2019 DITA Awards Ceremony

2019 Individual Award Winners

• Laurie Charrington, associate general counsel, Intel Corporation. In addition to being the Patent Litigation Team lead, Laurie is on the leadership team for Intel Legal’s women’s leadership program, Leading Edge, and is co-chair of Intel’s global Black Leadership Council (IBLC).

• Joe Lee, associate general counsel, Microsoft. Joe has been with Microsoft since 2000, and currently leads the Microsoft Devices & Hardware legal team. He is an active board member and leader in the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). Accepting the award on Joe’s behalf was Aneesh Metha of Microsoft.

• Lisa Collins, intellectual property partner, BakerHostetler. In 2018, the NBA awarded Lisa the 40 Under 40 Award and the Excellence in Leadership Award, which honors one member of the 40 Under 40 class for outstanding leadership.

• John Gibson, litigation partner, Crowell & Moring. John is chair of the firm’s 3D Printing Digital Transformation Working Group and a co-chair of the Diversity Council. In 2019, John was honored as the “Attorney of the Year” by the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association.

Corporate Legal Team Awards

• HP Inc. HP Inc.’s award honoring the company’s commitment to diversity as a core and guiding value was accepted by Jennifer Prioleau, HP associate general counsel, 3D Printing Division.

• Toyota. Accepted by Frederick Mau, IP counsel, and Humma Siddiqui, managing counsel, Toyota North America, the award honors Toyota’s legal services group, led by GC Sandra Phillips Rogers, for its sustained commitment to diversity in IP.

Nonprofit Organization Awards

• North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU). Brenda Reddix-Smalls, professor of law and director of the IP Institute at the NCCU School of Law, accepted the award for her instrumental role in founding the IP Institute at the law school.

• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Robert Grey, LCLD president, accepted the award honoring the organization’s work to transform the legal profession by offering a range of action programs to advance diverse legal talent toward the ranks of corporate and law firm leadership.

Following the award ceremony, the panelists, including the winners and company representatives, engaged in a lively discussion on issues surrounding the recruiting, promotion, and retention of diverse lawyers and professionals in IP law and technology.