David Joo EPA is a European patent attorney and has both legal and commercial IP experience. David studied Physics at King’s College London. Most recently, he helped develop Aon’s IP M&A advisory practice working closely with corporates and private equity firms. Prior to that, he worked at reputable US law firm Haley Guiliano, the patent practice spin-off from Ropes & Gray.
Solve Intelligence partnered with AmLaw 100 firm Haynes Boone to bring together 100+ senior IP leaders in Silicon Valley for a candid discussion on how AI is being used in patent practice today, and how that's shifting over the next 12 months.
The evening was led by Leah Poynter Waterland (Sr. Director, Cisco), Jeff Draeger (Chief Patent Counsel, Intel), David McCombs (Partner and Board Member, Haynes Boone), Tony Capecci (Director of Practice Innovation, Haynes Boone), and Mallun Yen (Founder, Operator Collective; IP leader and Ex-Cisco).
The room was 70% in-house, drawing Heads of IP and senior IP leaders from across enterprise software and cloud (Microsoft, IBM, Snowflake), semiconductors (Intel, Applied Materials), life sciences (Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Gilead), mobility and autonomy (Tesla, Waymo), connected devices and networks (Cisco, Samsung Research America), and AI labs (Mistral AI). The remaining 30% were outside counsel from firms including BCLP, Finnegan, Perkins Coie, Procopio, and Skadden.
INTA's 148th Annual Meeting brought nearly 10,000 IP professionals from over 145 jurisdictions to London May 2 to 6. The question at the conference was no longer whether AI belongs in IP practice. Here are three key observations from the week that we think matter for where the profession is heading.
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Sughrue Mion has always set the standard for what patent prosecution looks like. Founded in 1957, the firm has obtained more U.S. patents than any other law firm in the world. That record is built on deep technical expertise, disciplined prosecution strategy, and a culture that takes the quality of every work product seriously.
When Sughrue decided to integrate AI into patent workflows for select clients, their approach reflected that culture. Sughrue thoughtfully structured its implementation, and demonstrated a clear vision of where technology and AI adds value and where attorney judgment remains irreplaceable.
Shumaker is reinforcing its commitment to innovation and client service with Solve Intelligence. By integrating Solve Intelligence, Shumaker is strengthening its ability to help clients move from invention to protection faster while maintaining the precision required for successful patent prosecution.
Solve Intelligence allows Shumaker’s IP lawyers to focus more on crafting strong claims, identifying potential risks, and aligning patent strategy with each client’s broader business objectives. As innovation accelerates across industries, companies are under increasing pressure to protect their IP quickly and effectively.
Patrick Horne, Partner and Intellectual Property National Service Line Leader at Shumaker, describes the value of Solve Intelligence.
“Solve Intelligence provides our team with powerful tools that enhance the patent drafting process. This technology allows us to focus even more of our time on strategy, claim development, and protecting our clients’ innovations, while improving efficiency in the preparation of high-caliber patent applications.”
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Nielsen, a global leader in media audience measurement operating in over 50 countries, manages an industry-leading patent portfolio protecting innovations across a variety of fields, including data science, media measurement technology, and viewer analytics. Operating at the intersection of data science and an ever-changing media landscape requires constant innovation to keep pace. Supporting this innovation velocity requires IP operations that can scale without compromising quality.
Nielsen's in-house team adopted Solve Intelligence as their AI patent platform following a comprehensive evaluation process in Q4 2025. The partnership between Nielsen and Solve Intelligence reflects a shared commitment to precision and enabling practitioners to do their best work more efficiently.
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When we sat down with Bob Hansen for this conversation, we knew it would be grounded in both legal depth and real-world business experience. Bob is a founding partner of The Marbury Law Group and has extensive experience across patent prosecution, litigation, licensing, portfolio strategy, and complex IP transactions. But what makes his perspective particularly compelling is that he also brings 20 years of real-world experience as an engineer, program manager, and business executive in Fortune 50 companies and start-ups. He understands firsthand how innovation moves from idea to product, and how intellectual property law fits into that journey.
That dual lens is exactly why we wanted to have this discussion. Bob evaluates technology not just as a patent attorney, but as someone who has managed engineering teams, navigated acquisitions and divestitures, raised capital, and built businesses. When someone with that background says AI has been transformative and backs it up with measurable 3 to 4x efficiency gains, it’s worth listening.
The Marbury Law Group is a premier mid-size, full-service intellectual property and technology law firm in the Washington, D.C. area, with additional strength in commercial law, litigation, and trademark litigation. Recognized by Juristat as a top 35 law firm nationwide and holding Martindale-Hubbell’s AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, Marbury serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and mid-size technology businesses to high-tech startups and inventors. Its practitioners bring unusually wide-ranging experience, including former technology executives, government R&D managers, startup founders, in-house counsel, “big-law” attorneys, USPTO patent examiners, and judicial clerks.
Marbury delivers “big-law” service with the flexibility and personal attention of a smaller firm, pairing high-quality work with efficient, budget-aware billing. Based near the USPTO, the firm has drafted and prosecuted thousands of U.S. and foreign patent applications and trademarks, and advises on IP strategy, diligence, and licensing. Formed in 2009 through the merger of two established practices (with roots dating back to 1994), the firm takes its name from Marbury v. Madison (1803), the landmark Supreme Court case that established judicial review.
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