ChIPs is celebrating a landmark year across the globe.
Our Mission
Advance and connect
women in technology
and intellectual
property law and policy.
Our Northstar
Accelerate
innovation through
diversity of thought,
participation and
engagement.
Table of Contents
Welcome
In 2025, ChIPs celebrated 20 years of advancing women in technology, law and policy. In 2026, we begin looking forward to the next 20 years.
ChIPs began in 2005 as a small gathering of women leaders in Silicon Valley, meeting to discuss challenges, share strategies and support one another.
In the past 20 years, ChIPs has grown into a global organization connecting thousands of women at the intersection of law, technology and policy.
Our evolution has been fueled by countless contributors: our founders, early supporters, innovators and the many members who volunteered their time to design and deliver meaningful programming.
In the past two decades, ChIPs has expanded to include a Social Justice Chapter and 33 chapter locations around the world, each one driven by passionate leaders who create community, opportunity and impact.
Our board and staff have helped advance not only programming and member engagement but also the organizational strength and stability needed to sustain our mission for decades to come. We are also grateful for the distinguished speakers from law firms, corporations, government, the judiciary, academia and public-interest organizations who have shared their insights and elevated our collective understanding.
For 20 years, ChIPs has remained firmly committed to informing, connecting and advancing women. That commitment holds even more meaning today. We are navigating a period of social, cultural and technological disruption, a moment that challenges institutions and individuals alike. Yet we remain steadfast. We will continue to cut through the noise and stay focused on delivering community, education and support to women in our field.
This mission matters because it works. We have seen members build transformative relationships, grow in their careers, and create ripple effects far beyond our organization. We see this every time we gather at a ChIPs event, whether it is a local happy hour or our Global Summit: we crave the support systems ChIPs offers. The exponential growth of ChIPs points to a need for support. It is up to us, as members, supporters and leaders, to turn and pull as we climb.
Progress for women in leadership is real. Women now hold 40% of General Counsel roles in the Fortune 500, and in 2022, women were appointed to these positions at a higher rate than men for the first time. This is meaningful progress, but it is not the finish line.
Our anniversary theme—Connect, Celebrate, Commit—captured the spirit of the year. We connected to strengthen our community and support one another. We celebrated our achievements and the individuals who made them possible. And we recommitted to our mission, knowing that lasting progress requires vigilance, perseverance, creativity and unity.
History has shown that women consistently meet moments of uncertainty with resilience and resolve, and the past year was no exception. As we look forward, we carry with us the gratitude, pride and momentum built during our anniversary year, and we remain dedicated to shaping a more inclusive future.
Dorian Daley
Board Chair
ChIPs Board of Directors
Board Chair
Dorian Daley
Board Member, Panetta Institute for Public Policy
Former General Counsel, Oracle
ChIPs Audit and Finance Committee
ChIPs Content Committee
ChIPs Nominating and Governance Committee
Stephanie Burns
SVP and General Counsel, Sony Interactive Entertainment
ChIPs Audit and Finance Committee
ChIPs Scholarship Committe
Victoria A. Espinel
President and CEO, Business Software Alliance (BSA)
ChIPs Content Committee
ChIPs Scholarship Committee
Katherine Minarik
Chief Legal Officer, Uniswap Labs
ChIPs Content Committee
ChIPs Nominating and Governance Committee
Karen Robinson
VP, Associate General Counsel, Adobe
ChIPs Scholarship Committee
Sarita Venkat
VP and Deputy General Counsel
Global Litigation and Competition, Cisco
ChIPs Nominating and Governance Committee
Cyndi Wheeler
Head of Intellectual Property, Unity Technologies
ChIPs Audit and Finance Committee
Jennifer Yokoyama
SVP and Deputy General Counsel
IP and Technology, Cisco
ChIPs Audit and Finance Committee
ChIPs Content Committee
The Network is Growing
ChIPsters connected in 2025—a lot.
More ChIPs members connected this year than ever before with new opportunities to network, learn and grow.
Members
Increase in Membership
Global Events
Increase in Global Chapter Events
Event Attendees Across the Globe
Chapters: The Foundation of ChIPs
ChIPs Thinks Globally, Acts Locally
ChIPs Chapters are the foundation of our organization—how we connect, advance and empower our members. Through our more than 30 chapters spanning five continents, including two law student chapters, we mobilize our community of professionals and students to learn, grow and lead together.
Over the past year, our chapters engaged members through nearly 100 events, from panels on litigation funding, presentation skills and the global state of DEI to sessions on self-publishing and personal development. Beyond earning CLE credit, members also connected through social events like hikes, teas and happy hours—continuing to build community in creative and meaningful ways.
In April, ChIPs Chapter Leaders gathered in Chicago for the annual ChIPs Chapter Leadership Retreat. Throughout the retreat, leaders shared new ways to engage their local members and share resources and training with one another. With advanced systems implemented at the end of 2024, this past year continued to ensure ChIPs provides frameworks that foster our community engagement and strengthen relationships across the globe.
Many of our Chapter Leaders advanced in their roles within ChIPs in 2025. Chapter Leaders Aparna Watal (ChIPs Australia/New Zealand) and Alieza Ali (ChIPs Pacific Northwest) joined the ChIPs Global Summit Content and Advisory Committee. Natalie Alfaro Gonzales (ChIPs Texas) celebrated another year on the committee while Lara Rogers (ChIPs Pacific Northwest) spoke on the Global Summit main stage. Meanwhile, Rose Oskanian (ChIPs Philadelphia) graduated from the ChIPs General Boot Camp, a 12-month program to prepare in-house counsel for the GC role.
Of course, it’s also smaller moments that create the organization ChIPs is today. ChIPs founding member Kathi Vidal, former Under Secretary of Commerce for IP and Director of the USPTO, stopped by for breakfast with our Sydney and Melbourne ChIPsters while she was in town for work. ChIPs Board Member Stephanie Burns joined her alma mater, Santa Clara University School of Law, to address the graduating students who comprise the ChIPs Santa Clara Law School Chapter. ChIPs New York Chapter Leader Kassie Helm joined the ChIPs London Chapter for a discussion on AI strategies while she visited the area. It’s a fact: ChIPs creates real, lasting relationships, no matter your ZIP code.
2025 was a record year for ChIPs Chapters. Our global membership surpassed 9,000, with over 1,000 members participating in chapter events—more than 20% of them new to the ChIPs community. Each event reflected the strength of our chapters and the energy of the members who bring the ChIPs mission to life around the world.
Where We Are
The ChIPs Global Impact
Worldwide Reach
Africa
South Africa
Asia-Pacific
Australia/New Zealand
Canada
Eastern Canada
Toronto
Europe
Belgium
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
United Kingdom
South America
Brazil
USA
Atlanta
Boston
Carolinas
Chicago
Colorado
Florida
Indianapolis
Los Angeles
New York
Orange County
Pacific Northwest
Philadelphia
San Diego
Silicon Valley
Texas
Twin Cities
Washington, D.C.
Meet our Members
Career Development
ChIPs Talent Connectors
In 2025, ChIPs launched the Talent Connector Webinar Series, a monthly professional-development program designed to help our members raise their profiles, sharpen their skills and take confident next steps in their careers.
The series brought together a diverse group of experts who guided participants through essential topics such as executive presence, public speaking, strategic online branding, compensation and package negotiations and other core competencies that matter at every career stage.
Created with job seekers, emerging leaders and in-house professionals seeking advancement, the Talent Connector Webinar Series offered practical tools and actionable insights that members could apply immediately.
Thanks to strong engagement, including more than 1,000 attendees, and consistently positive feedback, the series will continue monthly in 2026, expanding ChIPs’ commitment to empowering our community with resources that support growth, leadership and long-term career success.
Career Development
General Counsel Boot Camp
At the 2025 ChIPs Global Summit in Washington, D.C., 16 senior in-house counsel joined the fourth cohort of the ChIPs General Counsel Boot Camp. Participants represented a wide range of industries and brought substantial experience in intellectual property, compliance, litigation and corporate strategy.
Cohort Four is comprised of: Betul Ayranci (FOX Sports), Sara Barnhart (Cox Enterprises), Megan Cesare (Airbnb), Evelyn Chang (10x Genomics), Tara Clothier (EssilorLuxottica), Carolyn Eckart (Abbott Laboratories), Heba Hamouda (Apple), Mehrin Kehoe (Paychex), Jamie Kitano (Electra Therapeutics), Rachel MacGuire (Oracle), Alyssa Sandrowitz (Woodward), Kate Smith (Google), Michelle Trapani (Oracle), Laura Vega (Terumo Neuro), Kimberly Woodward (Okta) and Erika Yawger (Apple).
During the Summit, ChIPs also recognized the graduation of the third Boot Camp cohort: Catherine Cambridge (formerly of Allvue Systems), Michele Connors (Cirrus Logic), Rachel Herder (Mammoth Biosciences), Kali Hira (Apple), Sha Hua (Amazon Lab126), Chantal Hwang (NVIDIA), Samantha Lawson (Coinbase), Laura Richardson (Neural), Rose Oskanian (ROMOS Legal Advisors), Mala Sahai (Gladstone Institutes) and Meghan Van Horn (NeoGenomics Laboratories).
The General Counsel Boot Camp is supported by a generous grant from ChIPs Board Chair Dorian Daley. Her commitment, along with the sustained engagement of leaders across the ChIPs community, continues to make this program possible.
“Our Boot Camp serves as a career catapult for women working to overcome the gender gap at the highest levels of IP law and policy,” said ChIPs Executive Director Joan Toth. “We’re grateful for Dorian Daley’s vision and support, and for the continued commitment to expanding leadership pathways in this field.”
Paying it Forward
ChIPs NextGen Summit
In May, ChIPs held our NextGen Summit for the second time at Oracle Conference Center in Redwood City, California.
More than 150 rising advocates participated in Empowered Growth: Taking Charge of Your Career in Uncertain Times, a program designed to support early-career professionals as they develop the skills, perspective and confidence to navigate an evolving legal and technology landscape.
The program encouraged attendees to examine their own career trajectories, learn from stories of resilience and innovation, and explore practical tools for identifying and pursuing professional goals. Throughout the day, sessions addressed topics such as managing career inflection points, strengthening professional networks and considering long-term impact. Participants left with greater clarity about the challenges and opportunities ahead and a framework for building a sustainable and purpose-driven career.
Paying it Forward
ChIPs Mock Pitch
ChIPs hosted its 11th annual Mock Program in March 2025, centered on a Mock Pitch designed to give early-career attorneys practical experience in presenting to prospective clients. Each team included four associates or junior partners and one mentor, working together through a case scenario involving wearable technology and the evolving role of AI within law firms.
More than 60 associates from Baker Botts LLP, Benesch, Brooks Kushman, Desmarais LLP, DLA Piper, Fish & Richardson, Goodwin, Haynes & Boone, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins and Winston & Strawn took part in the program. Participants gained hands-on practice and received individualized feedback from volunteer evaluators in a supportive environment.
ChIPs launched the Mock Pitch program in 2014 to create meaningful opportunities for associates and junior partners to develop client-facing skills that are essential for career advancement and addressing pay-equity challenges in the profession. Today, it remains one of ChIPs’ signature community-led initiatives.
Senior in-house counsel with extensive experience assessing pitches from outside firms have continued to shape and strengthen the program. Leaders from Abbott Laboratories, Allstate, Cisco, DeVry University, Fiserv, Gladstone Institutes, Google, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, NeoGenomics, Nokia, Olaplex, Oracle, Pinterest, Samaya, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Unity and USAA contributed their time and expertise to help prepare the next generation of women leaders and support a professional ecosystem that advances women in technology, law and policy.
ChIPs Global Summit
This year’s Global Summit, held in Washington, D.C., honored ChIPs’ 20th anniversary.
Our theme—Connect, Celebrate, Commit—embodied our values as we honored 20 years of ChIPs.
The Summit’s speakers, sponsors and attendees all carried the spirit of connection, celebration and commitment throughout the week.
The 2025 ChIPs Global Summit marked a milestone year for our community. Held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., this year’s Summit celebrated the 20th anniversary of ChIPs, recognizing two decades of advancing women in law, technology and policy through education, mentorship and leadership.
Bringing together more than 750 attendees from across the globe, the Summit featured thought-provoking panels, fireside chats and networking opportunities that reflected ChIPs’ core mission: to connect and advance women who are shaping the future of innovation. Over three days, participants heard from leaders in private practice, corporate law, government and academia who shared candid insights on issues ranging from AI governance and patent reform to corporate leadership and inclusive innovation.
The Summit’s program featured an extraordinary lineup of speakers, including distinguished judges, general counsel, innovators and policymakers, who exemplified the power of women’s leadership across industries. Together, they explored how legal frameworks, technology and responsible stewardship intersect to drive progress.
From keynote addresses that challenged conventional thinking to breakout discussions that fostered collaboration, every session reinforced the importance of community and the value of women’s perspectives in shaping a more equitable and innovative world.
The success of the 2025 Global Summit was made possible by the generous support of corporate, law-firm and solution-provider sponsors, as well as the tireless efforts of the Global Summit Committee. Their collaboration enabled ChIPs to deliver a world-class experience that inspired attendees and strengthened connections across our global network.
As we reflect on two decades of growth, the 2025 Global Summit stands as a testament to the power of collective action. The relationships, ideas and initiatives sparked in Washington will continue to shape our community, fueling the next generation of leaders committed to equity, innovation and impact.
“The ChIPs Global Summit brought together an incredibly talented group of female leaders in our field. The sessions are insightful, and the connections are lasting and meaningful.”
ChIPs Global Summit
ChIPs Hall of Fame
ChIPs inducted Verna L. Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works, into the ChIPs Hall of Fame as our 2025 honoree. Williams joins a distinguished group of 15 prior honorees whose leadership has shaped the legal, technology and policy landscape, including former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former USPTO Director Kathi Vidal, Senator Mazie Hirono and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Williams’s induction underscored the values central to the ChIPs community: connection, mentorship and the advancement of women in law. During a memorable fireside conversation, Williams was interviewed by her daughter, Allison Williams Singleton, a 2L at her parents’ alma mater, Harvard Law School. The conversation reflected the intergenerational commitment to advocacy, public service and expanding opportunity that defines Williams’s career.
As CEO of Equal Justice Works, Williams leads an organization that develops and supports public interest leaders through fellowship programs serving communities across the United States. More than 2,500 fellows have participated in these programs, with more than 85% continuing to work in public service. Her impact extends beyond Equal Justice Works; through her work at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and her longstanding scholarship and advocacy, she has helped launch the careers of thousands of legal professionals committed to equity and justice.
Williams’s induction came as ChIPs marked its 20th anniversary—an especially fitting moment to recognize a leader whose career embodies the spirit of the organization. Her work in expanding pathways, elevating underrepresented voices and strengthening the public interest sector reflects the values ChIPs champions: advancing women, building community and creating meaningful change throughout the legal profession.
ChIPs Global Summit
ChIPs Scholarship
In 2025, ChIPs selected three recipients for the annual ChIPs Scholarship—marking the first time three awardees were chosen in a single year. Molly Yancher, UC Irvine School of Law; Brhea D’Mello, University of Miami School of Law; and Sydney Martens, Georgetown University School of Law, each received a $10,000 tuition award and attended the ChIPs Global Summit to be recognized.
The recipients were chosen from a nationwide pool of more than 100 rising 3L students representing law schools across the country.
The awardees contributed to ChIPs programming by serving as Global Summit Influencers with an Instagram takeover, sharing key moments and reflections from the event.
The Summit experience provided opportunities for meaningful engagement with practitioners across IP, technology and policy. As Yancher noted, “It was incredibly inspiring to hear so many women share their career journeys, life stories and advice.” D’Mello reflected that meeting leaders “deepened my passion for a career in IP and tech transactions.” Martens expressed appreciation for the ChIPs community and the Scholarship Committee, sharing that she was “deeply grateful to the entire ChIPs community… and the generous donors who made this opportunity possible.”
Established in 2018 with a contribution from Morrison & Foerster in honor of Rachel Krevans, the ChIPs Scholarship supports women law students pursuing careers at the intersection of law, technology and policy.
Our Volunteers
ChIPs Chapter Leaders are the driving force of this organization. They engage, connect and advance our communities in innovative ways, growing their efforts each year. Without their energy, ChIPs would not be where it is today.
Atlanta
Susan Russell, Co-Chair
Aisha Marinho
Rebecca Barnett
Kate Readon
Australia/New Zealand
Anna Vandervliet, Co-Chair
Aparna Watal, Co-Chair
Ronelle Geldenhuys
Charlotte Iggulden
Dr. Paula Zito
Kaelah Ford
Maryam Khajeh Tabari
Katherine Rock
Simren Delaney
Clare Cunliffe
Amy Tesoriero
Belgium
Jozefien Vanherpe
Judith Bussé
Linh Truong
Tine Carmeliet
Séverine Bouvy
Liesbet Hauben
Jozefien Vanherpe
Marie Keup
Boston
Marissa Lalli, Co-Chair
Kelli Powell, Co-Chair
Ruth Okediji
Brazil
Fernanda Varella Beser, Co-Chair
Bruna Lins, Co-Chair
Juliana Neves
Carolina Lanza
Natalia Barzilai
Larissa Galimberti
Ana Carpinetti
Carolinas
Danielle Williams, Co-Chair
Helene Mele, Co-Chair
Samantha Summer
Zahra Asadi
Cori Hockman
Christine Beninati
Chicago
Monika Dudek, Co-Chair
Jennifer Kurcz, Co-Chair
Sangeeta Shah, Co-Chair
Stephanie Nelson
Erika Singleton
Colorado
Alyssa Sandrowitz, Co-Chair
Molly Kocialski
Eastern Canada
Daphne Lainson, Co-Chair
Beverley Moore, Co-Chair
Daniela Bassan
Sheema Khan
Béatrice Ngatcha
Florida
Geneva Clark, Co-Chair
Dana Vouglitois
Roisin McNally
Nicole Wanty
France
Leadership Positions Open
Germany
Dr. Anna Giedke, Co-Chair
Ina Burck, Co-Chair
Phyllis Graf
Rokasana Hosseini
Constanze Wedding
Naho Fujimoto
Tiffany Zilliox
Katharina Bickel
Sabrina Hutt
Clara Martinez Berrisch
Carolotta Mannes
Elene Hennecke
Indianapolis
Mona Gupta, Co-Chair
Liz Shuster, Co-Chair
Deborah Pollack-Milgate
Lindsey Fisher
Elizabeth Vincent
Ireland
Anna Hally, Co-Chair
Deirdre Kilroy, Co-Chair
Laura Scott, Co-Chair
Italy
Linda Brugioni
Lydia Mendola
Carmen Castellano
Los Angeles
Nimalka Wickramasekera, Co-Chair
Talin Gordnia, Co-Chair
Yuri Mikulka
Candace Hart
Lauren Schweitzer
Cynthia Tregillis
Karen Huoth
Laura Burson
Netherlands
Dorien Verhulst, Co-Chair
Milica Antic, Co-Chair
Jasmijn Touw, Co-Chair
Sophie van Asten
Daisy Termeulen
New York
Katherine A. Helm, Co-Chair
Caren Khoo, Co-Chair
Lindsey Fleischman
Allison Hoch Altersohn
Carolyn Blankenship
Orange County
Sanjesh Sharma, Co-Chair
Bridget Smith, Co-Chair
Anne Brody, Co-Chair
Monica Arnold
Olga Berson
Pacific Northwest
Lara Rogers, Co-Chair
Lisa Oratz, Co-Chair
Alieza Ali, Co-Chair
Christie Matthaei
Philadelphia
Amanda Kessel, Co-Chair
Alaina Lakawicz, Co-Chair
Rose Oskanian, Co-Chair
Sri Atluri
Heather Faltin
Nancy Frandsen
Maureen Gibbons
Melissa Gibson
San Diego
Tiffany Miller
Kristine Ekwueme
Michelle Delmonico
Ariell Bratton
Jill Abasto
Melissa Reinckens
Silicon Valley
Katherine Basile, Co-Chair
Carrie Williamson, Co-Chair
Brittany Schmeltz, Co-Chair
Nancy Allred
Miriam Kim
Victoria Weatherford
Marcela Robledo
Shannon King
Helen Wu
South Africa
Koketšo Molope, Co-Chair
Amanda Lotheringen, Co-Chair
Marie-Louise Grobler
Vanessa Ferguson
Sylvia Papadopoulos
Keo Motang
Magdaleen van Wyk
Texas
Betty Yang, Co-Chair
Hope Shimabuku, Co-Chair
Evelyn Chen, Co-Chair
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales, Co-Chair
Andrea Tran, Co-Chair
Sheila Kadura, Co-Chair
Sharmini N. Green, Co-Chair
Toronto
Shahrzad Esmaili, Co-Chair
Victoria Heppell, Co-Chair
Elizabeth Dipchand
Melanie Szweras
Nina Moritsugu
Jeliah Chan
Sarah O’Grady
Will Guidara
Twin Cities
Robin Sannes, Co-Chair
Jordan Golomb, Co-Chair
Sydney Kokjohn
Sheila Niaz
Cynthia Mitchell
Barbara Marchevsky
Jennifer Rogers
Kirsten Donaldson
United Kingdom
Annsley Merelle Ward, Co-Chair
Amy Crouch, Co-Chair
Laura Whiting, Co-Chair
Tess Waldron
Jemma Trainor
Carissa Kendall-Windlass
Laila Beynon
Maritza Sierra Hernández
Washington, D.C.
Lauren Dreyer
Aliza Carrano
Jamie Dattilo
Katharine Burke
Suzanne Munck
The Companies We Keep
ChIPs programs and initiatives are made possible with the support of our sponsors. These law firms, corporations and service providers advance the ChIPs mission, develop their employees, and raise their profile as trusted business partners and great places to work.
ChIPs Global Summit Sponsors
Adeia Inc.
Adobe Inc.
Alston & Bird
Amazon
American Arbitration Association
Apple
Avanci
Baker Botts LLP
Baker McKenzie
BakerHostetler
Barnes & Thornburg
Bartlit Beck LLP
Benesch
Bird & Bird LLP
Charles River Associates
Cisco Systems
Clarivate
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Coinbase
Cooley LLP
Covington & Burling LLP
Dechert LLP
Desmarais LLP
DLA Piper LLP
Fish & Richardson
Fredrikson
FTI Consulting
Gibson Dunn
Gish PLLC
Goodwin
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
Haynes and Boone, LLP
HKA Global, LLC
Intel
Keker, Van Nest & Peters
Kilburn & Strode
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Knobbe Martens
Kroll, LLC
KXT Law, LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
McGuireWoods
Meta
Microsoft
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
Morrison & Foerster
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
NERA
Ocean Tomo
Oracle
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Perkins Coie LLP
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
RPX Corporation
Sheppard Mullin
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
StoneTurn
Sullivan and Cromwell
Venable LLP
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Warren Kash Warren
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
White & Case LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
WilmerHale
Wilson Sonsini
Winston & Strawn
WIT Legal
Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Yetter Coleman LLP
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
ChIPs Global Summit Pop-Up Shops
Carbon & Hyde
Cuyana
Essential Bodywear
M.M. LaFleur
Sarah Flint
ChIPs NextGen Summit Sponsors
Amazon
Desmarais LLP
Fish & Richardson
Intel
Keker, Van Next & Peters
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Microsoft
Morgan Lewis
Morrison & Foerster
Oracle
Perkins Coie
Secretariat
ChIPs Committees
ChIPs Global Summit Content & Advisory Committee
Alieza Ali, Microsoft
Vanessa Bailey, Amazon
Laurie Charrington, Member at Large
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales, Yetter Coleman
Julianne M. Hartzell, Member at Large
Aparna Watal, Halfords IP
ChIPs Mock Content & Advisory Committee
Julie Akhter, National Academy of Inventors
Rachel Fertig, DLA Piper
Heather Heeden, Microsoft
Karen Keller, Shaw Keller LLP
Sarah MacDonald, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Anna Mayergoyz Weinberg, Apple
Mindy Morton, Procopio
ChIPs NextGen Content & Advisory Committee
Heather Burke, Faegre Drinker
Elena DiMuzio, Kammerund Dimuzio
Melissa Samano Ruiz, Jackson Walker
Hon. Christa Zado, USPTO
Social Justice Committee
Chairperson
Lisa Knight
Vice Chairperson
Katherine Basile
Staff
Joan Toth, Executive Director
Bridget Johnson, Director of Business Development and Partnerships
Stephanie McFee, Director of Global Community
Virginia Moore, Director of Events
Julie Morbidelli, Director of Finance and Operations
Olivia Moorer, Communications Manager
Monica Phillips, Director of Learning, Content and DEI
Thank You
Thank you to our entire ChIPs community for making this work possible. As we mark the 20th anniversary of ChIPs, we reflect not only on how far we have come, but on the shared purpose that continues to guide our work. This milestone is a celebration of the collective impact we have made as a community.
Our members are at the heart of everything we do. You lead and serve in law firms, corporations, the judiciary, government, academia and nonprofit organizations around the world. Your engagement, insights and willingness to support one another are what give ChIPs its strength and relevance.
We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, whose time and dedication sustain this network. Chapter leaders, committee members, NextGen mentors, Mock Program participants and program volunteers bring ChIPs to life through connection, mentorship and community building across more than 30 chapters globally.
Thank you as well to the members who contributed their data, experiences and ideas to our anniversary reports. Your voices helped illuminate both the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead, offering practical solutions to advance women, engage allies and support the next generation of professionals.
This year, our chapters and programs created meaningful opportunities to connect and learn, from local events around the world to global initiatives like the NextGen Summit, Mock Pitch and the General Counsel Bootcamp. These programs reflect our continued commitment to preparing the next generation for successful and fulfilling careers while fostering a truly global community.
We are also thankful to our sponsors and partners for their continued investment and trust. Your support enables ChIPs to convene our community, fuel important conversations and turn ideas into action that drives real change in workplaces and organizations.
Because of this collective effort, the state of the ChIPs Network is strong and growing. With more members, more chapters and deeper engagement than ever before, we continue to build momentum together.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to creating space for connection, celebration and service. We are deeply thankful to everyone who contributes to this community and carries the ChIPs Network mission forward.
Warm regards,
Joan Toth