Affinity Group Campaigns
Follow all of our initiatives on Fish’s Twitter, @FishRichardson.
Black History Month, 2020
BlackFISH, the Black Legal Staff Affinity Group at Fish, invites you to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth again this year. Throughout February, the firm will highlight contributions made by African Americans in different areas of American History.
Black History Month efforts coordinated by:
Karina Calliste
I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, and came to the U.S. to attend college on a volleyball scholarship. I studied Electronics Engineering at Norfolk State University and then went on to pursue my Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Howard University. I am a Patent Agent/Technology Specialist in the Washington DC office, and also serve as the chair of the Black Legal Staff Affinity Group. Currently, I am finishing up my second year at the University of Maryland School of Law. Growing up, I always had a natural passion for math and science, but never, even in my wildest dreams, did I believe that I would end up in this sophisticated profession at such a prestigious firm.
This morning’s #BlackHistoryMonth feature is inventor Judy W. Reed, who patented her invention in a time when it was illegal for African Americans to read, write, or teach others to do the same. To learn more about Fish’s affinity group campaigns, visit: https://hubs.ly/H0mYKhB0
In this afternoon’s #BlackHistoryMonth feature, we highlight Chicago-based entrepreneur and furniture store owner, Sarah E. Goode. To learn more about Fish’s affinity group campaigns, visit our website. https://hubs.ly/H0mYFl20
Photo of Sarah E. Goode courtesy of ohiombe.com.
Contributor: Tracea Rice
I am a first-generation attorney from Charlotte, North Carolina and a patent litigation associate in the Washington, DC office. Moving to DC to join Fish was the first time in my adult life that I resided outside the bounds of the Tar Heel state. I received BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University, and I received my JD from Wake Forest University. Before attending law school, I worked as patent agent and primarily drafted patent applications in the electrical, mechanical and business method fields of art.
Today’s #BlackHistoryMonth highlight is the landmark 1954 #SCOTUS Case, #BrownVBoardOfEducation. The case abolished the “separate-but-equal” doctrine & found racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional as a violation of the #FourteenthAmendment. https://hubs.ly/H0n2Yfk0
Supreme Court photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user Stephen Melkisethian. Linda Brown and Thurgood Marshall courtesy of AP.
Contributor: Dexter Whitley
I am a litigation associate in Atlanta and the son of a principal and the first African-American woman to hold the position of Deputy Attorney General of Mississippi. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Tougaloo College, a historically black college outside of Jackson, Mississippi. I later earned a Ph.D in Microbiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and conducted biomedical research for over seven years. Before attending law school, I had the distinct privilege of teaching undergraduate biology at my alma mater. I also taught a course in Molecular Virology as a visiting professor at Brown University. My current practice involves pharmaceutical and life sciences litigation including the Hatch-Waxman cases.
Pauli Murray, noted for having coined the term “Jane Crow,” is today’s hashtagBlackHistoryMonth spotlight. She was a published author, a civil and women’s rights activist, attorney, the first African American woman to become an Episcopal priest, and more. https://hubs.ly/H0n8B8y0
Constance Baker Motley, who served as a law clerk for future #SupremeCourt Justice Thurgood Marshall, is today’s #BlackHistoryMonth spotlight. She became a civil rights lawyer for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Learn more on our website: hubs.ly/H0n8pqf0
Our final #BlackHistoryMonth highlight is Judge Deborah A. Batts, the first openly gay Federal Court Judge. To learn more about Fish’s diversity initiatives, visit our website. https://hubs.ly/H0n8qNX0
Contributor: Jasmine Whyte
I identify as Third Culture Kid (“TCK”) because I was born in Roslyn, NY to a Belgian father and American mother, and I was raised in Taiwan, Belgium and France. I am fluent in Dutch, English, French and German. After graduating from King’s College of London with a Bsc. in Biochemistry, I earned a Ph.D. in Biology from M.I.T. I am currently a 2L at Columbia Law School, and a technology specialist/patent agent at Fish & Richardson in the Life Science Patent Prosecution Group. At CLS I co-founded and am the co-president of the Columbia Law Couples & Families Association (CL-CFA), which provides support and career advice to students who are embarking on their legal careers as a married couple and/or with child(ren). I am an avid reader and world traveler. I enjoy going to the theatre, opera and art museums.
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, 2019
Information procured from ThoughtCo and other sources.
We kick off our celebration of #APAHM by highlighting Flossie Wong-Staal, whose AIDS research heavily contributed to advances in testing. To learn more about Fish’s #diversity efforts, visit fr.com/diversity.
Contributor: Jeff Mok
I grew up in Toronto, Canada, and came to the U.S. for college, studying electrical engineering at Columbia University. As a litigation associate in New York, I have used my engineering background for cases in a variety of subject areas. I have also branched out to litigate cases on trade secrets, copyright, and trademarks. I’ve had great experiences with pro bono work, where, for example, I’ve helped designers obtain patent and copyright protection, and litigated fair wage claims on behalf of immigrant workers. I now live in New Jersey with my wife and daughter, and still root for my hometown Toronto Blue Jays.
This week, Fish is proud to highlight An Wang, a Chinese-American computer engineer. For more #APAHM highlights, check out our social media accounts and for more information on our #diversity efforts, visit fr.com/diversity.
Contributor: Kim Leung
I am Chinese-American, and my name in Chinese means “golden ring.” My parents were Hoa (or Hua) people, a minority group of ethnic Chinese living in Vietnam, who fled Vietnam as refugees after the Vietnam War and eventually settled in the United States. My parents and siblings now live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I grew up. I am a patent associate in the San Diego office, primarily focusing on Inter Partes Reviews proceedings related to a wide variety of technology areas before the USPTO. I have BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering, and I received my JD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Before attending law school, I worked as an engineer on electromagnetic sensors and signal processing systems for detecting fractures in artificial heart valves.
In our continuation of celebrating #APAHM, Fish is pleased to highlight Har Gobind Khorana. To learn more about Fish’s #diversity efforts, visit fr.com/diversity.
Contributor: Chris Ma
I learned English as a second language even though I was born in the US after my parents emigrated from Taiwan. I am a Principal based in the Washington DC office and was raised in the greater Washington DC area. I received a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Virginia, and stayed three more years to receive my JD. My practice focuses on patent prosecution, focusing on software and hardware computer-related inventions.
In our final week of celebrating #APAHM, we highlight renowned dentist and dental materials researcher Dr. Sumita Mitra. For more information about Fish’s ongoing efforts in the #diversity & #inclusion space, visit: fr.com/diversity.
Contributor: Annie King
I am a first-generation Chinese immigrant from Guangdong, China, and grew up in San Francisco. I never saw snow until my first year at Barnard College, a women’s college in New York City. Staying on the East Coast after undergrad, I received my doctorate in chemistry from MIT and my law degree from Suffolk University. As an associate in the Boston office, my practice focuses on prosecution for pharmaceutical and biotech inventions. The portfolios I have handled cover many life-saving medicines including cancer therapies and anti-viral treatments for HIV.
In continuing our recognition of #APAHM, we highlight Dr. Enrique Ostrea, an essential figure in present neonatal care in the U.S. To learn more about Fish’s #diversity efforts, visit fr.com/diversity.
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Black History Month, 2019
Fish is celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth by recognizing the contributions of Black inventors to the world of #IP. Our first inventor is Garrett Morgan, who was named on at least four patents. Visit our website for more information on our diversity team: fr.com/diversity.
In continuing our celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we highlight Elijah McCoy, whose last name is the caveat for the phrase “the real McCoy,” coined after his inventions were copycatted. Visit our website for more information on our diversity team: fr.com/diversity.
In week three of #BlackHistoryMonth, we highlight Dr. Patricia Bath, whose invention of the Laserphaco probe is used in cataract surgery. For more information on the efforts of our #diversity team, visit: fr.com/diversity.
Miriam Benjamin, the second Black woman to ever receive a #patent, is the inventor of the Gong and Signal Chair still used in hotels today. Visit our website for more information on our #diversity team:fr.com/diversity.
The next inventor we highlight for #BlackHistoryMonth is household & personal item creator Mary Kenner, who holds five #patents to include the bathroom tissue holder. For more information on the efforts of our #diversity team, visit: fr.com/diversity.
Fish continues to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth by highlighting George Washington Carver. Carver is known for game-changing agricultural ideas,but also has #patents in the cosmetics & paint industries. Learn more about the initiatives of our #diversity team: fr.com/diversity.
The next inventor highlighted for #BlackHistoryMonth is James E. West, who holds more than 200 foreign patents and 60 U.S. #patents, to include the microphone. For more information on the efforts of our #diversity team, visit: fr.com/diversity.
Dr. Charles Drew is credited for patenting what is known today as a blood bank. Keep following Fish’s #BlackHistoryMonth for more inventor highlights, and visit https://hubs.ly/H0gK_lZ0 to learn more about our #diversity team: fr.com/diversity.