SFIPLA Monthly Programs

Please join Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and the SFIPLA for the

United States Patent and Trademark Road Show 2012
Featuring Remy Yucel & Jean Witz of TC 1600
and
Additional Panelists

February 23, 2012
Host: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
405 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Time	Event
8:00 – 9:30	REGISTRATION/NETWORKING BREAKFAST

9:30 – 10:00	WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

10:00 – 10:45	*PATENT REFORM 2012: UPDATE ON THE AMERICA INVENTS ACT* Discussion by USPTO officials regarding the impact and implementation of the America Invents Act (AIA) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

10:50 – 12:00	*GETTING INTO THE ACT: THIRD PARTY PROCEDURES* Moderated panel considering current and anticipated third party procedures, with an emphasis on the new post-grant review and opposition process introduced by the AIA and best practices in advising clients contemplating third party procedures

12:00 – 12:30	LUNCH BREAK

12:30 – 1:55	*REEXAMINATION: FROM BASICS TO BEST PRACTICES* Moderated panel considering the state of reexaminations before the USPTO, from both an administrative and litigation perspective, with an emphasis on prospective changes in view of the AIA.
2:00 – 3:00	*BROADENING THE BASE: BEST PRACTICES IN REISSUES* Discussion by USPTO officials regarding best practices before the USPTO related to patent reissues.

3:10 – 4:25	*ON THE FAST TRACK: ACCELERATED PROCESSES DURING EXAMINATION* Discussion by USPTO officials regarding accelerated patent prosecution processes, including traditional accelerated process, Track 1 examinations, pilot programs under the AIA, and the Patent Prosecution Highway.

4:30 – 5:30	*STATE OF THE UNION: LEGAL UPDATE ON KSR AND BILKSI ISSUES* Moderated panel considering the state of obviousness and subject matter patentability.

5:30 – 6:30	COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Cost: $125 for SFIPLA members, $150 for non-members, and $95 for students. Cost includes breakfast, lunch, and a cocktail reception. Registration is required, as space is limited.

To RSVP, contact the SFIPLA Administrator at info@sfipla.com. Please include name, firm/company, state bar number, telephone number and e-mail address.
The SFIPLA certifies that this activity has been approved for 7.0 MCLE credit hours by the State Bar of California. The SFIPLA is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider (#04052).

QUESTIONS? Please e-mail us at info@sfipla.com, or contact Monthly Program Chairs Richard Nebb at rnebb@dergnoah.com or David Tollen at david@adelitollen.com. Cancellations after Monday, February 20, 2012 and no-shows will be billed for the cost of the program.

Special thanks to our sponsor:

Orrick

Remy Yucel is a Group Director in Technology Center 1600 whose subject matter area comprises biotechnology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical patent applications. Ms. Yucel has been with United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1996 and was named Group Director in April 2008. She is also the Director of the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU). Ms. Yucel is the recipient of several Department of Commerce Awards including the Bronze Medal and the Performance Excellence Award. Prior to becoming a Director, Ms. Yucel was an examiner, primary examiner and supervisory patent examiner in the biotechnological arts; with particular emphasis on gene regulation, gene therapy and transgenic organisms.

Ms. Yucel holds a B.S degree in biology and a B.A. in French Literature from Duke University, a Master’s degree in Plant Science from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. degree in molecular genetics/plant pathology from the University of California. In May 2006, Ms. Yucel graduated from The Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law.

During the 110th Congress, Ms. Yucel served as intellectual property counsel to Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah. She provided both scientific and technical advice on various legislative initiatives involving intellectual property. Much of her time was spent on the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1145) of which Senator Hatch was lead Republican sponsor. Ms. Yucel also contributed to the Senate’s version of follow-on biologics legislation co-sponsored by Senators Hatch, Kennedy, Clinton and Enzi as well as to the Orphan Works bill passed by the Senate.

Jean C. Witz joined the USPTO in 1988 as a Patent Examiner and examined a variety of applications covering subject matter as diverse as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and therapeutic treatments. In 2000, she was awarded a Bronze Medal for superior federal service, and in 2005, she was awarded an Exceptional Career Award for exceptional performance and service. In 2001, Ms. Witz also earned AIPLA recognition for outstanding contribution to the integrity of intellectual property law.

In 2006, she was selected as the Appeals Specialist for Technology Center 1600, where she participated in all pre-appeal conferences, as well as a large number of appeal conferences, and served as point of contact for the Technology Center with regard to matters related to appeal. In 2007, Ms. Witz became a Quality Assurance Specialist. During that year, she was invited to speak at the Chemical Practice Committee of the AIPLA at the annual meeting held in October and in 2008 and again in 2010 participated in visits to intellectual property groups in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Boston. During the summer of 2010, she worked with the Office of Governmental Affairs, focusing on patent reform legislation.

Select one of the following registration and payment options:

MEMBERS:

Registration Form - Pay by Check

Registration Form - Pay by Credit Card using PayPal

NON - MEMBERS:

Registration Form - Pay by Check

Registration Form - Pay by Credit Card using PayPal

STUDENTS:

Registration Form - Pay by Check

Registration Form - Pay by Credit Card using PayPal