Overcoming Obstacles to Securing Patents for AI-Related Inventions
Companies are experimenting with artificial intelligence, notes Ernest Huang, but they face numerous obstacles to securing patents for such innovations. Ernest shares key aspects in-house counsel and inventors need to keep in mind when developing their AI-based inventions to increase the likelihood of obtaining valuable patent protection.
Most entrepreneurs dream of someday selling their company. In this article based on a recent webinar hosted by the PBO Advisory Group, Bill Eigner identifies 8 key steps business owners should take well in advance to ensure a profitable exit.
Considerations for Taxable Estate Owners with a Beneficial Tax Provision Possibly Expiring
A key benefit to families with taxable estates may be about to go away. The Tax Reform Act of 2017 incorporated numerous tax reductions into U.S. law, with one significantly increasing the ability of taxable estate owners to provide substantial gifts to others tax-free. However, without a congressional extension, the U.S. tax code would to provisions prior to the law’s enactment. Renee Gabbard and Charles Lin provide considerations for taxable estate owners given the possibility of the Act’s sunset.
Patent Considerations in View of the Nearshoring Trends to the Americas
What key patent considerations should one be aware of in view of trends toward nearshoring in the Americas? Learn that and more in this podcast with Procopio Partner Ernest Huang joined by Serge Lapointe, Partner at Fasken, and Allan Jarry, Founder of JarryIP. They discuss patent filings into the United States, Canada, and Latin America, with emphasis on Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Colombia; government patent filing incentives; and upcoming updates for the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
Procopio’s 2024 Virtual Construction Law Forum | 10:00 am – 1:50 pm PT
Procopio Construction & Infrastructure Law attorneys and industry experts will address the most critical California construction law issues currently facing contractors, developers, and owners in an engaging half-day online event. This forum is approved for Certified Construction Manager® (CCM®) & Certified Associate Construction Manager® (CACM) credits, and California General Participatory MCLE credits are pending.
Procopio International Tax Institute | San Diego, CA
The 19th Annual Procopio International Tax Institute (PITI) will again bring leading experts in U.S. and Mexican tax issues to help attendees stay ahead and network. Held in collaboration with the Graduate Tax Program of Georgetown University, PITI is designed for tax practitioners, U.S. and Mexican attorneys, accountants, corporate tax directors, managers, controllers, banking and financial advisors, and executives.
2024 Annual Labor & Employment Seminar | La Jolla, CA | 12:30 – 6:00 pm PT
This seminal event is back for another year, as Procopio Labor & Employment attorneys update attendees on the latest in California employment law with a look at what changes are on the horizon. This seminar is pending approval for up to 2.25 California General Participatory MCLE, HRCI and SHRM credits.
Procopio Expands Orange County Office with New Employment Law Partner and Associate
Procopio’s presence in Orange County, California, continues to grow with two additions to the firm’s award-winning Labor and Employment Law practice. Accomplished litigator Gina Miller joins as a Partner from Snell & Wilmer’s Costa Mesa office, with Ashley Lopeztello arriving as an Associate from Jackson Lewis’ Irvine office. Both are serving clients across California from Procopio’s Irvine office.
Gina is a seasoned labor and employment attorney who provides both litigation defense and proactive counseling to her clients. With extensive experience in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies, Gina handles a wide range of employment-related legal matters. Her litigation practice covers complex wage and hour class actions, along with single-plaintiff lawsuits involving discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, and breach of contract claims. Skilled in all phases of pre-trial litigation, Gina manages discovery, depositions, summary judgment motions, and temporary restraining order (TRO) proceedings with precision and expertise.
Ashley represents public and private sector clients in complex employment matters and brings her clients in-house experience.
Accomplished Real Estate Attorney Joins Procopio as Partner
Our award-winning Real Estate Law practice has added a new partner, Gregory Oleson. Greg joins Procopio's downtown San Diego office from Lewis Brisbois, where he was the managing partner of its Indian Wells office and co-chair of its Real Estate & Land Use practice.
Greg is experienced in counseling clients throughout the commercial development process, including both lenders and borrowers, bringing his clients over thirty years of experience. He specializes in commercial real estate, handling acquisitions, sales, entitlements, and development for developers at local, regional, and national levels across all stages of transactions.
He counsels lenders and borrowers on loan modifications, workouts, and the preparation of commercial loan documentation. Greg assists clients in buying and selling existing commercial properties, unimproved land for residential development, and mixed-use commercial projects.
Nominations Open for Palo Alto Life Sciences CEO Connection Program
The next cohort of the highly regarded Life Sciences CEO Connection program will commence later this year at Procopio’s Palo Alto office, and a few slots are open for qualified participants. Including up to 25 early-stage life sciences CEOs, the program features monthly conversations thoughtfully curated by industry insiders. It fosters meaningful professional connections, advisory, and the support needed to address the unique challenges of leadership in the life sciences sector.
The Life Sciences CEO Connection program is a partnership between Procopio and CEO 360 Connect, founded by life sciences advisor and Cardiff Advisory Managing Partner David H. Crean. David will lead the program’s 12 monthly meetings, with discussion topics including capital financing, IP and licensing, mergers and acquisitions, talent management, growth strategies, and conflict resolution. Dynamic roundtable discussions allow for candid conversations in a confidential setting, with participants discussing their own challenges and benefiting from the collective wisdom and strategic insights of their peers. Corporate Partner Paul Johnson, the leader of Procopio’s Emerging Company and Venture Capital practice, and IP Partner Noel Gillespie will actively engage with participants.
Nominations are now being accepted, and self-nominations are welcome. Qualified candidates will be CEOs of life sciences, medical device, and health tech companies, and will undergo a vetting process.
Enrique Hernandez-Pulido Recognized as a Latino Leader
Procopio Partner and Management Committee member Enrique Hernandez-Pulido was nominated by the San Diego Business Journal as a top Latino leader. The magazine selected him as a nominee among more than 200 submissions for the 2024 Latino Business Leader of Influence list.
This is not the first time the magazine has recognized Enrique. In 2022 he was named to the magazine’s Top 50 Latino Leader of Influence list. He is also recognized by Best Lawyers® for Tax Law. Along with his service on Procopio’s Management Committee, Enrique also leads its Latin America practice and its Beer, Wine and Spirits practice. Enrique represents cross-border clients in business transactions, worldwide investment and financing structures, planning for worldwide income and estate and inheritance taxes. He previously worked in the Mexican government in tax, finance and administration.
Procopio's growing International Tax practice has added Jorge M. Obén-Cuadros as a Senior Counsel in our Washington, D.C. office. Jorge, who recently served as a detailee from the IRS to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, will focus on policy, controversy, and planning matters related to international tax, a perfect fit for our practice led by Pedro Corona de la Fuente. Prior to joining Procopio, Jorge worked at the IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International), where he focused on outbound international tax. Jorge played a key role in developing and drafting several regulations implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He also assisted with matters related to the OECD Pillar Two Model Rules. As a congressional detailee, Jorge advised on technical matters involving international tax–including Puerto Rico and the other territories–as well as corporate tax and the energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Please welcome the newest member of our award-winning Labor and Employment Law team, Ashley Lopeztello! Ashley represents public and private sector clients in complex employment matters, defending employers against a variety of legal issues including wage and hour, misclassification, discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination, in both individual and representative actions. She joins our Orange County, California, office. Ashley has aggressively defended companies in the staffing, fashion, security, healthcare, manufacturing, and many other industries. She practices in federal and state courts throughout California, as well as various arbitral forums. She brings her clients experience as a former in-house counsel.
If you're running a startup you're always looking for funding. Learn insights Oct. 17 on how to succeed in that task from Paul Johnson, our Emerging Company and Venture Capital practice leader, in a complimentary webinar. Paul will use real case stories to illustrate how to navigate the pitfalls and traps that can keep your startup from getting funded. Sign up and bring your questions!
Our Trade Secrets practice leader Mindy Morton will speak on that topic Nov. 8 in a Beverly Hills Bar Association webinar. Joined by litigator Amelia Sargent, Mindy will address the increasing use of trade secrets to protect intellectual property, the key differences between trade secrets and patents, the statutory frameworks for trade secret protection, the elements of a trade secret claim, and key tips and trends in trade secret litigation and enforcement.
Developing and protecting IP is essential for fostering innovation, maintaining competitive advantages, and securing legal rights over your creations. IP Partner Xiaofan "Frank" Yang will address that Oct. 30 in a University Lab Partners webinar. The co-leader of our Life Sciences practice and Technology Transactions and Licensing practice will discuss how proper IP management can drive growth, attract investors, and create revenue streams through licensing or commercialization.
What is the role of clean hydrogen in the U.S. transition to a net-zero-carbon economy? Miranda C. Barfield tackles that question in a detailed article published by the University of San Diego Journal of Climate and Energy Law. Miranda explains why clean hydrogen has become a key part of U.S. decarbonization plans, describes the existing and forthcoming U.S. policies and programs designed to incentivize and enable the growth of the domestic clean hydrogen market, and examines whether the U.S. is deploying the correct legal tools to successfully unlock the decarbonization potential of the clean hydrogen industry.
We are proud to be advising the government of Puerto Rico as it seeks to re-balance its tax structure for large multinational corporations through implementing a 15% global minimum tax on such entities to protect Puerto Rico's right to tax its own profits. As reported by Angélica Serrano-Román in Bloomberg Law, Puerto Rico's Treasury Department has opened a public comment period on its plan to reduce tax competition and prevent profit-shifting. Procopio's robust International Tax practice led by Pedro Corona de la Fuente is consulting for the government with a former official of the OECD, Juan Carlos Pérez Peña. Learn more in this Bloomberg article (subscription may be required).
The deadline is October 11 to submit an application for two paid summer internships for Native American law students and law students with a strong interest in federal Indian law and/or tribal law. Our interns gain hands-on experience dealing with everyday legal issues facing Native American communities, involved in matters that deal with specific Indian law-related legal practice matters and other legal problems facing tribal governments and Native entities. Many past interns hold leadership positions in law and government, providing an active alumni network for program participants. We maintain connections with our intern alumni network by providing continued mentorship and preparation for success in their growing legal careers, as well as encouragement of their support for our succeeding interns.
The insights were many on the topic of women’s health at a Biocom California event Sept. 12 moderated by Procopio’s Helen Goldstein. Daré Bioscience Director of Corporate Affairs and Development Jennifer Kiang noted that blockbuster drugs for women make up a far higher percentage than the paltry allocations of R&D funding, indicating a market incentive to spend more on women’s health research. The pharma industry is still male-dominated, noted Tari Suprapto, Director of Search & Evaluation for the Western U.S. & Canada at Novo Nordisk, and Maria Gonzalez-Blanch, a managing partner at Crescent Ridge VC, said change would only come with a reversal in how things have always been done. Biases are also found in how patients are treated and diagnosed, said Martha Lawrence, CEO and co-founder of AccendoWave, compounding the problem. Learn more in this BioWorld News article by Brian Orelli (subscription required).
It was a big night for Gabriela Magee of our Native American Law practice when she received recognition as the 2024 Outstanding Young Attorney at the California Indian Law Association, Inc. annual dinner October 3 at the Pechanga Resort Casino! This annual award goes to one young California attorney who excels in representing tribes and tribal interests. Gabriela was nominated by multiple CILA members for her outstanding work and leadership in California. Present to help celebrate were friends, family and colleagues, including other Procopio practice members including Racheal M. White Hawk, Ariel Jones and Ted Griswold. Gabriela is a proud member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians.
We were honored to sponsor this year's Moon Festival Mixer and General Meeting held by the Orange County Asian American Bar Association (OCAABA) at the Newport Beach Civic Center! Those making and renewing connections at the event over moon cakes included Procopio attorneys Charles Lin, Leyla S. Tabatabaie, CFLS, Rosie Kim and Andrew Mar. Leyla was one of those selected to feed a dragon! Charles has long been active in OCAABA and served as president from 2020-2022.
Once again Silicon Valley IP Litigation Partner Mindy Morton participated in a musical revue at this year's San Francisco Bay Area IP Inn of Court, which we were proud to sponsor. She and other attorneys Sept. 18 performed adaptations of songs from movies including "Barbie" with lyrics customized to IP topics. Mindy also served as the show's director and co-authored the lyrics for three of the songs. Musical adaptations are a longstanding tradition with this group, and everyone looks forward to next year's revue!
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