AIPPI D&I Committee webinar 22 July – The Impact of Affirmative Action Rulings on DEI Programs

The Impact of Affirmative Action Rulings on DEI Programs

Recent legal decisions have significantly influenced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across various sectors. This webinar will delve into how these rulings affect DEI programs, particularly within the legal field, and explore the broader implications for mental health and workplace culture.

Participants will gain insights into the evolving legal landscape, understand the challenges faced by DEI programs in the current climate, and discuss strategies to adapt and sustain inclusive practices. The session will also address the mental health ramifications for professionals navigating these changes, emphasizing the importance of resilience and support systems.

Key Topics:

• Overview of recent affirmative action rulings and their legal implications for DEI initiatives.
• Analysis of challenges and emerging trends in DEI within the legal sector.
• Strategies for maintaining effective DEI programs amidst legal constraints.
• Mental health considerations for professionals affected by shifts in DEI policies.
• Inclusive approaches to address contemporary DEI issues, including migration and LGBTQ+ rights.

Our distinguished speakers will be:

• Lisa Mueller (USA)
• Shin, Julie (USA)
• Cedric D’Hue (USA)
• Jegannath (Jeg) Korukottu (Germany)
• Idalla Brum (Brazil)

Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

Speakers

Lisa Mueller (USA)

Lisa Mueller is a shareholder at Casmir Jones and splits her time between the Chicago and North Carolina offices.  For over thirty years, Lisa has provided strategic counsel on complex patent issues to clients in the plant, food, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and chemistry sectors. She brings in-depth knowledge and extensive experience to her work, advising clients on global patent protection, freedom to operate, and validity of blockbuster drugs they aim to produce and distribute.

A thought leader in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical patent law, Lisa speaks frequently to legal and industry groups and publishes widely. Lisa also edited and authored a chapter in the book entitled “Global Patent Protection and Enforcement of In Vitro Diagnostic Inventions,” published by Wolters Kluwer.  Lisa has been recognized as an IAM 1000 – Wisconsin (2024, 2025), WIPR Diversity Champion 2023, WIPR Influential Women in IP 2022, and the AUTM Volunteer of the Year in 2025.  In addition, Lisa is also the host of the podcast – AUTM on the Air and author of the Patent Panorama blog.

Shin, Julie (USA)

Julie Shin is Of Counsel in the New York office of Jones Day, with a practice focus on IP and pharma litigation, IP transactions, cross-border disputes, and regulatory compliance.  She is experienced in multiple industries including the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, chemical, consumer products, consumer electronics, semiconductor, and EV (electric vehicle) battery industries, and has advised clients in blockbuster pharmaceutical patent litigations, product liability litigations, and high-stakes acquisitions, licenses and investments.  In addition to her private practice experience, Julie was formerly a senior legal counsel at a multinational consumer electronics corporation in South Korea, where she managed IP and technology transactions.

Cedric D’Hue (USA)

Cedric D’Hue is a solo patent practitioner at D’Hue Law LLC. Cedric successfully defended his PhD in analytical chemistry from Purdue University (R. Graham Cooks, advisor) in 2017. His projects involved using multivariate statistical analysis of mass spectra to statistically differentiate non-cancerous and cancerous tissue of dog bladder invasive urothelial carcinoma and human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sandwiched between years of private practice, Cedric spent four years at Eli Lilly as a patent attorney responsible for oncology assets. Cedric is currently on AUTM’s Strategies for Competitive Innovation (SCI) Committee. Cedric is very interested in cancer research, therapeutic, and diagnostic systems.

Jegannath (Jeg) Korukottu (Germany)

Jeg Korukottu is a Partner at Grünecker, Munich, and is a European and UK Patent Attorney. Jeg specialises in protecting and defending intellectual property and managing patent portfolios and IP strategies in various technology areas, including physics, medical devices, alternative energy, software and biophysics. His extensive experience also extends to handling inventions related to emerging disruptive technologies and hybrids of various technologies. Jeg has a Master’s degree in physics and a PhD in biophysical chemistry.

Beyond the IP practice, Jeg is actively involved in various international IP organisations (AIPPI, AIPLA, INTA, VPP) and bar associations. He collaborates with several in-house teams and law firms and contributes to promoting and expanding diversity and inclusion in the IP profession.

Jeg mentors students and early-career IP professionals and supports start-ups and innovators through his network of innovation partners across Europe.

Idalla Brum (Brazil)

Idalla Brum is a founding partner of Msantos Intellectual Property, an attorney, and an Industrial Property Agent. She holds a law degree from FASAP, a postgraduate certificate in Civil Procedural Law and Legal Argumentation (PUC-MG), and an MBA in Business Management (FGV). Her key interests span Digital Law, Technology, iGaming, Privacy, and Data Protection.

She serves on committees of OABRJ, INTA, and ASIPI, and is an active member of ABPI, ABAPI, FICPI, among others. Within AIPPI, Idalla sits on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee—where she helps drive global outreach and inclusion initiatives—and was recently appointed auditor of the 3rd Disciplinary Commission of the Rio de Janeiro Indoor Football Sports Court.

Recent distinctions include INTA “Rising Star” (2023–2024) and WTR 1000 Brazil “Leading Individual” (2025).