Catch up on posts from our December newsletter.

Attorneys of Color in IP Interview with Idris N. McKelvey

Spring and summer protests of racial injustice and mistreatment by police increased momentum to a movement to support diversity and inclusion in a variety of spaces, including in the legal field. Our work at the Institute has always included efforts to increase the diversity of the intellectual property legal bar. We want to build on the national conversation with interviews with successful IP attorneys of color to hear their honest perspective.

This month we feature an interview with Idris N. McKelvey, an alumnus of Howard University and Howard University School of Law and currently Vice President, Patent Counsel at The Estée Lauder Companies. The interview was conducted by LaTessa Gray, a third year law student at Howard University School of Law. In the interview, Mr. McKelvey discusses his career as a patent attorney, provides advice for future IP attorneys, and discusses the diversity, or lack of diversity, of the IP bar. Read more here.

NCAA’s Proposed NIL Regulations Are an Antitrust Violation Waiting to Happen
Ron Katz adds his take on the proposed regulations regarding the usage of college athletes’ names, images, and likenesses (NIL). He discusses the antitrust perspective on NIL regulations. You can also hear more at the annual IP and Social Justice CLE in March next year, where Ron will discuss this topic further. Read more here.