Holiday W. Banta

Woodard, Emhardt partner Holiday W. Banta was a featured presenter at the Butler University initiation of students chosen for membership in Phi Beta Kappa on April 10, 2010. The President of Butler University, Dr. Bobby Fong, was also a featured speaker. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most respected academic honor society, of which Ms. Banta is a member. Ms. Banta is President of Alpha Association of Indiana, the first Phi Beta Kappa alumni association in Indiana. Congratulations to all Phi Beta Kappa initiates for 2010!

Partners Holiday W. Banta and T.J. Cole celebrated their 5th year as chairs of the 12th Annual Elegant Vintages International Wine Auction, which was a total sell-out and raised over $130,000 for the Indianapolis Zoo. The event took place in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Conrad Hotel. Many other Woodard Emhardt members volunteered at the event. Numerous wine lots were auctioned off, including many rare bottles, as well as many intriguing non-wine items, such as unique jewelry and exclusive “back-stage” zoo experiences.

Woodard, Emhardt partner Holiday W. Banta was a featured presenter at the Butler University initiation of students chosen for membership in Phi Beta Kappa on April 10, 2010.  The President of Butler University, Dr. Bobby Fong, was also a featured speaker.  Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most respected academic honor society, of which Ms. Banta is a member.  Ms. Banta is President of Alpha Association of Indiana, the first Phi Beta Kappa alumni association in Indiana.  Congratulations to all Phi Beta Kappa initiates for 2010!

Partners Holiday W. Banta and T.J. Cole are once again the chairs of the 12^th Annual Elegant Vintages International Wine Auction.  The event will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.  As always, event proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Zoo and its conservation and community programs.  Other Woodard Emhardt members are serving on the event Steering Committee and volunteering to work the event.  If you or someone you know is still interested in attending this great event, online registration will be open until Friday, March 19, 2010.  Click here to register.

The Midwest Intellectual Property Symposium was held November 19 & 20 at the University Hotel and Conference Center in Indianapolis, IN.  The event was sponsored by the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation and featured presentations by speakers in a variety of intellectual property areas, including patent prosecution, trademark prosecution, biotechnology practice, intellectual property litigation, and ethics.  Woodard Emhardt Trial Practice Group Co-Chair, Holiday W. Banta, served as moderator for the event.  In addition, the following Woodard Emhardt attorneys were featured among the presenters and panelists (click on the topic titles to access presentation materials):

T.J. Cole
Hot Topics in Patent Law

Thomas Q. Henry
Top Patent Prosecutors Roundtable:  Prosecution and Client Management Tips from Indianapolis’ Leading Practitioners

Charles P. Schmal
Current Topics Concerning Corporate Ownership and Licensing of Intellectual Property

Kenneth A. Gandy (material preparation), Gilbert T. Voy (Eli Lilly & Co., presenter)
Patenting Therapeutic and Diagnostics Medical Methods Around the World:  Practices and Pitfalls in Divergent Systems

James R. Blaufuss
Hot Topics in Trademark Law – Part 1
Hot Topics in Trademark Law – Part 2

Daniel J. Lueders
‘You Really Should Settle This Case’ – Do the Courts Practice What They Preach?

The Symposium was a huge success, with over one hundred faculty, attorneys, and IP professionals from around the world in attendance.  Special thanks go out to all of the individuals involved who helped with organizing and presenting at the event.

Related Links:
Midwest Intellectual Property Symposium, Nov. 19-20, 2009

ICLEF and WEMMH are working to develop an impressive lineup of speakers for this year’s Midwest Intellectual Property Symposium, a two-day CLE event to be held at University Place Hotel and Conference Center in Indianapolis, IN. The Symposium will include presentations and discussions on a wide variety of intellectual property topics, including topical case reports, patent prosecution, trademark prosecution, trade secret law, biotechnology topics, and intellectual property litigation. Featured speakers during the luncheons will be Judge (ret.) Roderick McKelvie, who presided over more than 200 patent infringement cases during his 10 years on the bench of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and Mike Kirk, former Executive Director of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and avid proponent of patent reform. Additionally, WEMMH’s managing partner, Thomas Henry, will be featured on a panel of expert patent prosecutors to discuss his experiences in patent prosecution. The Symposium will be moderated by WEMMH’s Trial Practice Group Chair, Holiday W. Banta, and anyone interested in speaking opportunities at the event or information on attending the event should contact Ms. Banta. Click here to download a copy of the brochure and registration information.

Partners Holiday W. Banta and T.J. Cole chaired the Eleventh Annual Elegant Vintages International Wine Auction, which raised nearly $100,000 for the Indianapolis Zoo and its conservation and community programs. Many other Woodard Emhardt members served on the event Steering Committee and volunteered to work at the event, which was held March 21, 2009 at the Conrad hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The crowd of 220 guests was treated to a 5-course dinner with world-class wines, while being entertained by the hilarious antics of David Reynolds, the country’s number one charity wine auctioneer, whose battle cry during the auction was “No spousal restraint!” More than 200 lots were auctioned off, including many rare and valuable bottles of wine generously donated by collectors from Indianapolis and throughout the Midwest. There were also many interesting non-wine lots, including a luxury South African safari, the opportunity to bathe an elephant and then ride it back to the elephant barn, as well as a custom haute couture beaded evening gown. T.J. and Holly will again be chairing next year’s event, to be held on March 20, 2010.