Leadership Briefs

For our first episode of Season Four, Partner April Isaacson is joined by Jordana Goodman and returning guests, Paul Gugliuzza and Rachel Rebouché. The trio discuss their groundbreaking article, “Inequality on Appeal: The Intersection of Race and Gender in Patent Litigation,” which showcases the on-going racial and gender disparities in the legal profession, particularly in the high-stakes world of appellate patent litigation.

The professors present the findings from their hand-coded, first-of-its-kind dataset, revealing that despite increasing diversity among law students and lawyers, a lack of diversity persists at the legal profession’s highest levels. Of the 6,000-plus oral arguments presented to the Federal Circuit in patent cases from 2010 through 2019, 93% were delivered by white attorneys, with white male attorneys alone arguing 82% of patent cases. In contrast, women of color argued fewer than 2% of cases.

Interestingly, the disparities found bear no correlation to attorney performance.

Jordana, Paul, and Rachel identify areas of patent practice where women, people of color, and women of color are more visible—most notably, in representing the federal government in patent appeals—and examine the reasons that there is not the same level of disparity as in private practice. They explore potential solutions to address these inequities, such as mentorship and sponsorship, particularly for junior associates, and the need for law firms to establish standards for promotion and professional development. They also discuss the role of programs that aim to increase diversity and the need for these initiatives to be data-backed and effective.

This episode provides a compelling call to action for the legal profession to address the systemic issues causing racial and gender disparities. The professors urge law firms to make data-backed efforts to improve diversity and inclusion, emphasizing that the problem is not specific to patent law but is a broader issue in the legal profession and the corporate world in general.

Resources:

• Inequality on Appeal: The Intersection of Race and Gender in Patent Litigation
• Gender Inequality in Patent Litigation
• @TempleLaw
• @RRebouche

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

Sidebars is a limited-release podcast from Kilpatrick focused on women and diversity in the law. Hosted by San Francisco Managing Partner and Patent Litigator April Isaacson, Sidebars brings together some of the foremost intellectual property attorneys, litigators, scientists, career coaches, academics, leaders, authors, and other professionals for in-depth, unfiltered conversations about diverse life experiences, personal and career growth, mental health, and the pursuit of equity in the legal profession.

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, we welcome Colleen Bear, Senior Professional Development Manager at Kilpatrick Townsend. Colleen has more than 20 years of experience in professional development, including organizational development and change talent assessment, leadership development, performance improvement, sales effectiveness, strategic planning, program management, and facilitation. She is an expert facilitator, and a highly impactful executive coach and strategic consultant.

In this conversation, Colleen shares the insights she has gained from helping attorneys understand their goals and then achieve them. She discusses how important it is to stay true to yourself while also being realistic about the constraints of your chosen path, and offers advice on developing a career that suits your personal definition of success.

Highlights include:

• Being yourself while reading the room
• The broad umbrella of professional development
• The different approaches you can take to coaching
• The unique challenges of coaching lawyers
• Taking advantage of all the resources that BigLaw has to offer
• Sponsorship vs. mentorship vs. coaching
• Understanding the hurdles in your career path and the possibilities for overcoming them
• How to avoid self-fulfilling prophecies
• Being authentic to your personal work style
• Considering the source of any advice and criticism
•  Ultimate success is being honest with yourself
• The many benefits of stretch assignments
• Reevaluating your goals as your career progresses
• Taking ownership of your career to make it sustainable and enjoyable

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, we welcome Lydia Fenet, an auctioneer, bestselling author, podcast host, and globally recognized speaker as a Christie’s Ambassador. She has led auctions for more than 600 organizations, raising over a billion dollars for nonprofits.

A sought-after keynote speaker, Lydia travels the world on speaking engagements to empower women in the workplace. She has been named one of New York's most influential women, has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, and has appeared in numerous magazines, including Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Lydia is the author of the bestselling book The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You, which was optioned by Netflix. Her second book, published just this month, is titled Claim Your Confidence: Unlock Your Superpower and Create the Life You Want.

In this conversation, Lydia discusses the lessons she has learned in her lifelong quest to understand the ingredients that create true confidence. She shares why it is so critical for women to be more confident. Lydia also provides some shortcuts that any of us can adopt right now to tap into our already-existing reservoir of inner confidence and strength.

Highlights include:

• Equity as having the right to live your life without prejudice or bias against it
• Embracing discomfort as a path to confidence
• Speaking up when you’re the expert
• Success as an evolving concept
• Giving yourself grace
• A bathrobe over a cocktail dress
• The myth of a perfectly balanced life
• Do you know what your top priorities are right now?
• An obstacle turns into a valuable career differentiator 
• Stepping into a new level of clout
• “Perception is the copilot of reality”
• Confident enough to wear bright pink
• Making time for joy
• Building confidence through travel
• Controlling the room in a charity auction… and at Goldman Sachs

Connect with Lydia:

• Listen and subscribe to Lydia's Claim Your Confidence podcast
• Follow her on Instagram at @lydiafenet
• Visit her website www.lydiafenet.com

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, April Abele Isaacson, Kate Geyer, and Megan Bussey welcome Joseph Rosenfeld, a personal branding expert and image consultant who works extensively with attorneys and high-profile Silicon Valley executives. 

Joseph shares how being bullied as a teenager led to his fascination with the transformative power of personal branding, not only in shaping the perceptions of others but also in uncovering our own perception of ourselves. He discusses surprising elements that make up one’s personal image and how tiny changes can create major shifts in how we present ourselves to the world as well as how confident we feel. Throughout this episode, Joseph demonstrates again and again that getting our image right is not an exercise in vanity. Rather, it’s an exercise in self-respect and discovering the power that stems from our individuality.

Highlights include:

• Equity as having the right to be unapologetically you, in all your facets 
• The epiphany that changed everything
•  How personal branding saved a 15-year-old bullied boy
•  Working on our outer selves as a way to help our inner selves
• Connecting your body to positive feelings
• Choosing clothes as an act of self-respect
• How your positive and confident image serves everyone in the room.
• Clothes must fit your mind as well as your body
•  Cultivating a countercultural look… like everyone else
• Paying attention to what’s right in front of your face, like a dirty t-shirt
• Standing out while fitting in
• Who says it’s not OK to wear loud jewelry or clickety heels?
• The goal is for fashion and makeup to fit in with your life and create ease
• Not succumbing to the stereotypes of power
• Bringing out the right persona to fit the occasion 
• The color of listening
• Dressing for the day ahead, even if it’s just 12 hours in front of a computer
• Creating a culture of change by representing yourself and who you are

Episode Links:

• Connect with Joseph on LinkedIn
• Visit josephrosenfeld.com to learn more about Joseph and his image consulting strategies.
• Read an infographic case study on how he helps legal team leaders tip the scales in their favor, ethically.

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Arin Reeves, a sociologist, business consultant, and a bestselling author. Her most recent book is titled, In Charge: The Energy Management Guide for Badass Women Who Are Tired of Being Tired.

Arin is the founder and Managing Director of the research and advisory firm Nextions, which specializes in workplace culture change. She began her career as an attorney, then went on to earn her Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern. Arin has designed and led comprehensive research projects on topics including gender equity, generational diversity, LGBTQI diversity, racial and ethnic diversity, cultural integration, implicit bias, and transformational leadership.

In addition to being a researcher and leading an advisor to many of America's top executives, Arin is a sought-after speaker, including for CLEs tackling some of the thorniest aspects of law-firm work culture. 

In this episode, Arin discusses the undercurrents that are often left unaddressed in corporate and law-firm attempts to achieve gender equality. In this candid conversation, Arin, Megan, and April get real as they share their experiences with shouldering the heavy load of emotional work and dealing with chaos and messes not of their making. They also discuss what it means to be in charge of their lives and their careers, and how learning to conserve their energy by saying “no” enabled each of them to flourish. 

Highlights include:

• The difference between equity and equality
• The universal experience of being a woman and the ongoing fight for equal rights
• Why women take on emotional work that should not be theirs
• The energy it takes to say no vs. cleaning up after others 
• The connection between domestic violence and interview dress codes for women
• Being socialized to always care about what others think
• Reserving energy for the things we truly love and make us happy
• Practicing saying “no”
• When you can’t tell whether a woman is talking about her boss, her husband, or her child
• The cognitive and emotional toll taken by dealing with unfair asks
• Reducing the energy drain on women as a means for achieving equity
• Implicit biases about gender
• Having it all….over the course of a lifetime
• Generational shifts in how women perceive their role in the workplace
• The slow march toward equality in the upper echelons of management
• Focusing on outcomes, not the process, to see the true value someone brings to their work

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

This episode introduces a new co-host, Megan Bussey. Megan will be joining April and Kate to host the third season of the Sidebars podcast.  

Megan is a Partner in Kilpatrick Townsend’s New York office. Her practice focuses on intellectual property law with particular emphasis on patent prosecution, patent litigation, and opinion work. Megan’s experience spans a wide range of technologies, including medical devices, mechanical devices, textiles, merchandizing displays, and telecommunications runs. Megan regularly prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the United States and internationally. She has also been involved in various aspects of patent litigation, including invalidity and infringement investigations, drafting written discovery motions, claim construction briefs, and appellate briefs. Megan was recognized in 2022 and the nine years immediately preceding as a New York rising star in the area of intellectual property by Super Lawyers magazine.

Megan is a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. While in law school, Megan interned for Federal Magistrate Judge David Kessler in the Western District of North Carolina. Prior to law school, Megan earned a B.A. in physics from Dartmouth College.

In this episode, Megan shares how she has created the career and the life she wants, balancing a highly demanding practice with being present for her family. She discusses the level-headed approach she’s taken from the earliest days of her career, the representation and mentorship that have helped her achieve success on her own terms, and the value of understanding and leveraging the tradeoffs constantly cropping up along each of our journeys.

Highlights include:

• Introducing the new co-host of Sidebars 
• An unexpected bout of solitude leads to a change of plans 
• Finding a way to be a well-rounded patent practitione
• Refining one’s definition of success
• Reevaluating the rat race when life happens 
• Understanding and accepting tradeoffs 
• Learning from others who took a winding path to partnership 
• Deciding to outsource the tasks that don’t bring you joy 
• Understanding that having a hard stretch doesn’t mean it’s the wrong job 
• Not mistaking your job for your identity 
• Being selfish in a positive way 
• How do we #EmbraceEquity?
• Getting over fears with practice 

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, hosts April Abele Isaacson and Kate Geyer welcome fellow Kilpatrick Townsend patent litigator Courtney Dabbiere for a conversation about allyship.

Courtney’s litigation practice, which includes cases in both federal court and the ITC, encompasses patent matters in a wide range of technologies, including telecommunication systems, electrical and mechanical systems, pharmaceutical products, textile products, athletic footwear, oil drilling software systems and medical device technologies as well as design patents. She has experience in many aspects of litigation, such as infringement and validity analyses, motion practice, claim construction, expert discovery, pre-trial and trial practice, and appellate briefing. Courtney is also a Registered Patent Attorney before the USPTO. She has prepared and prosecuted patent applications in a variety of technologies and has represented companies in inter partes review proceedings. In 2022 and 2023, Courtney was recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” for Intellectual Property Law by The Best Lawyers in America®.

While attending Emory University School of Law, Courtney was Managing Editor of the Emory International Law Review. She also participated in the TI:GER® Program, a collaboration between the law school and Georgia Institute of Technology which focuses on technology commercialization in a multidisciplinary context.

In this conversation, April, Kate, and Courtney discuss what it takes to be a true ally for women in the legal field. Using their personal experiences as well as the trends they see in the industry, they highlight the difference between being an actually meaningful ally and merely having good intentions. This episode, sparked by the recent remarks of Douglas Emhoff, Vice President’s Kamala Harris’s husband and a partner at DLA Piper (currently on leave), identifies the practical aspects of how men can support women and the roadmap to building a welcoming place for everyone through impactful allyship.

Highlights include:

• Realizing that the law – and litigation – is not just for loud, outgoing people
• Allowing women to determine for themselves the type of support they need
• Recognizing one’s limitations and others’ strengths
• Being a good ally may mean setting one’s ego aside 
• A supportive communication style when providing opportunities goes a long way 
• Recognizing that some people are born on third base while others must work to get there 
• The disparate impacts of parental leave on the careers of women vs. men
• Allies who help decode the unspoken rules of the old boys’ club
• Building strong teams, not just checking boxes
• Being willing to risk political and social capital
• Being your auth

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this special episode, hosts April Abele Isaacson and Kate Geyer are joined by Kasey Koballa, an Associate from the Kilpatrick Townsend Raleigh office. Kasey’s practice focuses on patent litigation in federal courts and before the ITC in matters relating to a wide variety of industries, including video games and footwear and sport apparel. In 2015, Kasey received a BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a minor in Biotechnology from North Carolina State University, where she graduated summa cum laude, was the valedictorian of her class, and received the Top 10 Scholar Athlete Award for her achievements in soccer. In 2018, she received her law degree from William & Mary Law School with an Intellectual Property Concentration.

With three very different backgrounds and life journeys, April, Kate, and Kasey discuss the issue of burnout in the legal profession, and particularly in the hard-charging, high-stakes world of patent litigation. They share their first-hand experiences and their earned wisdom about building resilience and thriving in such a pressure-filled environment. In this important conversation, April, Kate, and Kasey use compassion and humor to tackle a serious problem that continues to claim many promising legal careers far too early. They also provide a glimpse into what it takes to work at the highest levels of patent litigation while keeping burnout at bay.

Highlights include:

• Broadening career options 
• Definition of burnout 
• Why attorneys are particularly susceptible to burnout 
• The struggle to say “no” 
• Why women are more likely to suffer burnout than men
• “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” 
• The signs of reaching your limit 
• Navigating the post-COVID hybrid work environment for greater productivity and better work-life balance 
• The critical importance of recognizing early signs of burnout
• Recruiting your support system
• Tiny recharging breaks can make a huge difference 
• Rethinking proactive management of work assignments to reduce overwork
• Law-firm mentors as a first line of defense against burnout
• Surprising reasons why burnout is a major threat to talent retention 
• The availability and value of external resources like employee assistance programs
• Destigmatizing the use of therapy and other mental health support 
• Recognizing that blocking off time for self-care is not an indulgence but a tool to becoming a better lawyer

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

In this episode, hosts April Abele Isaacson and Kate Geyer welcome a special cohost—fellow Kilpatrick Townsend patent litigator Taylor Pfingst—to discuss recent data on how law firms are doing on diversity, equity and inclusion, with particular emphasis on gender equality. 

Taylor, a native Californian, is an Associate in Kilpatrick Townsend’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on patent and trade secret litigation as well as other intellectual property disputes. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of industries, including technology, entertainment, and medical devices. Taylor was a key member of trial teams in high-stakes cases that resulted in more than $100 million in jury verdicts for the client. Every year since 2019, Super Lawyers magazine has recognized Taylor as a Northern California “Rising Star” for Intellectual Property Litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Taylor served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Charles R. Breyer in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and as a law clerk in the Public Rights Division in the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General. She received her BA in political science from UC Santa Barbara and her JD from UC Hastings College of Law. While attending law school, she was the Executive Notes Editor of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly.

In a candid conversation, April, Kate, and Taylor identify the seismic shifts that have taken place in the legal profession since the days when Taylor’s mom became a trial attorney, and the hurdles that still remain today. They discuss the recently published Law360 2022 Glass Ceiling Report: Women In Law, which provides statistical proof of how the profession has changed and how much still needs to be done. 

Through personal anecdotes and insights, April, Kate, and Taylor weave the experience of three generations—Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials—into a cohesive timeline that speaks of the progress and setbacks on the road to greater diversity and inclusion. 

 Highlights include:

• Destined for life in the law 
• Seeing how an earlier generation of women balanced work and family obligations, and were taken seriously as a lawyer
• How not to be a mentor
• Working mothers as role models for both men and women
• Working while female; there is no excuse not to mentor
• The value of not being the only woman in the room 
• Sobering statistics about women in leadership in the legal profession 
• A silver lining to the COVID pandemic
• An invisible burden of proving everyone wrong
• The luxury of being disorganized 
• Capitalizing on the momentum generated by greater numbers of women partners
• Demystifying the path to partnership

Thanks for listening to Sidebars! Connect with us:

• Learn more about April Abele Isaacson
• Check out other insights from Kilpatrick
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
• Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected]
• Learn more about Kilpatrick

**The opinions expressed are those of the attorneys and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or its clients. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.