Event 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.

Nicole spent the first 15 years of her career at an AmLaw 100 firm in Chicago where she was a partner in the litigation department. In 2008, she co-founded Valorem Law Group, which garnered national recognition for spearheading the alternative fee arrangement movement. In 2018, Nicole co-founded and now leads the integrated law firm for global legal service provider, Elevate. ElevateNext has been named one of the Best Law Firms in commercial litigation from 2021 - 2024 by U.S. News & World Reports and Best Lawyers. 

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Nicole has helped create unique AI-driven solutions for customers to transform how litigators handle written discovery request responses, deposition testimony use and analysis, and more. These efforts were recently recognized by Legalops.com’s inaugural “Running Legal Like a Business” awards.​ Nicole considers her work in obtaining the exoneration and release of a client who was wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years as her most significant career milestone to date. She has been recognized as a top attorney by numerous publications.​

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In 2008, Nicole co-founded the Coalition of Women Initiatives in Law, which now has chapters in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. She serves on its National Board. Nicole is a certified arbitrator on the roster of the American Arbitration Association. She is also a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and the American Bar Foundation. She is an advisory board member of The Institute of Inclusion in the Legal Profession and of Novus Law. Nicole regularly speaks and writes about issues regarding innovation in the legal industry.

Tony Beasley is Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, where he is a product lawyer advising on enterprise solution development. He’s a trusted advisor to teams deploying generative AI-powered sales and marketing solutions both internally and externally, and he advises on myriad legal issues including privacy, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, security, and competition law, ensuring that Microsoft's innovative products and services adhere to global legal standards.

Tony is a thought leader in the field of artificial intelligence policy and regulation. As a product lawyer, he sees the impact of generative AI tools on large enterprises and different roles within them. He frequently participates in industry discussions and panels, sharing insights on emerging legal trends and the future of AI.

Before joining Microsoft, Tony was as an intellectual property litigator, representing clients in a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, medical devices, consumer products, and oil and gas drilling. Tony has also long maintained a pro bono practice, and has been active working with human rights observers, gun control advocates, and drug policy reform organizations. He also continues to represent clients in obtaining asylum and domestic violence protection orders. Tony is also a fierce advocate for diversity in the legal profession and in the legal talent pipeline.

Tony holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.S. in Computer Science and Journalism from DePaul University.

Most recently, Bill Childs was Assistant General Counsel/Director, Litigation, at Solventum, a Fortune 500 publicly traded healthcare company that spun off from 3M. At 3M, he was involved in managing a range of litigation, including respirator/mask, fall protection, and  medical device. He also helped build and manage the ongoing effort to combat fraud and  counterfeiting in the Covid-19 PPE marketplace. Minnesota Lawyer named him its 2021 In-House Counsel honoree in the public company category.

Prior to joining 3M in 2019, he was a partner at Bowman and Brooke LLP in Austin, Texas, working primarily in products liability defense in pharmaceutical, medical device, highway safety, and other products. He was previously a law professor at Western New England University School of Law for eight years, earning tenure. He practiced prior to that as a litigator at Williams & Connolly LLP and clerked for U.S. District Judge James M. Rosenbaum (D. Minn.).

Kunoor Chopra, a California attorney, is Co-founder and current VP of Legal Services at Elevate and Cloud Court's CSO. 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.

Robert Crist is an intellectual property attorney currently serving as the Intellectual Property Lead for Endoscopy at Medtronic. His work includes developing and implementing global IP strategies, managing IP portfolios, and supporting product development through proactive IP counseling and education.  He has extensive experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, negotiating and drafting IP agreements, and managing patent litigation.

Before joining Medtronic, Robert previously worked at Apple as Senior IP Counsel managing the global Health and Wellness portfolio and at Boston Scientific supporting the Cardiovascular and Peripheral Interventions businesses. Robert holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.

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.

Mike Geise serves as the Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at General Mills, a leading global food company headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota. In this role, Mike oversees the company's intellectual property strategy, ensuring the protection and management of its patent and trademark assets across the globe. Before joining General Mills, Mike held several key positions at 3M, including Associate Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for 3M’s Consumer Business Group and for its Corporate Laboratories. His extensive experience at 3M, a company renowned for its innovation and diverse product portfolio, provided him with a deep understanding of intellectual property law and its application in dynamic business environments.

Mike is a strong believer that process optimization and efficiencies in legal operations are imperative to providing teams with the time and resources they need to focus on the most strategically important issues driving growth and business result. Mike is known for his proactive approach to addressing emerging IP challenges, such as those posed by counterfeit products and unauthorized use of brand imagery by the cannabis industry. His testimony before legislative bodies on this topic highlights his dedication to advocating for stronger IP protections and his role in shaping policies that benefit both businesses and consumers. 

Mike earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Ph.D. in chemistry from The Ohio State University, and a BS in chemistry from Thomas More University.

Eric Lambert serves as the Vice President of Legal and Employment Counsel at Trimble Inc., a company renowned for its integrated geospatial technology solutions. In his role, Eric supports Trimble’s Transportation & Logistics business sectors in North America, which are leading providers of software and SaaS fleet mobility, communications, and data management solutions for transportation and logistics companies.

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As an in-house counsel, Eric is known for being a proactive problem-solver and a trusted business partner. He crafts strategic, creative, and practical legal solutions designed to achieve business objectives while managing risk through strong partnerships with business owners and leadership. His extensive experience includes contract negotiation and drafting, privacy, software/e-commerce/cloud services, compliance, marketing, insurance, vendor and procurement, technology licensing, export, litigation management/dispute resolution, and risk management. Eric is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).

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Before joining Trimble, Eric worked at CommerceHub, Inc., a leading cloud services provider, and Digital River, Inc., a commerce-as-a-service and e-marketing provider. He also has experience at Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, a Minneapolis-based law firm. His career began in New York, where he worked for companies such as Emanuel Publishing Corporation, Prodigy, and IntraLinks. 

In addition to his legal career, Eric dabbles in voice-over work, with a demo available at his voiceover site. He lives with his wife and two sons in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, enjoying life as a “recovering New Yorker.” For more information, you can contact Eric at blog@ericlambert.net or visit his LinkedIn profile.

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.

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. 

Amber Moren is a Senior Antitrust Compliance Lawyer at Cargill. Amber is an accomplished business lawyer with in-house, law firm, government, and clerkship experience. At Cargill, Amber manages Cargill’s obligations arising from a U.S. Department of Justice consent decree and provides strategic antitrust advice on matters such as class action litigations and M&A transactions. In prior roles, Amber served as general counsel to various business units at 3M Company, was a litigator at Fredrikson and Byron, served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and clerked for Judge Diana Murphy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Amber earned a JD from Yale Law School and a BA in Economics and French from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.​

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.

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.

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.

Matt is senior counsel, IP for SABIC - a Saudi company that manufactures chemicals, polymers, fertilizers, and other downstream petrochemicals. SABIC ranks as the fourth-largest chemical producer on the Fortune Global 500 and is 70% owned by Saudi Aramco. Matt is based in Houston, Texas at SABIC's regional headquarters.

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Matt is a specialist in application technology and supports several teams, including SABIC’s Solutions for Automotive team, which offers industry-leading expertise in designing customer solutions made from engineered materials such as thermoplastics. His work is focused on drafting and negotiating contracts and patents, but extends to other realms as required. Trained as a mechanical engineer at Michigan Technological University and as a lawyer at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Matt has been in the legal practice for 21 years, beginning his legal career at Schwegman, Lundberg and Woessner, where he had the privilege of representing clients like Ferrari and Tesla, and where he drafted the notorious MyPillow® patent. Matt currently serves on the board of the Houston Intellectual Property Association and is chair of the Business Technologies subcommittee for the Business Section of the State Bar of Texas. Matt is admitted to practice in Minnesota, Texas, and before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

​As a member of the Solventum Litigation team, Sarah Riedel is responsible for project management, database management, developing litigation collaboration platforms, and implementing and managing analytics on key litigation projects. Sarah also works with various legal groups to identify new tools and provide creative solutions to streamline eDiscovery processes. She has worked closely with internal legal teams, outside counsel, and legal service providers for over 15 years.

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

Professor Daniel Schwarcz is an award-winning teacher and scholar. His research principally focuses on insurance law and regulation, spanning a broad range of issues such as systemic risk, regulatory federalism, health insurance, and coverage litigation. A separate strand of Schwarcz's research explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence on legal education, the practice of law,  and consumer protection. 

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Schwarcz's scholarship has received numerous accolades. In 2017, the American Law Institute awarded Schwarcz its highly selective Early Career Scholars Medal, which recognizes “outstanding law professors whose work is relevant to public policy and has the potential to influence improvements in the law relevant to the real world.” Schwarcz has also been awarded the Liberty Mutual Prize for penning an outstanding insurance law article and been recognized as one of the most cited legal scholars writing on tort or insurance topics. Schwarcz has won the University of Minnesota Law School's Stanley V. Kinyon teaching award on three separate occasions since joining the law school, most recently in 2023.  In 2024, Schwarcz received the University of Minnesota's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education. 

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Schwarcz joined the University of Minnesota Law School faculty in 2007, after completing a Climenko Fellowship at Harvard Law School.  He has also taught as a visiting professor at Washington University School of Law, UCLA Law School, and Berkeley Law School.

Schwarcz earned his A.B., magna cum laude, from Amherst College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. While in law school, he was an articles editor for the Harvard Law Review and a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics. After law school, he clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and practiced at the law firm Ropes & Gray, where he worked mainly on insurance law matters.

Greg Smock serves as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Reprise Biomedical, Inc., where he oversees legal and compliance matters for the company. With a diverse background spanning corporate law, intellectual property, and strategic business operations, Greg brings a practical and forward-looking perspective to legal leadership.

Before joining Reprise, Greg served as Associate General Counsel – Intellectual Property at Teleflex Incorporated, where he led the strategy, development, enforcement, and management of the company’s intellectual property portfolio. During his nearly decade-long tenure, Greg supported six business units, spearheaded IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, managed litigation and USPTO challenges, and drafted and reviewed a variety of agreements.

Earlier in his career, Greg was a Patent Attorney at Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., where he provided patent counsel to companies of various sizes, specializing in medical device technologies. Greg holds a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School and is based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Whitney Stefko is Ford's Policy and Legal Ops+ Maestro and AI Alchemist.

This legal shapeshifter has morphed from courtroom warrior to tech startup guru, and now she's co-orchestrating Ford's policy operations symphony.

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A tech-savvy trailblazer with 15+ years of experience in the legal, operations and technology spaces, Whitney has been fortunate to work across a variety of entities with varying levels of maturity: startups, mid-size and large corporations and law firms. This maturity spectrum has required both ground-up people, process and technology analysis and development as well as innovation and optimization in already existing functions. 

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Whitney has worked with Ford’s Office of General Counsel since 2018, first as an outside consultant, then as seconded counsel, and now in her full-time role as Associate Director and Senior Counsel. In this capacity, Whitney participated in the selection and hiring, and now co-leads, the newly created Legal Ops+ team and function at Ford Motor Company, including technology initiatives and the use of emerging technologies like Generative AI. Whitney is also an Adjunct Law Professor at ASU School of Law, where she lectures on data, technology, and the evolution of both in the legal industry.