The America Invents Act in 2013

Janet Gongola is the Patent Reform Coordinator at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this capacity, she manages all aspects of the agency’s implementation of the America Invents Act. Ms. Gongola also is the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and is responsible for developing patent policy for the agency. Previously, Ms. Gongola was an Associate Solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor at the USPTO.

Ms. Gongola served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Paul R. Michel at the Federal Circuit and for Chief Judge Sue L. Robinson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. In addition, Ms. Gongola worked as a patent attorney, patent agent, and research chemist at Eli Lilly and Company.

Charles E. Miller is a Senior Counsel in Dickstein Shapiro’s Intellectual Property Practice. He has doctorate degrees in both chemistry and law and practices primarily patent law in the firm’s New York office. At Dickstein Shapiro, Dr. Miller continues his practice in counseling clients mainly in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, managing their intellectual property portfolios, and representing their interests extensively in technology-related litigation, proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, alternative dispute resolution, and licensing. As a practitioner, Dr. Miller also has been a commercial arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and for the World Intellectual Property Organization. He has testified in patent and antitrust cases as an expert on patent litigation and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office practice and procedure, and has served as special master in patent infringement litigation on appointment by the U.S. District Court. Dr. Miller is also an adjunct professor at St. John’s University School of Law where he teaches patent law.

Steven G. Spears is partner-in-charge of the Houston office of the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Steven focuses his practice on patent, trade secret and other technology-related litigation involving the chemical, biotechnology and petrochemical industries. He has participated in all aspects of such litigations, including numerous jury trials and appeals before the Federal Circuit. In addition to litigation matters, Steven also counsels clients on intellectual property enforcement, freedom to operate and licensing issues.

Steven has litigated intellectual property cases in federal courts in Texas, California, Delaware, Missouri, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Louisiana and Florida. He has represented clients in AAA arbitration proceedings and has been consulted on intellectual property-related actions brought in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Argentina and the European Patent Office.

Cyrus A. Morton is a partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. As an inventor, a trial attorney focusing on patent litigation, and having done patent prosecution work earlier in his career, Mr. Morton brings his clients a perspective of understanding patent issues from all sides. His litigation experience covers a wide variety of technologies and matters, ranging from million-dollar silicon wafer surface inspection systems to various types of medical technology, to a hunting favorite – spinning-wing duck decoys. He can be reached at camorton@rkmc.com.