&A, Tom provides thoughtful and deliberate counsel to a diverse client base through a combination of his deep technical expertise and qualified business acumen. He has the unique ability to develop intellectual property strategies to successfully build, maintain and enforce patent portfolios that effectively integrate clients’ strategic business goals.

Tom’s electrical engineering background includes experience with analog and digital electronics, computer software and hardware including developing and modifying code for use in automated test systems, and electronics assembly and manufacturing including network communications and data security. He has technical expertise in power electronics and electromagnetic compatibility from a successful career as a Senior Electrical Design Engineer for Raytheon Company. Tom was instrumental in the development of communications systems and missile defense systems for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Tom is actively engaged in building the future of Boston’s legal community. He is a member of the Suffolk University Law School Dean’s Cabinet. He also is an Instructor in the Accounting and Business Law Department at the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk. Tom has served as Vice Chair for the City Year Legal Community Annual Breakfast for several years.

Kenneth Thompson

Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Cantor Fitzgerald

Kenneth Thompson serves as Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Cantor Fitzgerald, where he oversees a global patent portfolio spanning electronic trading systems, artificial intelligence, mobile gaming, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining Cantor Fitzgerald, Kenneth was in private practice and had extensive experience in managing IP strategies for both agile startups and Fortune 500 companies with complex international IP portfolios. Kenneth has successfully prosecuted hundreds of utility patent applications worldwide, with particular expertise in European patent prosecution strategies and portfolio development before the EPO, JPO and CNIPA.

Moderator

Kent Robbins

Senior Director, TransPerfect IP

Kent Robbins serves as Senior Director at TransPerfect IP where he delivers legal solutions including but not limited to Global Translations, Recordals and EP Validations Services. Prior to joining TransPerfect, he built and grew multiple global IP services organizations delivering the full suite of IP prosecution and litigation ancillary offerings. He’s led multiple post-M&A transition and BD teams with global organizations including bsi, Gardner Denver and ADP. A former United States Marine Corps officer with over 17 years in the private sector, Kent will receive his MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in May. 

Agenda

Agenda coming soon!