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Protecting a company’s IP is critical to the success of the business. But with the role of the GC being so integral to business decisions company wide, IP is but one piece of the puzzle. A group of GCs will discuss how IP fits into their mindset, where IP is on their radar and more importantly, its positioning at a time of crisis. 

Author:

Karna Nisewaner

Corporate Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Cadence Design Systems

Karna Nisewaner is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. She is responsible for Cadence worldwide legal operations, covering matters such as corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, commercial transactions, employment, export compliance, government affairs, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and stock administration. Prior to this role, she was Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Cadence where she led many key functions in the legal department.  Prior to joining Cadence in 2011, Nisewaner held in-house counsel roles at Intuit and IBM and was in private practice at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett, and Dunner, LLP focused on intellectual property.  Nisewaner received her BSE in civil engineering and operations research from Princeton University and her Juris Doctor degree from UCLA Law School.

 

Karna Nisewaner

Corporate Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Cadence Design Systems

Karna Nisewaner is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. She is responsible for Cadence worldwide legal operations, covering matters such as corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, commercial transactions, employment, export compliance, government affairs, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and stock administration. Prior to this role, she was Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Cadence where she led many key functions in the legal department.  Prior to joining Cadence in 2011, Nisewaner held in-house counsel roles at Intuit and IBM and was in private practice at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett, and Dunner, LLP focused on intellectual property.  Nisewaner received her BSE in civil engineering and operations research from Princeton University and her Juris Doctor degree from UCLA Law School.

 

Author:

David Shofi

General Counsel
Univercells Technologies

David Shofi

General Counsel
Univercells Technologies

Author:

Brian Walters

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Matthews International

Brian D. Walters serves as Executive Vice-President and General Counsel for Matthews International Corporation, Pittsburgh’s oldest company in continuous operation since 1850 and operating in over 25 countries with over 12,000 employees.  During his 18-year tenure at Matthews, the Company has more than tripled in annual revenue, now producing approximately $1.8 billion in sales.   Brian has directed all legal matters for this publicly-traded corporation both nationally and internationally, as well as serving as a member of Matthews’ executive leadership team.  Mr. Walters has led over 75 domestic and foreign acquisition initiatives at Matthews, including extensive experience coordinating strategies to secure transaction approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, managing HSR filings, as well as filings with the competition authority of the European Union.

Brian Walters

Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Matthews International

Brian D. Walters serves as Executive Vice-President and General Counsel for Matthews International Corporation, Pittsburgh’s oldest company in continuous operation since 1850 and operating in over 25 countries with over 12,000 employees.  During his 18-year tenure at Matthews, the Company has more than tripled in annual revenue, now producing approximately $1.8 billion in sales.   Brian has directed all legal matters for this publicly-traded corporation both nationally and internationally, as well as serving as a member of Matthews’ executive leadership team.  Mr. Walters has led over 75 domestic and foreign acquisition initiatives at Matthews, including extensive experience coordinating strategies to secure transaction approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, managing HSR filings, as well as filings with the competition authority of the European Union.

Author:

Jonas McDavit

Partner
Desmarais

Jonas McDavit is a partner at Desmarais LLP. He has extensive experience
representing clients in high-stakes patent infringement cases before the
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, several federal district courts, the
International Trade Commission, and the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal
Board. He handles cases involving diverse areas of technology, including
computer hardware and software, semiconductors, wireless communication,
mobile devices, image sensors, gaming, pharmaceuticals, photo-imaging
equipment, and consumer products.

Jonas McDavit

Partner
Desmarais

Jonas McDavit is a partner at Desmarais LLP. He has extensive experience
representing clients in high-stakes patent infringement cases before the
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, several federal district courts, the
International Trade Commission, and the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal
Board. He handles cases involving diverse areas of technology, including
computer hardware and software, semiconductors, wireless communication,
mobile devices, image sensors, gaming, pharmaceuticals, photo-imaging
equipment, and consumer products.

Tilo Weigandt – Co-Founder & COO – Vaultree

Loved the PET Summit! It was the perfect mix of large organizations looking to improve their data privacy, regulators wanting to create legislation in accordance to the market needs and young, innovative solution providers ready to address those issues quickly using modern technologies.

Walden C. Rhines – President & CEO – Cornami

The event provided a lot of opportunity to connect with all the attendees and roundtable session.  Sessions were engaging.

Daniel Franke – Principal - M Ventures

I was most interested by the technical aspects of the technologies and learning what capabilities each has, both in regard to strengths and limitations. This has helped to inform what solutions exist to some of the problems facing the industry.

Jesse Sedler, 1touch.io

The event was great - as was the one in Zurich. Panels were useful, great crowd of friendly, engaging people and the staff was incredibly helpful

 
IP Leadership Executive Summit
15-16 Apr 2025
San Jose
The IP Leadership Executive returns to California for its 2025 edition. This event is quickly becoming the IP industry’s most popular cross-industry event. This year we are moving to San Jose and will host a 2-day jam packed gathering, allowing an audience of 50% corporate leaders, law firms and IP service providers to connect to together and discuss the IP industry with a series of structured networking sessions and keynote addresses.
 

Vijay Barathan

Partner
Optum Ventures

Vijay Barathan

Partner
Optum Ventures

Vijay Barathan

Partner
Optum Ventures