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.
Join us: young.lawyers.committee@ptabbar.org
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 |

Young Lawers and Agents Committee - Lunch & Learn Series
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.
Young Lawyers and Agents Committee - Nuts and Bolts Series
October 29, 2024 - An Introduction to Motions to Amend at the PTAB. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The Powerpoint can be found here.
February 29, 2024 - LEAP the Barriers to PTAB Oral Advocacy. Click here to access a recording of the presentation.
August 29, 2023 - A Guide to the Patent Owner Response, presented by Casey Kraning. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The Powerpoint can be found here.
January 24, 2023 - Discovery at the PTAB, presented by Maria Stubbings. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The Powerpoint can be found here.
December 13, 2022- Institution of Inter Partes Review, presented by Anupma Sahay. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The PowerPoint from the presentation can be found here.
November 16, 2022- Real Parties in Interest ("RPII") and Privity, presented by Li Guo. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The PowerPoint from the presentation can be found here.
October 19, 2022 - Petition for AIA Trial Proceedings, presented by Samuel A. Raque. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. The PowerPoint from the presentation can be found here.
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. Click here to access the June 7, 2022 Webinar, Appeals to the Federal Circuit: Mid-Year Review. The PowerPoint from the Webinar can be found here.