Harvard Club of Southern California

HBSAOC Event: Beyond Patents – Unlocking the Hidden Treasures of Soft IP

Learn how to develop and protect your company's trademarks, brands, and other key soft IP assets (non-patent tools such as copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other branding). Knobbe Martens’ legal strategists will discuss real-world IP strategies and high-stakes case studies that turn legal theory into actionable defense tactics. The smartest companies don’t just protect their IP. They unleash it.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 @ 5:00-8:00PM
Knobbe Martens, 2040 Main Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Irvine, CA 92614

Click here to register now!

Cost: Members, $30; Non-Members, $50; Door, $60
Contact: Karen Hernandez, k_hernandez@cox.net
Delicious Appetizers, Drinks, and Parking included.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Exclusive Insights:
Learn how to develop and protect your company's trademarks, brands, and other key soft IP assets. Join in this one-time event with lawyers who are the best in their field.

Fireside Chat:
Participate in a dynamic discussion moderated by HBSAOC Board Members Thomas Dean & Mark Wilser, where our Knobbe partners and General Counsel of Summer Fridays and Jacuzzi Group will share insights on the latest trends in trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, as well as actionable strategies for safeguarding your most valuable assets.

Networking Opportunities:
Connect with HBS alumni and influential Orange County business leaders, fostering collaboration and breakthrough thinking.

AGENDA:

• 5:00 to 6:00: Welcome Reception and Networking
• 6:00 to 6:10: Soft IP Overview and Leading Edge Strategies
• 6:10 to 7:00: Cases Studies, War Stories, and Best Practices
• 7:00 to 7:15:  Audience Q & A
• 7:15 to 7:30:  Post-Event Networking

SPEAKERS:

Sheila Swaroop (AB 1996)
LinkedIn Bio
Partner, Knobbe Martens (Litigation)
Sheila Swaroop chairs Knobbe Martens’ Litigation Group and has handled over 90 intellectual property cases in state and federal court, the Patent Office, and the US International Trade Commission.  Her cases have involved medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, and she has a strong track record of success.  Sheila is also deeply involved in professional organizations and community leadership roles, including current involvement with the Alumni Network for Harvard Women in Orange County, and past leadership roles as President of the Howard T. Markey Intellectual Property Inn of Court, representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, board member of the Orange County chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, President of the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California, board member of Working Wardrobes, and a trustee of Harbor Day School.

Jonathan Menkes (PLDA 35)
LinkedIn Bio
Partner, Knobbe Martens (Brand Protection/Client Counseling)

Jonathan Menkes specializes in strategic trademark counseling and brand protection across various industries in the U.S. and internationally. He co-chairs the firm’s CBD and Legal Cannabis Group and handles trademark selection, audits, unfair competition, and notice and takedown procedures for copyright and trademark claims. His litigation experience includes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and domain name disputes. Jonathan has represented clients in numerous industries, including fashion and beauty, sports and entertainment, automotive, food and beverage, medical devices, NFTs and blockchain, CBD and legal cannabis, and life sciences, among others.
 

Nilab Rahyar Tolton (HLS 2010)
LinkedIn Bio
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel, Summer Fridays

Jason Weintraub 
LinkedIn Bio
Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Jacuzzi Group