Alumni Mentor Bios

Alumni Mentor Bio Information

First Name	Last Name	LinkedIn Profile	Bio
Jessica	Thomson	LinkedIn	Jessica Thomson '11 is the Lead Counsel – Patents for the Disney Experiences and Consumer Products patent portfolios at The Walt Disney Company. She is a co-founder and Board member of ADAPT (Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing and supporting the IP profession. Prior to joining Disney, Jessica was a patent prosecution associate in Foley & Lardner LLP’s Mechanical & Electromechanical Technologies practice group. Jessica earned a J.D. at American University Washington College of Law in 2011, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2008. While at MIT, Jessica was licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate the MIT Nuclear Reactor.
Olivia	Bedi	LinkedIn	Olivia Bedi '05 is a Partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, specializing in IP litigation. With extensive experience handling both civil and criminal patent cases in district and federal courts, Olivia brings a deep understanding of the courtroom. During her time at WCL, she served as President of the IP Society, a role that helped her develop leadership skills she now uses to mentor law students and young attorneys interested in IP litigation.
Nishan	Kottahachchi	LinkedIn	Nishan Kottahachchi '02 is Senior Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs at Paramount Global, with expertise in IP Law, AI/ML, Privacy Law, and Media Law. He has co-founded several marketing startups and has served as in-house counsel for major media companies in New York City. Nishan has a particular interest in the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal and entertainment industries.
Melissa	Maalouf	LinkedIn	Melissa Maalouf is a Shareholder at ZwillGen, where she advises clients on issues involving tech, privacy, AI, and more. She helps companies navigate complex challenges like data privacy, security, advertising, and e-commerce, including responding to investigations from the FTC and State Attorneys General. While at WCL, Melissa was Editor-in-Chief of the American University Law Review and actively participated in Moot Court, experiences that sharpened her legal writing and advocacy skills.
Ali	Sternburg	LinkedIn	Ali Sternburg '12 is Vice President of Information Policy at the Computer & Communications Industry Association, where she focuses on intermediary liability and copyright law. At WCL, Ali was President of the IP Law Society and gained practical experience as a student attorney in the IP Law Clinic. She’s passionate about supporting and mentoring law students and young lawyers as they build their careers. Outside of law, Ali is also a singer-songwriter, bringing creativity into everything she does.
Heidi	Tandy	LinkedIn	Heidi Tandy '95 is a Partner at Berger Singerman, with expertise in IP litigation, enforcement, licensing, trademark and patent prosecution, data privacy, and copyright law. She helps clients protect and enforce their intellectual property rights across trademarks, copyrights, licensing, brand management, social media, and FTC compliance. While at WCL, Heidi honed her advocacy skills through Moot Court and the American University Law Review. She’s passionate about guiding law students and young attorneys as they develop their skills and careers in IP law.
Prietta	Booker		Prietta is Associate Director of Business & Legal Affairs at 300 Entertainment, home to artists including Young Thug, Gunna, and Megan Thee Stallion. Her work focuses on drafting and negotiating recording, publishing, synchronization, brand, and digital marketing agreements, and advising on entertainment, intellectual property, technology, and media matters.
Rachel	Weiner Cohen	LinkedIn	Rachel Cohen represents leading global technology and life sciences clients in high-stakes intellectual property disputes across the United States. She advises on patent and IP misappropriation matters, combining creative problem-solving with an ability to translate complex technical issues into clear litigation strategies, and is a recognized thought leader who regularly speaks and moderates on IP litigation topics, including at the Federal Circuit Symposium.
Anita	Polott	LinkedIn	Anita B. Polott is a co-managing partner of Morgan Lewis’ Washington, DC office and leads the firm’s global trademark and copyright practice. She advises clients on brand protection strategy, trademark and copyright portfolios, transactions, licensing, and enforcement, and represents clients in federal court, before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and the International Trade Commission.
Lena	Saltos	LinkedIn	Lèna Saltos is Deputy General Counsel at The Museum of Modern Art, where she oversees a wide range of museum-related legal matters. She previously served as Associate General Counsel and Global Director of Intellectual Property at Urban Outfitters and practiced complex commercial litigation and intellectual property law at Hughes Hubbard & Reed. She remains active in the intellectual property community and regularly speaks and publishes on IP issues affecting retail and the international art market.
Jonathan	Stroud	Linkedin	Mr. Stroud manages Unified Patents’ legal and corporate work, with a focus on PTAB, district court, and appellate litigation, as well as contracting and corporate matters. He previously practiced at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett and Dunner LLP and served as a patent examiner at the USPTO, and he regularly teaches, speaks, and writes on patent and administrative law.
Michael	Moore	LinkedIn	Michael Moore is Associate General Counsel, Senior Director, and Global Head of Intellectual Property for Content & Brands at Mattel, Inc., overseeing worldwide IP strategy, clearance, registration, enforcement, litigation, M&A, and customs matters for iconic brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price. Based in Los Angeles, he has been with Mattel for over 20 years, previously worked at the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and in private practice, and is active with the International Trademark Association, including service on its Board of Directors and Anticounterfeiting Committee.
Maggie	Horstman	LinkedIn	Maggie Horstman is an associate at Nixon Peabody LLP in Washington, DC, where she represents clients in trademark protection and enforcement, helping to resolve trademark disputes before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in district courts. Her practice includes advising on enforcement strategies, trademark prosecution, clearance, registration, and drafting and negotiating settlement and licensing agreements. A graduate of American University Washington College of Law, she remains active in the IP community and has been elected to serve on the DC Bar’s Early Career Lawyers Community Steering Committee.
Kristen	Landers	LinkedIn	Kristen Canales Landers is an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Washington, DC, where she focuses her practice on trademark and copyright counseling, licensing, enforcement, and litigation. She assists clients with global IP portfolio management—including clearance, registration, maintenance, and enforcement—as well as IP transactions and media and entertainment matters, and previously worked in advertising litigation and counseling. While in law school at American University Washington College of Law, she was a member of the American University Law Review, a student attorney at the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, and a member of the IP Brief.