Non Obvious with Hugh Hansen

In this episode of the podcast, Hugh sits down with Paul Michel, retired Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Paul is now a consultant spending most of his time on patent policy. Specifically, advocating for revising patent law to improve clarity, predictability and making patents more reliable and enforceable when valid. Special concerns include eligibility, PTAB, injunctions, claim construction, obviousness and damages. Hugh and Paul’s conversation covers: ● Paul’s...

In this episode of the podcast, Hugh sits down with Josh Simmons, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Josh Simmons is a well-established and nationally recognized appellate and trial court litigator with a focus on IP litigations. Their conversation covers: - The use and availability of magistrate judges. - The value of judicial clerkships to recent graduates. - The role of judicial clerks in pro se cases. - The divide in the academic community on the role of IP. - Why did the Supreme Court take...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Judge Kathleen O'Malley. Judge O’Malley served as a judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio from 1994 to 2010, and since then as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Their conversation covers: ● Judge O’Malley’s educational and professional background. ● How did Judge O’Malley become a federal judge? ● Jury or nonjury litigation: from the judge’s perspective, which is better? ● What...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Annsley Merelle Ward, who has become well-known beyond her years. She recently became Counsel in Intellectual Property Litigation at WilmerHale in London and has been writing for IPKat since 2009. They discuss a number of issues and experiences, including: - Annsley’s nomadic upbringing in the U.S. and U.K; - Why the Napster litigation sparked her interest in intellectual property law; - Memories from her first one-on-one meeting with Sir Hugh Laddie, her...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with He Jing, an experienced practitioner for over 20 years. He has specialized in complex litigation in China involving IP, antitrust and policy advocacy. He started his legal career as a US patent attorney and spent 9 years in a major international law firm before starting his private practice in China. Hugh and He Jing discuss a number of issues, including: - He Jing’s upbringing in China and his time spent in the U.S.; - The founding of his own law firm; -...

Episode 15: Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Richard Arnold by Hugh Hansen

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Brad Smith, President and Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft, and co-author of the book Tools and Weapons: The Promise and Peril of the Digital Age (2019). Prior to joining Microsoft in 1993, he clerked in the Southern District of New York and then was in practice with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. and London. Brad and Hugh discuss a number of issues, including: 1) Brad’s growing up in Wisconsin; 2) his clerkship and Covington & Burling...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Jed S. Rakoff, who for close to 25 years has been a federal district court judge in the District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before that he spent several years in private practice and seven years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. They discuss a number of issues and experiences, including Judge Rakoff’s: - Upbringing in Philadelphia; - Time as a white collar criminal defense lawyer...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He has served in this role since October 2008 and will finish his second term this month. Their discussion features a variety of global IP topics including: 1) Origins of WIPO in the late-1800s and its efforts to promote international cooperation while balancing political tensions; 2) Future of multilateral IP treaties and bilateral agreements; 3) Impacts of Brexit and...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with John D. Feerick, Dean Emeritus and Norris Professor of Law at Fordham Law School. John and Hugh discuss various aspects of John’s life and developments in the legal profession from the 1940s until now: a. John’s Irish family heritage and his childhood in a diverse neighborhood of working-class families in the Bronx; b. the growth of law firms from small to large to overwhelming; c. the role of bar associations, past and present; d. John's participation in...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Patricia Martone, an attorney with over 45 years of experience as a trial lawyer in intellectual property matters. She previously served for many years as a partner in Fish & Neave (which was merged into Ropes & Gray) and currently serves as principal of her own practice. She has been lead counsel in 45 patent litigations and personally negotiated over 40 patent licenses. Hugh and Pat discuss a number of issues including: (1) Pat’s background and how she...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Renata Hesse, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and co-head of their Antitrust Group. Prior to joining the firm, she served twice as Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice and worked in the division for over 15 years. Hugh and Renata discuss among other things, her childhood in Berkeley, what it was like growing up in a “big caliber family,” and her somewhat unusual entry into antitrust. They trade...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Nicholas Groombridge. a senior partner in Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, who over the past 25 years has been extensively involved in all aspects of patent litigation. Hugh and Nick discuss a wide variety of topics, starting with his childhood in Birmingham, England, the long trail through Brazil and ending up in New York. They talk about why he started practicing in the patent field, the pros and cons of being a litigator and why he prefers...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Prof. William E. Kovacic. Bill is the Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy and Director of the Competition Law Center at The George Washington University Law School. Currently he travels back and forth each week to Kings College London, where he is its Dickson Poon School of Law visiting professor of Global Competition Law. Hugh and Bill discuss a wide variety of topics starting with his idyllic...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Etienne Sanz de Acedo, the CEO of the International Trademark Association (INTA), an organization that is dedicated to supporting trademarks and related IP. INTA members come from more than 190 countries. Prior to joining INTA, Etienne had several roles at EUIPO, formerly OHIM, including Head of the Communications Service. Before that, Etienne practiced as an attorney in Spain and taught law at the University of Alicante, Spain. Hugh and Etienne explore...

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Sir Robin Jacob, the Hugh Laddie Professor of Intellectual Property Law and Director of the Institute of Brand and Innovation Law at University College London. Prior to UCL, Sir Robin served as a judge for the High Court (Chancery Division) and the Court of Appeals for a total of 18 years. Before that he was a barrister and “took silk” at the Intellectual Property Bar for 28 years. Being a “born litigator,” Sir Robin talks about his life as a barrister...

This week, Hugh sits down with Stan McCoy, President and Managing Director of the region encompassing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for the Motion Picture Association. He previously served as Assistant US Trade Representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. They discuss Stan's time at the USTR, IP policies under the Obama and Trump administrations, and the effect of social media on passing IP legislation in the US and EU.

Hugh continues his two-part conversation with David Kappos, partner at Cravath, Swaine, and Moore LLP and former Director of the USPTO. Among other things, they discuss patent law and its relationship to other areas of intellectual property, the Supreme Court’s record on dealing with IP issues, and why subject matter eligibility under Section 101 is still the most important issue facing the U.S. patent system today.

In this episode, the first part of two, Hugh sits down with David Kappos, a partner at Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP and former Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). They discuss David’s time at the USPTO and his role in passing the America Invents Act (AIA), the major players in U.S. intellectual property law, recent Supreme Court patent decisions and the future of blockchain technology.

In this episode, Hugh sits down with Denny Chin, a judge in the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and a former district court judge in the Southern District of New York. They discuss Denny's different experiences in these courts, the role of dissents and en banc rehearings, and how the appellate experience has changed over the years. They also discuss a number of other issues, including diversity in the judiciary and Denny's numerous trial reenactments of key civil rights cases in U.S....