IPWatchdog Live 2026

March 23, 2026

O’Melveny partners Shawnna Yashar, Mark Liang, and Tim Fink are set to be guest speakers covering three different sessions at this year's IPWatchdog Live.

For nearly 20 years, Shawnna has advised innovative technology and software companies on high-stakes IP litigation and complex commercial litigation, successfully handling matters and resolving disputes in various district and federal courts, as well as before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the US International Trade Commission. Standard-essential patents (SEPs) are central to innovation and global trade, with disputes becoming more international and complex as connectivity standards expand. Courts and regulators worldwide take varying approaches to SEP enforcement and licensing, creating uncertainty. She will join a panel discussing current trends in global SEP litigation, licensing strategies, and how stakeholders navigate negotiations, valuation, and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Mark Liang has extensive experience in all stages of patent cases, including claim construction, fact and expert discovery, dispositive motions, trial, post-trial, and appeal. He will join a panel discussing how artificial intelligence is advancing faster than regulation, leaving organizations to manage risk, compliance, and responsibility with limited guidance. They will consider how companies are addressing AI governance, data access, accountability, and compliance while balancing innovation with regulatory expectations.

Tim Fink has been counsel in over 100 inter partes review proceedings at O’Melveny, ranking consistently as one of the nation’s most experienced attorneys before PTAB. He will review how USPTO post-grant proceedings are rapidly changing due to shifting policies and court decisions, creating evolving rules for both petitioners and patent owners. This panel will discuss recent developments, strategic impacts, and how parties are adapting their approaches to post-grant challenges.