Webinar: Generative AI in IP: Practical Use Cases

Heather Hedeen, Patent Counsel, Microsoft

Heather Hedeen is a USPTO-registered patent attorney and Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, where she focuses on engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and software patent matters. With a strong background in translating complex technical concepts into practical legal guidance, she advises on patent strategy, research and drafting, and the protection of cutting-edge technologies. In addition to her in-house role, she serves on the board of the Washington State Patent Law Association, contributing to thought leadership in the intellectual property community. She earned both her B.S. in General Engineering and her M.S. in Engineering with distinction from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and later received her J.D. cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Bill Atkins, Partner &Trial & Patent Attorney in IP Litigation, ITC & PTAB

Bill Atkins is a trial and patent attorney with more than 30 years of experience handling complex intellectual property disputes before federal courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He has litigated matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars across a wide range of technologies and industries, representing clients ranging from global companies to individual inventors through every stage of litigation, from early case strategy to trial and appeal. In addition to his practice, he serves as Editor of The PTAB Handbook (all eight editions) and Co-Editor of the ABA’s Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook (4th and upcoming 5th editions). He also teaches intellectual property litigation at The George Washington University Law School and previously taught at the University of Maryland School of Law. His work spans patent litigation, intellectual property law, trial practice, Section 337 ITC proceedings, and trademark litigation.

Stephen F.W. Ball, Jr. Partner, Husch Blackwell. (Moderator)

Stephen Ball is a patent attorney and Intellectual Property (IP) strategist who often serves as clients’ first point of contact. His practice is built at the intersection of intellectual property law and advanced technology. As a registered patent attorney with a Computer Science degree and background as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) developer, he doesn’t just protect innovation—he understands how it’s built and how to use modern technology to defend it. He has deep technical acumen across cutting-edge fields and integrates artificial intelligence (AI) into his practice to enhance the speed and precision of client strategy. His work includes IP protection, defense, and enforcement—in other words, any IP need a client might have. Over the course of his career, Stephen’s strategies have protected billions of dollars’ worth of client sales.