Careers in Intellectual Property Law: Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Presented by Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C. and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association.

This essential program will provide practical solutions that law students, recent law graduates, and experienced IP attorneys can take to diversify the field of intellectual property law. A dynamic and diverse group of panelists will address the following topics:

• How homogenous is the IP bar and why?
• Why diversity and inclusion is important for IP
• What can be done to promote diversity and inclusion in IP
• Traditional and non-tradition career paths in IP
• How best to position one's self for a career in IP

This course is geared towards creating a more diverse IP Bar, but will provide crucial takeaways and practical solutions for any attorney seeking to diversify the legal profession at large.

Panelists:

Shilpi Banerjee, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 

Michael Lewis, Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property Protection and Cybersecurity at the Entertainment Software Association 

Cynthia McCaskill, Leader, Intellectual Property Asset Development at GE Aviation 

Jane Shih, Deputy General Counsel, Newfold Digital

Erika Stallings, Associate General Counsel, Music Product at Facebook 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Recognize that there are many ways to reach your career goals, not just one traditional formula

2. Identify the career and networking opportunities you should pursue

3. Acknowledge that all law students do not have the same opportunities offered them

4. Accept that the IP Bar has a long way to go when it comes to diversity and inclusion

5. Provide concrete ways that IP practitioners can work to make the IP Bar more diverse and inclusive