Officers
Officer Bios
Ms. Summers represents clients in domestic and international intellectual property matters with a global focus in U.S., Japan and Germany. Ms. Summers has vast experience litigating cases and chairing trials on both sides of the “v” in District Courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and International Trade Commission (ITC). She also has argued appeals before the Federal Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Court of International Trade, and others. She clerked for the Honorable Richard Linn and helped establish the Tokyo IP American Inn of Court, for which she received a Distinguished Service Medal.
Andrew Baluch is a founding partner of Smith Baluch LLP where he represents clients with complex intellectual property matters. Mr. Baluch previously served as Director of International IP Enforcement in the White House Office of the IP Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). Prior to his White House appointment, Mr. Baluch served as Expert Legal Advisor to the Director of the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, he worked with the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) on designing and implementing the AIA’s new post-grant revocation procedures, and in drafting the USPTO’s 2010-2015 Strategic Plan.
David J. Kappos is a partner at Cravath. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Kappos served as Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In that role, he advised the President, Secretary of Commerce and the Administration on IP policy matters.