PracticePro

Date: Friday, March 3, 2023, 12 – 7:30 PM EST

Location: Jackson Walker LLP, 100 Congress Ave. #1100, Austin, TX 78701

Do you want to gain the knowledge and exact formula for securing a great summer associate position or post-graduate career? Master the substantive and soft skills and competencies you will need during your summer internships to deliver stellar work product, build a fantastic brand, and receive a permanent employment offer? Would you like to be part of an exclusive group of students participating in recruiting opportunities with PracticePro’s law firm partners?

TARGET AUDIENCE

The conference is best suited for 1Ls and 2Ls. Incoming 1Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs may also attend.

CONFERENCE STRUCTURE 

The Conference is a half-day event (12 – 5 pm CT) on March 3, 2023, taught by speakers and instructors from top law firms and corporate legal departments. The Conference concludes with a recruiting reception (5:30 – 7:30 pm CT). 

Conference registrants will also be invited to participate in our:

• Live 4-part summer webinar series focused on business frameworks, professional branding, strategic career planning, advanced networking and interviewing techniques, and other topics in summer 2023. The webinars will also be available for on-demand viewing.
• Exclusive virtual job fair, resume collection, and networking receptions with our law firm partners in spring and summer 2023.
• Early registrants also receive a complimentary 50-minute customized career/OCI coaching session, valued at $350.

Tuition includes the Career Conference and Recruiting Reception, the summer webinar series, exclusive summer networking receptions with our partner firms, resume collection, and the virtual job fair. Early registrants also receive a complimentary 50-minute customized career/OCI coaching session, valued at $350.

$249 = Early Registration (ends January 3, 2023 at 11:59 PM PT, subject to availability)

$349 = Regular Registration 

Register on our website here or faster on the Eventbrite page here.

INSTRUCTORS & SPEAKERS

Niki Khoshzamir, PracticePro 

Niki Khoshzamir is the Chief Executive Officer of PracticePro, an EdTech social enterprise that provides skills training, coaching, and scholarships to empower the next generation of diverse attorneys. In her role, she leads all business and legal aspects of the company including corporate governance, IP portfolio, product development, and strategic partnerships.

Prior to founding PracticePro, Niki was an attorney at the global firms of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, LLP, and Kirkland and Ellis, LLP. She focused her practice on intellectual property litigation, complex commercial disputes, and trade sanctions compliance. Niki successfully represented companies and individuals in federal and state courts, and in all stages of litigation including trial. She was the first recipient of the firm’s Pickering Fellowship on the West Coast through which she helped spearhead the Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus’ advocacy and community education project on U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Niki currently serves on the national advisory board of the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), and is the former president of the Northern California Chapter, which she founded in 2006. She also serves on the Leadership Council of Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus. From 2011 to 2017, Niki was a Lecturer at Law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Niki received her B.S. in Biology, summa cum laude, from Texas Southern University, and a J.D. and Certificate in Law and Technology from Berkeley Law. Prior to her legal career, she was a research assistant at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center. Niki grew up in Tehran, London, and Vienna and immigrated to the United States on her own at 19 to attend college. She is fluent in Farsi and English, and proficient in German.

Alisha Adams, Jackson Walker

Alisha Adams is an associate at Jackson Walker LLP in the Environmental & Regulatory section. She has experience analyzing environmental issues and advising clients on regulatory and complex environmental litigation matters, both at the state and federal level. In addition to her passion for environmental and regulatory law, Alisha values recruiting and D&I, serving as a member and mentor on various committees within the firm and externally.

Alisha received her B.A. from Barnard College of Columbia University and her J.D. from Duke University School of Law where she was an Executive Board Member for the Environmental Law Society. After graduating from law school in 2016, Alisha returned home to Texas where she spent time as a judicial clerk for Justice Don Willett at the Supreme Court of Texas, before joining Jackson Walker as an associate.

Raghav Bajaj, Haynes and Boone  

Raghav Bajaj advises clients on patent office trials before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), including inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. Raghav frequently takes a lead role representing both petitioners and patent owners in various industries and technologies, including computer hardware, computer software, networking, electronic commerce, and mobile device applications.

Clients rely on Raghav’s comprehensive IPR experience in connection with all phases of patent office trials, including petition drafting, discovery, briefing, and oral argument. He has served as counsel in more than 60 proceedings. Raghav’s practice group was ranked as one of the most active and successful in representing petitioners at the PTAB by the 2020 edition of IPR Intelligence Report (Patexia Inc.). Raghav’s practice also includes preparing and prosecuting patent applications.

Raghav was honored with the 2020 “Rising Star Award” by the South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) and serves as the chair of the South Asian Bar Association of Austin.

Raghav received his B.A.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science. He received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Nicki Chollet, Kilpatrick Townsend  

Nicki Chollet represents brand owners across a broad spectrum of industries in complex trademark and trade dress litigation. She regularly practices before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Apart from litigation, Nicki has developed and directs intellectual property enforcement programs for some of the world’s best-known brands and regularly advises clients on a wide range of issues, including how to minimize the risk of disputes, how to strengthen their own intellectual property rights, and how to defend and respect the intellectual property rights of others on social media.

Nicki has gained valuable experience and insights into the demands on, and role of, in-house counsel during multiple secondments at one of the world’s largest athletic footwear and apparel companies and at a multinational logistics and transportation company.

Nicki frequently speaks at conferences and on panels in the area of trademark and copyright law and has been a guest lecturer in trademark and copyright courses at Emory University School of Law. She also devotes time to pro bono matters and is actively involved in the Georgia State Bar.

Nicki was recognized in 2023 and the eight years prior as a Georgia “Rising Star” in the area of Intellectual Property by Super Lawyers magazine.

Nicki earned a B.A. in Political Science and Economics, magna cum laude, from St. John Fisher College. She received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law where she was Order of the Coif.

Danielle Coleman, VMware

Danielle Coleman leads the global litigation team as Senior Director & Associate General Counsel at VMware, a technology company headquartered in Silicon Valley.  Before joining VMware, Danielle was Director of Global Litigation at Applied Materials.  She previously was an attorney at Morrison & Foerster where she was an active member of the patent trial team winning a jury verdict over $1 billion.  She clerked for the Honorable William H. Alsup, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California.  Before law school, she worked at pharmaceutical companies Pfizer Inc. and Pharmacia Corp. performing biochemical research, and she is an inventor on four U.S. patents.   

She has great passion for the community and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Danielle co-leads VMware’s Legal Department Career Growth Initiative, and she is a Global Thought Leadership Chair for the Black@VMware Power of Difference employee resource group.  She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Community Food Bank as well as OneJustice.  She is a founding member of the Texas Intellectual Property Alliance as well as Chief in San Francisco.  The National Bar Association has recognized Danielle with a “Diversity in Tech and IP” award and a “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40” award.  The Minority Corporate Counsel Association has named her a “Rising Star.”   The Bar Association of San Francisco also has recognized her with a “Excellence in Diversity” award.

Danielle earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Anuj Dharia, Lattice Semiconductor

Anuj Dharia is the Legal Director of Intellectual Property at Lattice Semiconductor.  At Lattice, he leads all things IP including directing patent and trademark strategy, managing patent litigation and assertions, negotiating inbound/output software and patent licensing agreements, and mitigating IP risk associated with open source and standards participation.  He also represents Lattice on the Board of Directors at HDMI LA, the licensing agent for HDMI technology.  Prior to his time at Lattice, Anuj gained value experience as in-house counsel at Apple, Arm, and Dell Technologies and as outside-counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright.  Anuj is also a Barrister member of the Yeakel IP Inn of Court as well as a former board member of both the Austin Asian American Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association of Austin.   

Anuj received his B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, cum laude, from Rice University, and he received his J.D., with High Honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.  At UT Law, Anuj was Order of the Coif and the Managing Editor of the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal.  After law school, he clerked for Judge Lee Yeakel at the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin.

Mollie Duckworth, Latham & Watkins

Mollie Duckworth is a partner in the Austin office of Latham & Watkins. Mollie brings more than 16 years of industry experience handling a wide variety of corporate and securities matters, with a particular focus on representing public companies throughout their lifecycle. She regularly advises both public and private companies in connection with M&A transactions, and represents issuers and investment banks in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. She also advises corporations and MLPs with respect to complex transactional matters, including compliance with federal securities laws, corporate governance, and day-to-day corporate counseling. Mollie’s clients include companies in the technology, power, renewables, oil and gas, and energy infrastructure sectors.

Mollie received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law where she was Order of the Coif, and served as Articles and Notes Editor of the Texas International Law Journal. Prior to obtaining her J.D., Mollie earned a B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders, summa cum laude, from the University of Texas.

Efrén Garcia, Silabs

Efrén Garcia is a seasoned legal executive with 16 years of experience managing government investigations and litigation matters, negotiating commercial transactions and agreements, establishing compliance programs, providing comprehensive legal counsel to executive teams, and managing human resources.

He currently serves as Senior Counsel for Silicon Laboratories, focusing on trade compliance and corporate governance matters. Previously, he served as Chief Legal & Compliance Officer for Southwest Key Programs, a $1B non-profit focused on serving unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S./Mexican border.  Before that, he served as the General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for GTS Technology Solutions, an IT/Software services company.  In addition, he previously co-founded his law firm in Austin, Texas, and worked at the international law firms of Vinson & Elkins and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. 

Efrén was born and raised in the border town of Donna, Texas, but now lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two kids.

Efrén attended Rice University, receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and his J.D. from Columbia University.

Grace Matthews, Baker Botts

Grace Matthews is a senior associate in the Austin office of Baker Botts. Grace provides ongoing representation to corporate clients, including public issuers, private companies and private equity funds. She advises clients regarding all manner of corporate issues, including the conduct of public and private securities offerings, equity and asset purchases, SEC disclosure, technology transactions, commercial agreements, corporate governance and other general corporate matters.

Grace received her B.A. from Texas A&M University and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

Jennifer McGrew, Wilson Sonsini

Jennifer McGrew is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s technology transactions practice. She specializes in business transactions involving clients in technology-driven and technology-consuming industries, with a focus on corporate transactions, licensing, and counseling. Jennifer has experience handling intellectual property issues for domestic and foreign clients, from start-ups to mature private and public companies and investors. Her practice covers a wide range of activities related to the commercialization of technology and acquisition of intellectual property rights, including negotiating and drafting strategic commercial agreements, matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, and intellectual property and technology transfers.

Prior to and during law school, Jennifer was part of the legal department at an international scientific instruments company, where she worked on technology transactions and corporate matters. She also previously worked at a web analytics company and an enterprise software company.

Jennifer received her B.S. in Business Administration (Concentration in Marketing) from Portland State University and graduated cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Christopher Mugica, Jackson Walker

Chris Mugica is a partner at Jackson Walker LLP and former head of the Austin Litigation section. He has experience handling a variety of litigation matters including commercial litigation, non-compete issues, commercial transactions, and fiduciary litigation. Chris values DEI and is an active member in his local community, volunteering with various local foundations and committees. He has also served as hiring partner for the Austin office of Jackson Walker.

Chris Received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. After earning his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 2000, Chris moved back home to Texas to practice law.

Meghan Pier, Jackson Walker

Meghan Pier is the Director of Associate Recruiting at Jackson Walker LLP. She has over 10 years of experience in entry level and lateral associate hiring. Meghan received her B.B.A. in Business Management from Texas A&M University and has been working in the legal industry for over 16 years.

Meghan has a great passion for promoting legal pipeline programs and working with pre-law groups in her community. Meghan and Jackson Walker have been a proud sponsor of PracticePro for many years!

Roxanne Tizravesh, Akin Gump

Roxanne Tizravesh, a senior counsel in Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s Houston office, is an experienced business litigator who helps clients solve problems and achieve their goals efficiently. Active in both state and federal court, she has advised on director and officer litigation, bankruptcy matters in the energy and other industries, handled internal and government investigations in the U.S. and Europe, and represented investors and financial services firms in a wide array of civil litigation matters.

Roxanne is committed to using her skill set to give back to the community. This dedication led her to become the first Akin Gump Fellow for Her Justice, where she first-chaired a dozen family-law cases for low-income women and victims of domestic violence.  In addition, Roxanne serves on both the Pro Bono Committee and the Diversity & Inclusion Counsel at the Firm. Moreover, Roxanne is a Vice-Chair of the Firm’s Latinx Resource Group.  

Roxanne has received numerous honors including Texas Lawyer’s “On the Rise,” Latino Lawyer Magazine’s “Top Latino Lawyers,” and Hispanic National Bar Association’s “Top Lawyers Under 40.”

She received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. from New York University, with honors.