Well-established entrepreneurs and alumni of Wabash College gathered at the school on February 11, 2012, for the Second Annual Entrepreneur Summit.
A panel of entrepreneurs and Wabash alumni which included Woodard Emhardt partner Chris Brown, ’89, educated members of the Crawfordsville community and students from Wabash and other nearby colleges about becoming an entrepreneur. Chris primarily discussed the legal aspects of entrepreneurship including various intellectual property considerations.
We are pleased to announce that Woodard, Emhardt partners Thomas Henry, Spiro Bereveskos and Daniel Lueders have been named Super Lawyers for 2012. Additionally, Woodard, Emhardt associates Bill McKenna and Jim Blaufuss have been named Rising Stars for 2012. Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Shuster. Liz was elected to the firm’s partnership for 2012. With her knowledge and expertise, she is a true asset to the firm. Liz started with the firm in 2003 after graduation from the IU Maurer School of Law. Liz focuses her practice in the mechanical arts including drug delivery, diabetes care, agricultural equipment, cosmetic applicators, towing equipment, and recreational equipment. Again, congratulations, Liz!
Woodard, Emhardt partner Chuck Schmal has been selected for inclusion in the inaugural class of the Indiana State Bar Association’s (“ISBA”) Leadership Development Academy. The Academy was developed specifically to further educate and develop attorneys identified as key leaders for the State Bar in the future. The selection was made from a lengthy list of candidates, and was based on each attorney’s demonstrated commitment and skill in playing leadership roles within the State Bar. Congratulations Chuck!
The 2011 Midwest Intellectual Property Summit, organized by Woodard, Emhardt attorney, Holiday W. Banta, will be held November 17th and will showcase presentations on the latest research and topics of concern in the field of intellectual property. Woodard, Emhardt attorneys presenting at the Summit include T.J. Cole, Michael Morris and Spiro Bereveskos.
The morning session will offer an overview of the key federal court decisions from the past 12 months and an in-depth report on Indiana’s trade secret laws. Occasional copyright filers will benefit from an update and recommendations concerning the Copyright Office’s online filing procedures and new forms. Litigators and prosecutors of trademarks alike will find the presentation concerning survey best practices useful for advising clients and winning cases.
The afternoon session will include a discussion of drafting advice specific to the rapidly expanding field of agriculture and biotech patenting in the U.S. and foreign countries. Of particular interest to litigators, the Summit’s afternoon session will also feature practical tips and strategies to provide litigators with an edge in preparing for trial, including winning strategies for presenting to a jury based on the latest jury research in patent cases.
Following these presentations, panelists with experience litigating in the much-maligned, yet perennially popular, federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas will share their perspectives on how to navigate the procedures unique to this jurisdiction. The panelists will also share their insights on those litigation and settlement arrangements best suited to this court and its juries. If you ever wondered how you would respond if you got the call “we’ve been sued in the Eastern District of Texas, now what?”, then this is your chance to collect an arsenal of options and invaluable insights.
Register online today to take advantage of this exciting opportunity. Alternate locations via group webcasts are available as well. (6.25 Total CLE Units, 1.0 of which may be applied toward Ethics).
Woodard, Emhardt associate Bill McKenna was selected for the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Bar Leader Series. The IndyBar’s Bar Leader Series is designed to develop lawyers for future opportunities in leadership roles in business and legal communities. Through the series, selected lawyers will learn how to communicate, motivate, inspire, and succeed not only in their law career, but also in service to professional, political, judicial, civic, and community organizations.
Woodard, Emhardt associate Bill McKenna was a featured speaker in a Professional Development Seminar sponsored by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The seminar was held at the Eli Lilly Manufacturing and Quality Learning Center. The curriculum was designed to provide licensed engineers with the continuing education required by a new Indiana statute. Mr. McKenna’s portion of the presentation focused on the requirements and nuances of the new statute, tips for compliance, as well as other statutory and intellectual property issues facing engineers.
Demonstrating our continued support of Indiana’s entrepreneur community, Woodard, Emhardt hosted Ball State University’s Entrepreneurship Program E-Day (“Evaluation Day”) on May 3, 2011. Partners Dan Lueders, Holly Banta, TJ Cole, and Chuck Schmal also participated in E-Day as judges. More information about the event can be found in our previous blog post.
Ball State’s Entrepreneurship Program has been a top ten nationally ranked program for about a decade and was recently ranked as the first of “10 College Classes that Impact the Outside World” by U.S. News & World Report. More information about Ball State’s Entrepreneurship Program can be found here.
During E-Day, seniors majoring in entrepreneurship presented their business plans to a panel of judges who decide whether a student passes or fails the program. A key feature of E-Day is this final pass or fail review that requires seniors to put their degrees on the line as their business plans are scrutinized by a group of top business leaders. If they pass, they receive their diplomas; if they fail, they are required to either return the next year with a revised plan or to seek another degree. Many of the business plans presented by the students at E-Day concerned technological innovations, such as a thermite torch that is able to cut through any metal within seconds, a simulated skin product used for practicing surgical skills, a medical computer cart, a laser system used to extricate victims from vehicular accidents, and a communication system for tracking students on school buses.
Woodard, Emhardt is proud to sponsor and promote the entrepreneurial spirit in Indiana and throughout the Midwest.
Partners Holiday W. Banta and T.J. Cole were once again the chairs of the 13th Annual Elegant Vintages International Wine Auction. The event was held on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis and raised over $125,000 for the Indianapolis Zoo. As always, event proceeds directly benefit the Indianapolis Zoo and its conservation and community programs. Many other Woodard Emhardt members volunteered at the event. Thank you, Holly and T.J., for your great efforts in supporting the Zoo!
Woodard, Emhardt law clerk Mike Morris recently participated in the national competition of the Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition. Mike’s team won the Chicago regional competition, earning a spot in the national competition for the top 8 teams from around the country. The national competition was held at the Federal Circuit courthouse in Washington, D.C. Mike has a background in mechanical engineering and will be joining the firm as an associate attorney in August, 2011. Congratulations Mike!
