Diversity Committee
This committee encourages diversity of thought and perspective through recruitment and retention of diverse lawyers, agents, and law students, including diversity based on religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and age for active involvement in the overall mission and leadership of the Association. This committee is expected to coordinate with other committees, including the Membership Committee, Women’s Committee, and the Young Lawyers/Agents Committee.
Contact us: diversity.committee@ptabbar.org
| Karan Jhurani | AJ Sutton | Matthew Berntsen | Ashley Cheung | Saurabh Gupta |
| Committee Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair |
 |  |  |  |  |
The PTAB Bar Association is committed to engaging on all different aspects of diversity and dedicates a session at each Annual Conference to delve into diversity, equity, and inclusion topics relevant to practice before the PTAB.
Recently, the PTAB Bar Association hosted or partnered on the following events, with the Diversity Committee of the Association leading the charge on planning and/or executing these events:
- On February 23, 2023, the Program Committee hosted a Webinar, Veterans Before the PTAB and in IP: A Discussion of Veterans as a Diverse Constituency Appearing Before the PTAB. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The PowerPoint from the presentation can be found here.
- On June 6, 2023, the Diversity Committee and PTAB Bar Association sponsored an event hosted by Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG), Emerging Trends and DEIA Topics: Insights into Building an Inclusive Workforce
- On September 6, 2023, the Diversity Committee and PTAB Bar Association sponsored an event hosted by Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG), Women Practitioners’ Viewpoint: What Does it Take to be PTAB Whisperers?
- On November 2, 2023, the Diversity Committee hosted an in-person Meet Up in Washington, DC with about 50 attendees, including around 10 members of the PTAB (including judges and law clerks). This event was sponsored by Allen & Overy, ArentFox Schiff, Crowell & Moring, Finnegan, Fish & Richardson, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, Michael Best, Perkins Coie, and Virtual Patent Gateway. A videos from the event can be accessed here. Photos from the event are below:
In addition, the Diversity Committee of the PTAB Bar Association has continued its Diverse Practitioner Spotlight initiative on social media platforms. Visit the PTAB Bar Association’s LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages to see the recently spotlighted practitioner.
