Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 25 Software Attorneys of 2025. These attorneys represent a cross-section of expertise essential to the software and technology sectors, from litigators who argue high-stakes patent and copyright disputes to transactional advisors who structure complex licensing, financing, and M&A deals. Their practices cover areas at the heart of modern business—intellectual property, data privacy, corporate governance, and technology transactions—helping clients protect innovations, comply with intricate regulations, and capture opportunities in rapidly advancing markets.
What sets this year’s awardees apart is the breadth of their technical and legal backgrounds. Many bring deep training in fields like engineering and computer science to bear in courtrooms and boardrooms, while others guide clients through unsettled issues in artificial intelligence, digital content, and data protection. Collectively, they play a pivotal role in shaping the rules of engagement for companies that rely on software as both infrastructure and competitive advantage. This recognition highlights attorneys whose work continues to influence not only their clients’ success, but also the broader legal frameworks governing technology today.
Among this year’s awardees, Amy Barber, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, is recognized for her work on technology and intellectual property transactions, where she advises on mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing agreements, software licensing, and cloud services contracting, with a focus on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and data monetization. Danielle Bulger, Partner at ArentFox Schiff, stands out for her counsel on copyright, trademark, trade dress, and anti-piracy matters, frequently representing clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal court on disputes involving online content, generative AI, and software-related infringement. Alphonso Collins, Partner at Cozen O’Connor, is noted for his extensive patent practice, which includes drafting and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patents and advising on infringement, validity, and due diligence across technologies such as wireless communication systems and computer software.
This year’s awardees were selected for their proven track records advising software and technology companies on complex legal matters. Their work reflects both technical precision and a clear understanding of the challenges shaping the software industry. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Software Attorneys of 2025.
1. Brian Rosenthal
Partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Brian Rosenthal is a Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, based in the New York office and a member of the Intellectual Property practice group. Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm recognized for advising clients on significant transactions and high-stakes disputes. With more than 2,000 lawyers across 21 offices worldwide, the firm delivers integrated legal strategies across dozens of practice areas to help organizations navigate complex challenges.
At Gibson Dunn, Rosenthal focuses on intellectual property and patent litigation, representing clients in industries ranging from computer software and electronics to medical devices. He has litigated more than 125 patent cases, most as lead counsel, and has secured multiple wins in jury trials, arbitrations, and appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He also advises clients on Patent Office validity proceedings, including inter partes review and post-grant review, often in parallel with high-stakes litigation. His clients have included leading companies such as Cisco, VMware, AT&T, Dell EMC, Google, and Verizon.
Previously, Rosenthal was a partner at Mayer Brown and, before that, at Howrey LLP. He holds a JD from Cornell Law School and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics from Western University.
2. Antonia Sequeira
Partner, Fenwick & West
Antonia Sequeira is a Partner at Fenwick & West, a leading law firm purpose-built to guide technology and life sciences companies and their investors through every stage of growth. Founded in Silicon Valley, Fenwick has more than 500 lawyers, patent agents, engineers, and scientists across seven offices in the U.S. and China.
At Fenwick, Sequeira focuses on intellectual property strategy for life sciences and technology clients, with particular expertise at the intersection of biotechnology, medical devices, and artificial intelligence. She builds international IP portfolios from the ground up, leveraging her background in patent litigation to guide clients on strategic drafting and long-term value creation. Her representative matters include advising Shockwave Medical on IP and regulatory issues in its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson, developing EVERY’s patent portfolio for its suite of alternative protein products, protecting BilliontoOne’s UNITY fetal assays and Northstar liquid biopsy assays, and securing key patents for Element Biosciences in the launch of its AVITI™ genomic solutions.
Before joining Fenwick, Sequeira was the founder of Aprotea Biochips and a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She holds a JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical/biological sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
3. Timothy Walker
Partner, K&L Gates
Timothy Walker is a Partner at K&L Gates, a fully integrated global law firm that fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment. By combining the knowledge and expertise of its lawyers and policy professionals, the firm builds dynamic teams that deliver client-focused solutions across a wide range of industries.
Walker focuses his practice on patent litigation involving computer software, hardware, and chemistry. With more than three decades of litigation experience, he has served as lead counsel in district court, before the International Trade Commission, and in appeals before the Federal Circuit. His representative matters span a wide range of technologies, including object-oriented and encryption software, networking systems, medical imaging devices, robotics, batteries, and biotechnology innovations. He is also a regular participant in Stanford Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, where he mentors students on courtroom strategy and advocacy skills.
Before joining K&L Gates, Walker was of counsel at Orrick. He holds a JD from Stanford Law School, a PhD in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
4. Ameya Paradkar
Partner, Blank Rome
Ameya Paradkar is a Partner at Blank Rome, an Am Law 100 firm with more than 750 attorneys and principals across 16 offices in the United States and abroad. The firm is recognized for its comprehensive legal and advocacy services and its deep industry knowledge across a broad range of sectors. Paradkar first joined Blank Rome in 2013 as an associate.
Paradkar focuses his practice on patent litigation, with an emphasis on software, semiconductors, and biotechnology. He has represented clients in complex cases across federal jurisdictions and before the International Trade Commission, with experience spanning authentication, cellular, encoding and rendering, artificial intelligence, and gallium nitride transistor technologies. In addition, he counsels clients on intellectual property matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including trade secret management and licensing agreements.
Earlier in his career, Paradkar clerked for the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. He was also a senior derivatives analyst at Merrill Lynch before law school. Paradkar earned a JD from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics and biochemistry from Dartmouth College.
5. Jennifer Hayes
Partner, Nixon Peabody
Jennifer Hayes is a Partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, an Am Law 100 firm with 15 offices worldwide. Nixon Peabody delivers legal services through high performance, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep client engagement, grounded in a culture of collaboration, diversity, and humanity. The firm is committed to creating a positive impact for its clients, communities, people, and the broader legal profession. Hayes brings 25 years of experience in intellectual property law.
At Nixon Peabody, Hayes focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation, with significant experience handling complex, multi-party patent cases in federal district courts across the country. She also litigates trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract matters in state courts and has experience with post-grant review proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition to litigation, she advises on the development of strong patent portfolios, provides infringement and validity opinions, and counsels clients on IP provisions in supply, distribution, and non-disclosure agreements. Her technical expertise spans telecommunications, semiconductors, software, and medical devices.
Before joining Nixon Peabody, Hayes was a patent attorney at Blakely Sokoloff Taylor and Zafman and, earlier, a patent agent at Knobbe, Martens, Olson and Bear. She earned a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
6. Aashish Kapadia
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
Aashish Kapadia is a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery, a global law firm with more than 1,750 lawyers across over 20 offices worldwide. The firm is trusted by leading organizations to solve complex legal challenges, connect with industry leaders, and deliver stronger outcomes, combining data-driven insights with deep industry expertise.
Kapadia represents clients in patent litigation, post-grant trials, and patent prosecution, with experience spanning computer hardware, software, and telecommunications technologies. He regularly advises on inter partes review proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and provides strategic counsel across all phases of complex patent litigation, from pre-suit strategy through claim construction and summary judgment. Leveraging his background in electrical and computer engineering, Kapadia brings technical depth and practical insight to high-stakes disputes and patent portfolio development.
Before joining McDermott, Kapadia was a senior associate at Baker Botts. Earlier in his career, he worked as a product development engineer at a multinational semiconductor company, focusing on system-level testing and microprocessor product development. He holds a JD from the University of Texas School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
7. Jiaping Liu
Partner, Haynes And Boone
Jiaping Liu is a Partner at Haynes and Boone, one of the fastest-growing firms providing full-service counsel across corporate, energy, financial services, real estate, restructuring, litigation, intellectual property, and specialty transactions. She first joined the firm in 2019 as an associate.
Liu focuses her practice on intellectual property law, with deep experience in patent prosecution, portfolio development, and strategic counseling. She advises clients across a wide range of technologies, including artificial intelligence and deep learning, medical devices, semiconductors, integrated circuits, financial services, and network security. She also counsels on patent assertions, licensing disputes, and standard-essential patent matters.
Earlier in her career, Liu was an associate at Haley Guiliano LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP and a patent agent at Chadbourne & Parke LLP. She earned a JD from Georgetown University Law Center, a PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton University, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
8. Justin Eurek
Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Justin Eurek is a Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, a firm with over 160 years of experience providing comprehensive legal services to some of the world’s most innovative companies. Kilpatrick combines recognized strength in the technology sector with a full range of practice areas, delivering practical, business-focused solutions built on enduring client relationships and collaboration. Eurek brings 30 years of experience in intellectual property law.
Eurek focuses on patent prosecution and strategic IP counseling, with particular expertise in electronics and software. He advises clients across a wide range of technologies, including consumer electronics, autonomous vehicles, AR/VR/MR systems, medical devices, renewable energy systems, micro-grid systems, and UI/UX design. He also provides guidance on patent clearance, freedom-to-operate, invalidity and non-infringement issues, invention evaluation, patent opinions, and design patent strategy for both domestic and international filings.
Before joining Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Eurek was an associate at Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman and previously worked as a senior product engineer at Sipex Corporation and an engineer at the National Captioning Institute. He earned a JD from the University of Illinois College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arizona.
9. Amy Barber
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Amy Barber is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, one of the world’s preeminent law firms known for its market-leading practices in private equity, M&A, investment fund formation, restructurings, high-stakes litigation, and regulatory matters. The firm is trusted with the most sophisticated matters due to its culture of innovation, entrepreneurialism, and deep client engagement. Barber brings eight years of experience in technology and intellectual property law.
Barber focuses her practice on technology and IP transactions, counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, strategic commercial contracts, outsourcing and services agreements, cloud services contracting, software licensing, intellectual property development and licensing, and strategic alliances. She advises clients across healthcare, financial services, consumer goods, manufacturing, transportation, and e-commerce, helping global companies navigate risks and opportunities related to emerging technologies, data rights, and trends such as artificial intelligence and data monetization.
Before joining Kirkland & Ellis, Barber was an associate at Baker McKenzie. She earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and two bachelor’s degrees from Montana State University, in history and German studies and in language, literature, and linguistics.
Amy Barber's Insight
“I’ve had the great benefit of working over the years alongside some of the most intelligent and creative lawyers and for some of the industry’s most sophisticated clients. Our practice requires a good attorney to develop the ability to be trilingual, possessing fluencies in each of law, business and technology—complex modalities that are ever-evolving and which implicate unique risk considerations for our clients. Particularly with development and change as key driving forces in the software and technology sectors, it can be especially rewarding to help clients navigate novel legal issues while balancing commercial risk considerations.”
10. Wade Kerrigan
Partner, Husch Blackwell
Wade Kerrigan is a Partner at Husch Blackwell, a firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across over 20 offices and a virtual platform, The Link, delivering innovative solutions across client industries. Husch Blackwell is built on a culture of selfless service and focuses on providing practical, client-centered guidance for complex legal matters. Kerrigan first joined the firm in 1994.
Kerrigan is a transactional intellectual property attorney with expertise in licensing, publishing, and outsourcing agreements, as well as corporate deals involving IP. He advises clients on software licensing, cloud computing, SaaS, joint development agreements, and other technology-focused transactions. He works across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, transportation, energy, and telecommunications, helping clients structure acquisitions, joint ventures, and LLC formations while protecting intellectual property. Notable clients include Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City and AMC Theatres, where he oversees the chain’s global trademark portfolio.
Earlier in his career, Kerrigan practiced as a corporate attorney before focusing on intellectual property and technology agreements. He earned a JD from the University of Iowa College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University.
11. Martin Black
Partner, Dechert
Martin Black is a Partner at Dechert, a global law firm with nearly 1,000 lawyers across major commercial centers worldwide. For more than 150 years, Dechert has guided business leaders through high-stakes litigation, first-in-market transactions, and complex regulatory matters. With deep strengths in financial services, private capital, real estate, life sciences, and technology, the firm is recognized for delivering strategic counsel and unwavering partnership to help clients achieve exceptional results. Black brings more than 37 years of trial and appellate experience, having begun his legal career in 1988.
Black is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading trial lawyers, with significant victories for technology, life sciences, and Fortune 500 clients. A Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, he has tried dozens of cases, winning numerous multimillion-dollar awards and successfully defending clients in high-stakes disputes. His appellate advocacy includes persuading the U.S. Supreme Court in SCA Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby Products to overturn a century of precedent, reshaping the law on patent damages. He has led trial teams nationwide, delivering landmark wins for companies such as Microsoft, Samsung, Hitachi, Endo Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Citigroup.
Beyond patent litigation, Black has extensive experience in trademark, copyright, software, and trade secret disputes. His work includes representing CNN International in Richards v. CNN International, QVC in a trademark dispute with Home Shopping Network, and securing dismissal of a copyright claim in Scharle v. NASCAR and The Franklin Mint. Black earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School and his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Earlier in his career, he served as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
12. Azra Hadzimehmedovic
Partner, Tensegrity Law Group
Azra Hadzimehmedovic is a Partner at Tensegrity Law Group, a firm recognized for its deep technical expertise and success in high-value patent enforcement, assessment, and appellate work. Tensegrity is known for trying some of the most complex patent cases across every major jurisdiction in the U.S., delivering results before juries, judges, administrative bodies, and arbitration panels. With 20 years of experience, Hadzimehmedovic advises leading technology companies on their most sophisticated intellectual property disputes.
Hadzimehmedovic has litigated significant patent matters in U.S. district courts, the ITC, and the International Chamber of Commerce. Her work spans a wide range of technologies, including semiconductors, software, pharmaceuticals, computers, Wi-Fi and location services, medical devices, and content delivery networks. She is also active in shaping the future of intellectual property law, serving on the Board of Directors of the Federal Circuit Bar Association and on the Sedona Conference Working Group 9/10 Steering Committee. Prior to joining Tensegrity in 2011, she honed her litigation skills at Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Before entering private practice, Hadzimehmedovic worked as a scientist and technical editor for the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the official standards-setting authority for medicines and healthcare products. She earned her JD with a concentration in intellectual property law from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
13. Steven Samuels
Partner, Baker & Hostetler
Steven Samuels is a Partner at Baker & Hostetler, a leading global law firm recognized for excellence in client service and legal quality. With six core practice groups – Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Tax – the firm has built a reputation for helping clients resolve their most complex business and regulatory challenges. Samuels, who joined the firm in 2014, focuses his practice on patent litigation, procurement, and licensing, leveraging his dual background in law and engineering to advise technology companies on protecting and enforcing their intellectual property.
An electrical engineer by training, Samuels represents clients across industries including electronics, computer hardware and software, digital and analog communications, electrical power transmission, and business methods. He has successfully guided clients through high-stakes patent infringement suits and licensing disputes, combining technical insight with litigation experience to achieve favorable results. His practice is informed by his earlier role as assistant general counsel, patents and technology, at Unisys Corporation, where he spent three years at the end of the 1990s managing in-house patent matters.
Before joining BakerHostetler, Samuels served as a senior patent attorney at Unisys and practiced as an associate attorney at Woodcock Washburn LLP. He earned his JD from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Drexel University.
14. Scott Rothenberger
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
Scott Rothenberger is a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg, with more than 800 legal professionals across 23 offices nationwide. With nearly four decades of legal experience, he brings together a rare combination of scientific expertise and legal acumen to help clients protect and enforce their most valuable innovations. Rothenberger focuses his practice on patent prosecution, licensing, and intellectual property litigation, representing leading companies in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, and technology industries.
His deep technical background enables him to advise clients on complex patent issues with precision, from inter partes reviews (IPR) and district court actions to International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings. He also counsels on patentability, infringement and validity opinions, and due diligence assessments. His experience includes preparing and prosecuting patents in areas such as small molecules, nutraceuticals, catalysts, fuel cells, polymers, surface modifications, biomedical devices, business methods, software, and mechanical devices.
Before joining Barnes & Thornburg, Rothenberger was a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and Dorsey & Whitney LLP, and earlier worked as a research chemist at Pall Corporation. He earned his JD in patent law from the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, his PhD in organic synthetic chemistry from the University of New Hampshire, and his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Albright College.
15. Britt Lovejoy
Partner, Latham & Watkins
Britt Lovejoy is a Partner at Latham & Watkins, a global law firm with more than 3,500 lawyers across offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. With 18 years of professional experience, she represents leading technology companies in copyright disputes, music royalty rate-setting, and other high-stakes litigation involving digital content. Known for her ability to translate complex technologies and subject matter into compelling courtroom strategies, Lovejoy represented Oracle in a landmark copyright jury trial in the Northern District of California.
In addition to litigation, Lovejoy counsels software companies, internet platforms, and streaming services on product development and licensing matters. She frequently advises clients on the unique legal risks surrounding user-generated content, digital distribution, and emerging technologies such as generative AI. From startups to global platforms, Lovejoy helps clients mitigate risk and seize opportunity by offering pragmatic, business-focused legal solutions tailored to the evolving technology landscape. She is also a frequent speaker and writer on copyright, generative AI, and intellectual property issues.
Before joining Latham & Watkins, Lovejoy began her career with Teach For America and later worked with the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology. She earned her JD from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and her bachelor’s degree in government and literature from Claremont McKenna College. At Latham, she has held numerous leadership roles, including service on the Pro Bono Committee, as co-chair of the San Francisco Women Lawyers Group, as chair of the Bay Area Parent Lawyers Group, and as a member of the Bay Area Mentoring Committee. She currently serves on the Bay Area WEB Committee.
16. Danielle Bulger
Partner, Arentfox Schiff
Danielle Bulger is a Partner at ArentFox Schiff, where she helps clients translate business goals into practical strategies and sophisticated legal solutions. With 15 years of experience, she focuses her practice on navigating the complex and fast-changing world of intellectual property law in the digital age. Bulger counsels clients on copyright, trademark, trade dress, advertising, and anti-piracy matters, guiding them through the creation, licensing, enforcement, and protection of brand assets and works of authorship in the U.S. and abroad.
A trusted advisor and seasoned litigator, Bulger frequently represents clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and in federal district courts. She has led high-profile disputes and transactions for major fashion, media, consumer products, and retail companies. Her work often addresses cutting-edge issues—including online content, generative AI, and platform-related infringement—while covering diverse subject matter such as photography, video, software, apparel, footwear, artwork, and consumer packaged goods.
Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Bulger was an associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP. Earlier in her career, she worked as a national news reporter for BET.com and as an associate producer for Weekly with Ed Gordon at Black Entertainment Television. She earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center and her bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from the University of Michigan.
17. Jake Baron
Partner, Holland & Knight
Jake Baron is a Partner at Holland & Knight, a global law firm known for its commitment to delivering high-quality legal services across litigation, business, real estate, and governmental matters. Since joining the firm in 2012, Baron has built a strong practice as an intellectual property trial lawyer and registered patent attorney, representing clients in district courts nationwide, before appellate courts, the International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). His practice focuses on IP litigation, counseling, and strategic advice, helping clients safeguard their most valuable innovations.
With a background in mechanical engineering, Baron brings a deep understanding of complex technologies to his legal work. He has successfully litigated and counseled clients on matters involving wireless telecom, data privacy and cybersecurity, barcode readers, firearms, machine vision, computer hardware and software, networking, analog circuits, automobile navigation systems, and pharmaceutical formulations.
Before joining Holland & Knight, Baron practiced at Proskauer Rose LLP, Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto, and began his career as a law clerk at Cesari and McKenna, LLP. He earned his JD from Boston College Law School and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology. In addition to his client work, Baron is dedicated to pro bono service, including helping establish a program between Holland & Knight and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office to represent victims of domestic violence in restraining order matters.
18. Sepideh Mousakhani
Partner, Cooley
Sepideh Mousakhani is a Partner at Cooley LLP, where she advises high-growth companies across the technology, software, and life sciences industries. With 17 years of experience, she represents clients at every stage of the business cycle—from early-stage startups to public companies. Her practice spans venture capital and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings, as well as ongoing counsel on corporate governance, securities law, and compliance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements.
Mousakhani is recognized for her ability to guide clients through complex transactions with a practical and business-minded approach. She has represented issuers, investors, buyers, sellers, and underwriters in transformative deals that help companies scale, innovate, and compete in fast-changing markets. Beyond transactions, she regularly counsels on the strategic implications of business decisions, drawing on her deep knowledge of both corporate law and the regulatory landscape. At Cooley, she also contributes to advancing diversity and inclusion as a member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Strategy Committee.
Mousakhani began her career in 2008 and has since built a practice at the intersection of law, technology, and growth. She earned her JD from the Santa Clara University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Today, she is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs, executives, and investors navigating the opportunities and challenges of building and scaling transformative businesses.
19. Alphonso Collins
Partner, Cozen O'Connor
Alphonso Collins is a Partner at Cozen O’Connor, where he serves as Vice Chair and Office Managing Partner of the firm’s New York office. A registered patent attorney with more than 26 years of experience, Collins focuses his practice on intellectual property, including the drafting and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and international patent offices. He also counsels clients on patent infringement, validity, freedom to operate, and due diligence studies, drawing on a career that bridges engineering, patent examination, and private practice.
Collins represents clients ranging from multinational corporations to early-stage startups across a wide variety of technologies. His work spans wireless communication systems, speech signal processing, electronic control systems, CDMA and Bluetooth technologies, antennas, medical devices, and computer software, including internet, e-commerce, and business method patents. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, he was an associate at Darby & Darby, and earlier in his career he worked as a patent examiner at the USPTO, where he focused on speech signal processing inventions.
Before entering law, Collins applied his engineering expertise as a designer of equipment for satellite communication systems at a major telecommunications corporation. He earned his JD from the Syracuse University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University.
20. Mike Conza
Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Mike Conza is a Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he represents emerging growth companies, investment banks, and private equity and venture capital firms. With 30 years of experience, he advises clients across the full business lifecycle—from formation and financing to growth and exit strategies. Conza has developed particular depth in counseling software and technology-driven businesses, including those focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, guiding them through complex legal and strategic challenges in fast-evolving markets.
Before joining Morgan Lewis in 2014, Conza served as a partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, and began his career as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. His longstanding focus on emerging companies and investors has positioned him as a trusted advisor to clients navigating dynamic technology sectors. He also previously co-led Morgan Lewis’s emerging companies and venture capital practice, reinforcing the firm’s reputation as a leading advisor to innovators and investors worldwide. Conza earned his JD from the Duke University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Boston College.
21. Mallory Acheson
Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Mallory Acheson is a Partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, where she advises clients on complex data privacy, technology, and regulatory matters. With 10 years of experience, she has guided Fortune 100 companies across diverse industries through domestic and international compliance challenges.
Acheson’s practice focuses on navigating intricate privacy laws such as CCPA/CPRA, GDPR, LGPD, TCPA, HIPAA, GLBA, COPPA, and FERPA, as well as sector-specific frameworks governing emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. She provides counsel on sensitive data types including children’s data, health data, educational data, AI, sports data, employee data, and SaaS data, addressing issues like employee monitoring, biometric data use, and cloud processing. She also assists clients with privacy assessments, compliance programs, data processing agreements, and integrating privacy considerations into mergers and acquisitions.
In addition to transactional and regulatory work, Acheson contributes to emerging technology projects, including AI system onboarding, e-discovery initiatives with Duke-EDRM, and technology-assisted review. She is a frequent speaker and author on best practices in data privacy and AI, mentoring through the American Inn of Courts and the Magdalene House Legal Aid Clinic. Acheson earned her JD from the Belmont University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She began her career as an associate at Deloitte.
22. Jennifer Coplan
Partner, Sidley Austin
Jennifer Coplan is a Partner at Sidley Austin, a global law firm with 2,300 lawyers advising clients across 21 offices worldwide on complex transactional, restructuring, regulatory, and litigation matters. The firm represents clients in more than 70 countries, providing a global perspective on cross-border legal challenges.
Coplan advises clients on complex technology transactions, intellectual property matters, and strategic commercial deals, with a particular focus on the intersection of technology and entertainment. She regularly counsels on content distribution, digital rights management, content protection, cloud computing, and IP development and licensing, representing leading consumer electronics, technology, motion picture, financial services, and social media companies.
Before joining Sidley Austin, Coplan was a partner at Cooley LLP and served as counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton. She studied at Yale Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Tufts University.
23. Mehdi Sheikerz
Partner, Staas & Halsey
Mehdi Sheikerz is a Partner at Staas & Halsey, a U.S. intellectual property law firm with global reach that represents clients across industries, providing technical expertise through attorneys with diverse scientific and engineering backgrounds. The firm helps clients build comprehensive and cost-effective intellectual property portfolios while protecting innovation in technology and beyond.
Sheikerz focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, particularly in computer software, and also advises clients on design patents, trademarks, copyrights, and establishing in-house intellectual property programs. He regularly conducts presentations for clients on intellectual property strategies and solutions.
Before joining Staas & Halsey, Sheikerz worked as a software programmer for over four years, developing telecommunication messaging systems for Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) and serving as a Lotus Notes consultant for small business software firms. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), a JD, and a master of intellectual property degree from the University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Florida, Washington, D.C., and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
24. Jura Zibas
Partner, Wilson Elser
Jura Zibas is a Partner at Wilson Elser, a leading U.S. defense litigation firm with over 1,100 attorneys representing clients in local, state, and federal courts nationwide. The firm is recognized for handling complex and technical cases, providing strategic counsel across litigation, coverage, and trial matters.
Zibas serves as co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Practice and is a member of the Information Governance Leadership Committee. She focuses her legal practice on intellectual property, technology, and commercial matters, advising clients on patent, copyright, and trademark protection, licensing, and acquisition, as well as data privacy and cybersecurity issues. Zibas also provides counsel on technology disputes, software failures, and complex business litigation across industries including healthcare, online retail, and software development.
Before joining Wilson Elser, Zibas held roles in intellectual property and patent law and gained experience in operations, business optimization, and legal services. She holds a JD from Capital University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tulane University.
Jura Zibas's Insight
“My evolving practice from intellectual property to technology and software has spanned over four decades. I am fortunate to have learned from tremendous mentors along the way, everything from software coding to creating new patented technologies. I have applied experience, common sense, and logic to every case, every issue and using insight to handle all disputes with efficiency so the business people can do what they do best, not spend time in litigation.”
25. Thomas Wingard
Partner, Alston & Bird
Thomas Wingard is a Partner at Alston & Bird, a leading international law firm recognized for its strong workplace culture and commitment to community service, with offices in the United States and Europe.
Wingard focuses on general corporate, securities, and business matters, representing clients across a wide range of industries, including renewable energy, technology, broadcasting, manufacturing, real estate, and healthcare. He serves as principal outside counsel for his clients, negotiating and managing domestic and international transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing, venture capital, and reorganizations. Wingard also advises management and boards on corporate governance, compliance, licensing, executive employment arrangements, and strategic expansion.
Before joining Alston & Bird, Wingard was a partner at Weston Benshoof and Zevnick Horton, LLP. He holds a JD from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco and a bachelor’s degree in economics and English from Wabash College. He previously served as partner-in-charge of Alston & Bird’s Los Angeles office for over 13 years.
