Speakers

Ben Armitage is a seasoned expert in intellectual property protection, strategic planning, and execution. With extensive experience in patents, licensing, and technology transfers, Ben has a proven track record of fostering client relations and working across diverse industries. Ben is passionate about helping companies establish and implement patent and trademark initiatives that safeguard their products and keep them at the forefront of innovation and growth.

At the core of Ben's philosophy is the belief that Intellectual Property that Drives Business®. Ben collaborates closely with clients throughout the intellectual property portfolio development process to tailor legal strategies that align with the ever-changing industry, legal, and technological landscape. This partnership approach allows for a deep understanding of business goals and licensing objectives, ultimately saving clients money and effort while producing Patents with Purpose®.

Ben's practice includes expert witness experience, opposition practice, post-issuance proceedings. Specializing in Cleantech, medical devices, chemical, software, agricultural, and mechanical arts patent procurement and strategy, Ben also excels in IP management, licensing, trademarks, and patent opinions.

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.

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.

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