Speakers

Ben Armitage is a shareholder and CEO of Billion & Armitage. He advises clients across the full spectrum of intellectual property law, with particular depth in patents and trademarks, and he is increasingly active in the firm’s growing litigation practice following the addition of experienced trial counsel.

Ben’s practice spans transactional and strategic counseling—guiding clients on patent procurement, portfolio management, licensing, and infringement matters—while also supporting litigation strategy as the firm expands into contested IP proceedings.

He has extensive technical experience in the medical device, cleantech, and chemical industries, as well as instrumentation, biofuels, biomass conversion, fuel cells, batteries, polymers, catalysts, nanotechnology, sensors, animal health, crop science, and sporting goods technologies. His background in chemistry and device development allows him to work seamlessly across disciplines, including mechanical and process engineering.

In addition to his legal practice, Ben is a recognized leader in the field of artificial intelligence. He counsels clients on patenting AI technologies and has presented on the intersection of AI, intellectual property, and law.

Ben earned his B.A. in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from Central College, his M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Iowa—where he conducted interdisciplinary research on non-invasive medical detection devices—and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Rachel Beithon is an attorney, legal technologist, and senior product manager based in Minnesota. She has built a reputation with both colleagues and peers for her expertise in advanced technologies used in legal research. As a Senior Product Manager for Westlaw, at Thomson Reuters, she works on the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in the legal industry, and manages products that provide AI-based research and analytics functionality for legal professionals.

Since joining Norton Rose Fulbright in 2018, as U.S. Chief Client Value and Innovation Officer, Christy Bentz has led the U.S. firm’s legal operations platform. In this role, she oversees a diverse portfolio of functions including eDiscovery & Litigation Technology, Innovation, Knowledge Services, Legal Project Management, Practice Management, and Strategic Pricing.

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Christy is passionate about advancing the firm’s innovation agenda and enhancing legal service delivery through a thoughtful balance of people, process, and technology. Her guiding philosophy, “meet people where they are”, applies equally to partners, clients, and colleagues, and reflects her commitment to practical, human-centered change.

Under her leadership, the Client Value and Innovation team is dedicated to reimagining how legal work is done. From streamlining routine tasks to solving complex challenges, the team delivers tailored solutions through continuous process improvement, strategic matter planning, and the smart application of technology, all with a focus on what matters most to stakeholders.

Christy brings more than two decades of global business leadership experience to her role. Prior to NRF, she spent over 20 years in senior roles at international financial institutions, including nine years as Global CAO for Legal, Compliance, and Internal Audit. She has led enterprise-wide change initiatives, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and built high-performing, inclusive teams across continents.

Carol Bouw joined Cargill at the end of 2023 to lead the Global Legal Operations team which includes the global contracts group, legal technology, data, finance and external partnerships. The Global Records and Information Management team also reports to her. In Carol’s role she oversees the overall strategy and planning functions within the Law team.​ Prior to Cargill, Carol was the Director of Legal Operations for Xcel Energy for seven years. During their multi-year transformation effort, her team published multiple case studies with Gartner on legal department process best practices. They were named as Finalists in Corporate Counsel’s 2022 Best Legal Ops Team category.

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Over the last 16 years, Carol has held a variety of strategy and performance roles, including chief of staff to senior executives across Xcel Energy’s enterprise. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and is a Prosci certified change management professional. Carol and her husband live in the west metro where she’s an active community volunteer. Carol is board president at Dodge Nature Center and serves on several of their committees.  She also volunteers at North Memorial Hospital.

Kunoor Chopra, a California attorney, is Co-founder and current VP of Legal Services at Elevate. She has transformed the legal industry by creating expert led, software powered solutions that provide effective and efficient options to obtain, manage, and perform legal services. Kunoor is a recognized authority in the legal industry on topics related to women in entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, legal outsourcing, right sourcing and optimization of legal work. She is a Fellow and on the Board of Trustees of the College of Law Practice Management and on the CLOC DEIB Council. She also co-chairs the South Asian Bar Association’s LGBTQ+ Section and is on the Advisory Board of World Commerce & Contracting.

Andy is a litigator at Norton Rose Fulbright and an advisor to Cloud Court. He also serves on the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights. Andy understands the technical and cultural litigation challenges faced by large corporations and law firms, and he excels in exploring technical and process innovation to solve thorny problems. Previously Andy was an attorney at Blackwell Burke P.A., Robins Kaplan LLP, and Perkins Coie LLP.

Erik Drange is currently the Assistant General Counsel at 3M, where he oversees legal matters for the Personal Safety Division. With over 14 years at 3M, Erik has held various roles, including as Assistant Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, where he managed intellectual property for divisions such as the Drug Delivery Systems Division, Medical Solutions Division, and Display Materials and Systems Division. Additionally, as Senior Litigation Counsel, Erik led 3M's global IP litigation team.

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Erik is actively involved in community service, serving on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts River Valleys and Hill-Murray School, where he is part of the executive committee for both organizations. Erik holds a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and was valedictorian, and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Lehigh University.

Ann McCrackin is bridging the gap between AI and legal practice. She is the founder of AI-Enabled Attorney LLC, a consulting and training company that helps legal professionals effectively adopt AI technologies. Her expertise stems from over a decade of streamlining IP law processes with AI as the founding President of a legal technology company.​

Ann also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, where she teaches patent prosecution and prepares her students for the evolving role of technology in their practice. Ann's background also includes over 25 years as a patent attorney, including being a shareholder, at Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

Bryan Mechell is an intellectual property attorney and strategic advisor with more than 17 years of experience counseling clients on complex technology, AI-related disputes, and software licensing. He has led AI adoption initiatives, developed internal AI policies, and advised clients ranging from global corporations to startups on licensing, commercialization, and ethical AI use.

Bryan’s work has included:

• Chairing a law firm AI working group and designing internal technology evaluation processes.

• Advising clients across SaaS, manufacturing, and health tech sectors on AI integration and IP risk.

• Bridging legal and technical disciplines to align technology deployment with business goals.

He frequently speaks and writes on AI governance, technology transactions, and the adoption of emerging legal technologies.

Kate Middleton serves as the Associate General Counsel, Litigation at Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies and services. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kate plays a pivotal role in managing and overseeing complex litigation matters, ensuring that Ecolab navigates legal challenges effectively and efficiently. With a robust legal background, Kate brings a wealth of experience to her role. She has built a distinguished career in litigation, honing her skills at several renowned law firms where she handled high-stakes cases and developed a deep understanding of corporate legal strategies.

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At Ecolab, Kate is known for her strategic thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to lead cross-functional teams. Her expertise spans various areas of litigation, including commercial disputes, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property issues. She is adept at crafting innovative legal solutions that align with Ecolab's business objectives and mitigate potential risks. In addition to her professional achievements, Kate is committed to mentoring young attorneys and contributing to the legal community. She frequently participates in industry conferences and legal seminars, sharing her insights and experiences with peers and aspiring lawyers.

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Kate holds a J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a B.A. with honors from UNC Chapel Hill, and an M.S. in Business Analytics and AI from the NYU Stern School of Business. 

Michael Okerlund is a Cloud Court co-founder and serves as CEO. He started his career as a patent litigation attorney litigating for and against some of the largest companies in the world. He then moved in-house to serve as the general counsel of several public and private companies. A veteran of hundreds of litigation cases, he's developed strong opinions regarding how technology can radically improve the way attorneys prepare for, take and defend depositions.

Dan Olson is a commercial and employment litigator with a record of successfully trying, arbitrating, and mediating a variety of disputes. He represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations to individuals. Dan also regularly counsels and trains employers and other lawyers on a variety of employment matters, including discrimination and harassment laws, leave and accommodation issues, and non-competes and restrictive covenants. He currently teaches employment law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

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Dan has been named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list and The Best Lawyers in America for his proficient work across the full spectrum litigation. In addition, he serves as Co-Chair of Bassford Remele's Employment Group and he is a member of Bassford's Board of Directors. Dan also volunteers as a board member of Walker|West, a non-profit music academy in St. Paul. He is active in several bar associations, including the Minnesota State Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin, and is a member of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association.

Dan earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, receiving multiple honors. He also holds an M.B.A. from the Opus College of Business and a B.A. cum laude from the same university.

Olson’s excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Minnesota Super Lawyers list (2022–present), The Best Lawyers in America (2025), and Minnesota Monthly’s Top Lawyers list (2025). He was also named a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2010.

Eric Olson is a partner in the Minneapolis office of Bowman and Brooke LLP, where he concentrates his national litigation practice in complex life science, medical device, pharmaceutical, product liability, and commercial litigation. Eric specializes in the scientific and medical aspects of his cases and works with expert witnesses and corporate representatives. He has been involved in defending some of the largest product liability consolidated actions in medical device, pharmaceutical, and consumer protection litigation. He also provides business and formation advice to startups and small businesses in North Dakota, Minnesota, and beyond. Eric regularly writes, speaks, and presents on developing issues in the legal industry, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Artificial Intelligence, and the blockchain, along with litigation strategy and procedure. 

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Eric clerked for Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring and Judge Judith Macaluso of the District of Columbia Superior Court, before working as a litigator in Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis. Immediately before joining Bowman and Brooke, Eric was the General Counsel of the North Dakota University System and State Board of Higher Education. Outside of work, Eric serves on the board of the local children's science museum and volunteers to coach his children’s soccer teams.

Tom Palladino is the President of eDiscovery AI, a data intelligence company pioneering the next generation of AI-powered legal technology solutions. In his leadership role, Tom helps guide the company’s mission to transform litigation, investigations, information governance, and privacy response with advanced tools that maximize efficiency, enhance accuracy, ensure privacy compliance, and improve cost-effectiveness for law firms, corporations, and legal service providers.

A recognized entrepreneur and subject matter expert in eDiscovery, compliance, and legal technology, Tom has been involved in multiple high-growth companies, including co-founding NightOwl Global, founding Rennstaff, and serving as Chief Strategy Officer at HaystackID. He brings deep expertise in strategic analysis, innovation, and business development, and is passionate about creating value through technology that simplifies complex data challenges. His work continues to shape the future of the legal industry, empowering clients to navigate data with clarity and confidence.

Pratik is VP, Innovation at Elevate. He focuses on developing cross-solution innovations that enable customers to transform their legal resourcing, spend, and use of technology. Previously a founding member and partner at RFx LEGAL Analytics, acquired by Elevate in 2012, Pratik is well-versed in the issues involved in legal spend management, analytics, sourcing intelligence solutions, and the appropriate use of technology to achieve process efficiency. Pratik serves as faculty for the College of Law Practice Management and in 2015 was recognised as ILTA’s Most Innovative Legal Consultant. Pratik holds a bachelor of business administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Damien Riehl is a lawyer and technologist with experience in complex litigation, digital forensics, and software development. A lawyer since 2002 and coder since 1985, Damien clerked for the chief judges of state and federal courts, practiced in complex litigation for over a decade, has led teams of cybersecurity and world-spanning digital forensics investigations, and has built AI-backed legal software.

Co-Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles, he is helping recommend changes to Minnesota statutes, rules, and policies — all related to connected and autonomous vehicles. Damien is Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association's AI Committee, which oversees an AI Sandbox to promote Access to Justice (A2J).

At SALI, the legal data standard, Damien built and greatly expanded the taxonomy of over 18,000 legal tags that matter, helping the legal industry's development of Generative AI, analytics, and interoperability. 

At vLex Group — which includes Fastcase, NextChapter, and Docket Alarm — Damien helps lead the design, development, and expansion of various products, integrating AI-backed technologies (e.g., GPT) into a billion-document dataset from 100+ countries, all to improve legal workflows. 

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“This guy [Damien] rocks!” - Elon Musk

Vinay Sharma is the Principal of Intellectual Asset Management at Iota Analytics, where he leads strategic initiatives to help global clients develop and commercialize intellectual assets aligned with their business goals. He also serves as Product Owner at NoetherIP, developing a platform to address industry needs in licensing, portfolio management, patent prosecution alignment, and competitive intelligence. His work integrates AI and data analytics to support strategic decision-making and IP commercialization.

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Vinay is an intrapreneur, inventor, and IP strategy consultant specializing in technology analytics, market research, technology assessment, patent-product overlap analysis, out-licensing, and patent valuation. He holds a Master of Science in Consultancy Management, a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics & Communication, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).

Vinay is also the founder of Prodigious Thoughts, where he advises startups, universities, and research institutes on building IPR strategies aligned with business goals. His work includes trademark prosecution, licensing negotiations, and transactional support for collaborations and vendor agreements.

Previously, Vinay was a Strategy Consultant at IDS Infotech Limited, where he led portfolio management and commercialization strategies for key clients, supported M&A and licensing initiatives, and helped expand strategic accounts. He also held roles at TT Consultants and TT Affiliates (XLPAT), focusing on international business expansion, IP strategy drafting, and innovation management.

Vinay is a recognized thought leader in the intellectual property and innovation space and has contributed as a speaker and expert panelist at TIECon, the World IP Conference, the IED Odisha IPR workshop, and the Global Intellectual Property Convention (GIPC). He is also an active member of Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) and AUTM, reflecting his commitment to advancing global IP practices and innovation ecosystems.

Rob is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience in product liability litigation. His practice focuses on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, as well as toxic tort cases.

Rob has served as first- and second-chair trial counsel in more than 30 cases that have gone to verdict. He has also served as lead trial counsel, national counsel and local counsel for many global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries.

The matters that Rob handles are nationwide litigation relating to anticoagulants, hip implants, pelvic mesh, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and atypical antipsychotic medications, among other products. He manages all stages of pretrial proceedings; takes and defends depositions of key experts, C-suite and other company witnesses throughout the United States and Europe; and briefs and conducts Daubert and Frye challenges. Rob’s litigation practice includes multidistrict litigation, class actions, mass torts and claims of unfair competition and false advertising.

Another focus of Rob’s practice is the automotive industry. Rob defends automotive clients including auto manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in product liability litigation and commercial litigation. He has litigated cases involving seat belts, air bags, ignition switches and other transportation litigation, handling all phases of discovery and trial work. He also handles employment and commercial disputes.

Outside of the firm, Rob serves as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and as a trial instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the American Bar Association. He frequently gives presentations on ONE Discovery, the use of technology in the courtroom, deposition techniques and litigation management. He has held top leadership positions in the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation, the National Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association. As part of his ABA and NBA roles, Rob has spearheaded several corporate counsel conferences that connect in-house counsel and law firms. Rob employs appropriate staffing and innovative technology to provide efficient case management for his clients.

Lyndsey Wurst, CEDS, serves as the Director of Strategic Accounts at TransPerfect Legal and is a recognized leader in litigation support, eDiscovery, and Legal Operations. With more than 20 years of experience, she has built a reputation for driving innovation and efficiency in the legal industry. Lyndsey was honored as Thomson Reuters’ Synergy 2022 Legal Operations - Innovator of the Year, a testament to her expertise in outside counsel management, legal budgeting, eDiscovery strategy, and optimizing litigation workflows. Her skill set extends beyond technical proficiency—she excels in time management, conflict resolution, change management, and budget forecasting, all while leveraging cutting-edge legal technologies to enhance collaboration and operational effectiveness.

Lyndsey holds a degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Concordia University and has served on the board of the Minnesota Association of Litigation Support (MALSP) for the past eight years. She also co-chairs the MN CLOC chapter, contributing to the advancement and connection of legal operations professionals in the region. Having worked across plaintiff and defense practices, law firms of all sizes, and corporate law departments, Lyndsey offers a well-rounded and strategic perspective on the industry’s evolving challenges.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Lyndsey enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, and rescuing plants from big box stores.