Young Lawyers and Agents Committee
This committee develops programming of interest to young lawyers and patent agents, including networking and mentoring programs. This committee is expected to coordinate with other committees, including the Membership Committee, Diversity Committee, and the Women’s Committee.
| Casey Kraning | Michael Milea | Safiya Aguilar | Rachel Wu Hankinson | Joseph Myles | Hayley LeBlanc |
| Committee Co-Chair | Committee Co-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Commitee Vice-Chair |
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Committee Webinars and Events
The PTAB Bar Association is pleased to make video recordings and presentation slides from past committee presentations available to the Association's members as an additional benefit of membership. Logged-in members can access those recordings and slides via the PTAB Bar Association's Presentations Page.
The PTAB Bar Association's committees regularly host free presentations for Association members. If you would like to become a member of the PTAB Bar Association, please visit Membership Information - PTAB Bar Association.
The PTAB Bar Association Young Lawyers & Agents Committee hosted or partnered on the following events:
Lunch & Learn Series
- On July 22, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association’s Young Lawyers & Agents Committee presented its first in-person event in the Lunch & Learn Series in Washington, DC. The program discussed the PTAB Legal Experience and Advancement Program (LEAP) and explored topics related to the panelists’ experiences with LEAP practitioners and the overall benefits of the program. The panelists also examined topics such as how to advocate for the opportunity to be a LEAP practitioner. The panelists included Acting Deputy Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande, United States Patent and Trademark Office; Kristi Sawert, Fish & Richardson PC; Michael Milea, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP; and Carlos Duarte-Guevara, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP. The program was moderated by Rachel Wu Hankinson, Paul Hastings LLP.
- On June 24, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association’s Young Lawyers & Agents held a Mentoring event on June 24, 2025, in conjunction with the Diversity Committee. This program was the kick-off to the YLA Committee’s Lunch & Learn Series, where the Committee organizes informational panels on various topics over the lunch hour. Panelists Lisa Nguyen, Paul Hastings; Scott B. Amankwatia, Marbury Law Group; Saurabh Gupta, Orrick; and Kim Leung, Fish & Richardson, explored topics related to their own experiences with influential mentors and how mentors have played a role in their career development. The panelists also discussed cultivating informal and formal mentor relationships. The program was moderated by Hayley LeBlanc, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone.
Nuts and Bolts Series
- October 29, 2024 - An Introduction to Motions to Amend at the PTAB. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, An Introduction to Motions to Amend at the PTAB (October 29, 2024).
- February 29, 2024 - LEAP the Barriers to PTAB Oral Advocacy. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, LEAP the Barriers to PTAB Oral Advocacy (February 29, 2024).
- August 29, 2023 - A Guide to the Patent Owner Response, presented by Casey Kraning. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, A Guide to the Patent Owner Response (August 29, 2023).
- January 24, 2023 - Discovery at the PTAB, presented by Maria Stubbings. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, Discovery at the PTAB (January 24, 2023).
- December 13, 2022- Institution of Inter Partes Review, presented by Anupma Sahay. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, Institution of Inter Partes Review (December 13, 2022).
- November 16, 2022- Real Parties in Interest ("RPII") and Privity, presented by Li Guo. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, Real Parties In Interest and Privity (November 16, 2022).
- October 19, 2022 - Petition for AIA Trial Proceedings, presented by Samuel A. Raque. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: YLA Committee, Petition for AIA Trial Proceedings (October 19, 2022).
Other Events
On July 16, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association’s Diversity, Women’s, and Young Lawyers & Agents Committees, hosted a Speed Mentoring event to connect newer practitioners with those who are more experienced, stimulate productive conversations, and provide an avenue to form effective mentoring relationships. The event provided a forum for open conversation between newer and more experienced practitioners, while giving everyone a chance to connect with different people. The program was moderated by Connor Scholes from Jones Day and facilitated by Ellyar Barazesh of Baker Botts and Thomas Yeh of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.
- On June 7, 2022, The Young Lawyers Committee and the Committee on Appeals from the PTAB hosted a Webinar, Appeals to the Federal Circuit: Mid-Year Review. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Committee on Appeals from the PTAB/YLA Committee, Appeals to the Federal Circuit (June 7, 2022).
