Join SFIPLA on October 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. in engaging PTAB Judges Janet Gongola and Ifti Ahmed and Chief Clerk Erica Swift to learn about the evolving practice before PTAB! Learn from the PTAB bench as they take you through the essentials for practicing in front of PTAB—from basics, trial procedures, and appeals process, to strategic insights for hearings and briefing. This comprehensive program will include insightful tips from the Judges and a robust Q&A session. We look forward to seeing you and journeying together to better understand this pivotal venue for patent disputes!

Attendees are eligible to receive one hour of participatory MCLE credit.

Panelists: Janet Gongola, Ifti Ahmed and Erica Swift

Janet Gongola, Vice Chief Judge for Engagement at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board

Janet Gongola manages internal and external engagement on behalf of the PTAB, including development of educational programs and PTAB procedures and rules. She was appointed to the PTAB in October 2016. Before joining the Board, Judge Gongola was the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary and Director of the USPTO where she advised on all matters of law and policy.

Judge Gongola also served as the Patent Reform Coordinator and managed the agency’s implementation of the America Invents Act. She likewise was the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and developed patent policy for the agency. Judge Gongola started her USPTO career as an Associate Solicitor providing legal advice to agency officials and defending decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and district courts.

Before joining the USPTO, Judge Gongola served as a law clerk for the Honorable Paul R. Michel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and for the Honorable Judge Sue L. Robinson at the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. In addition, Judge Gongola worked as a patent attorney, patent agent, and research chemist at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Judge Gongola graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University School of Law, and she received B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from Muskingum University.

Judge Gongola is a past President of the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court and has taught as an adjunct professor at the George Mason University School of Law and the George Washington University Law School.

Ifti Ahmed, Administrative Patent Judge

Judge Ifti Ahmed is a Lead Administrative Patent Judge at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board where he primarily presides over AIA trials.

Prior to joining the PTAB, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alan D. Lourie of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Honorable T. John Ward of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He worked in private practice for several years in Houston at Akin Gump and then at Ahmed Zavitsanos Anaipakos where he litigated intellectual property cases. Prior to studying law, he worked as an engineer developing embedded systems.

Judge Ahmed received his law degree and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Houston.

Erica Swift, Chief Clerk of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board

Erica Swift joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2014 and is currently the Chief Clerk of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Before joining the Board, Chief Clerk Swift served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Legal Specialist. Chief Clerk Swift also worked as a paralegal for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and as a Supervisory Paralegal for the Department of Defense. Chief Clerk Swift has a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies (Cum Laude) and a Master’s degree in Acquisition from the University of Maryland University College.

Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Time: 6pm-7:30pm

Place: Wilson Sonsini, One Market Street Plaza, Spear Street Tower, #3300, SF, CA 94105

AND

ZOOM (login credential details also to be provided prior to program meeting date)

Cost: FREE

SPONSOR:

Thank you to our sponsor, Wilson Sonsini, for hosting this meeting.

The San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association is an approved provider of California MCLE credit, and certifies that the above activity meets the requirements for one hour of participatory credit.

THE PTAB MASTERCLASS: PITFALLS & INSIGHTS WITH PTAB JUDGES AND CHIEF CLERK