That IP Podcast

Episode 11: Shital Shah - Deputy Chief IP Counsel @ Caterpillar Inc

In this episode of That IP Podcast, hosted by Harry Hawthorne, sits down with Shital Shah, a senior in-house IP leader at Caterpillar Inc, to explore a career that has spanned more than two decades at one of the world’s most recognisable industrial companies. Shital shares his journey from studying engineering at the University of Cincinnati to making the pivot into law, a decision shaped by real-world experience and a desire to find work that aligned with his strengths in communication, problem-solving, and working with people. He reflects on starting his legal career in criminal law as a public defender, gaining courtroom experience and perspective before transitioning into intellectual property and beginning his path in patent law. The conversation then follows Shital’s move in-house to Caterpillar, where he has spent over 20 years building his career and helping shape a global IP function. He discusses what it takes to transition from private practice into an in-house role, the importance of understanding the “why” behind intellectual property, and how aligning legal work with broader business strategy creates real value. Harry and Shital also dive into what makes lawyers successful in an in-house environment, from communication and relationship-building to the ability to work closely with engineers and senior leadership. Shital shares candid insights on hiring, what he looks for in candidates, and how younger lawyers can stand out early in their careers by building trust, developing strong networks, and becoming genuinely valuable to the teams around them. Throughout the episode, Shital speaks openly about career challenges, setbacks, and the importance of perspective when navigating difficult moments. He discusses leadership, mentorship, and the role of culture in building high-performing teams, emphasising that people and relationships ultimately define long-term success more than titles or accolades. The episode also looks ahead to the future of the profession, with a focus on emerging technologies like AI and how lawyers can adapt in a rapidly changing landscape. Shital’s advice is clear: embrace change, stay curious, and focus on the human skills that technology cannot replace. It’s a thoughtful and practical conversation about building a sustainable career, finding the right environment to grow, and what it truly means to succeed in-house at a global organisation.

Episode 10: Bruce Wexler - Global Co-Chair of Intellectual Property at Paul Hastings

In this episode of That IP Podcast, hosted by Harry Hawthorne, sits down with Bruce Wexler, Global Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property practice at Paul Hastings and one of the most respected patent trial lawyers in the United States. With a career spanning more than three decades, Bruce has built a reputation for leading high-stakes patent litigation, particularly in the life sciences sector, where the outcome of a case can impact multi-billion-dollar drug products and entire companies. Bruce shares the unlikely story of how he entered the legal profession. Originally studying physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the intention of pursuing a career in science, a chance conversation with a friend introduced him to the idea of becoming a patent lawyer. What began as a moment of curiosity ultimately set Bruce on a path to NYU School of Law, a clerkship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and a career at the center of some of the most complex patent disputes in the industry. He helped build the firm’s life sciences patent litigation practice in New York from the ground up. Bruce reflects on the risks involved in making that move, the pressure of launching a new practice with just a handful of lawyers, and the pivotal early trial victory that helped establish the team and put the practice on the map. Throughout the episode, Bruce shares insights on the realities of high-stakes litigation, the mindset required to handle bet-the-company cases, and the lessons he has learned over three decades in practice about mentorship, leadership, and developing judgment as a lawyer. He also reflects on how the profession is evolving, including the growing role of AI and what young lawyers must do to remain valuable in a rapidly changing legal landscape.

Episode 9: Peter Lando - Law Firm Founder at Lando & Anastasi

In this episode of That IP Podcast, hosted by Harry Hawthorne, sits down with Peter Lando, co-founder of Lando & Anastasi and one of the most respected intellectual property practitioners in the United States. Peter’s career spans engineering, business, and law — a rare combination that has shaped his approach to advising innovators, investors, and companies operating at the intersection of technology and commercial strategy. Peter reflects on his early career as a chemical engineer at BASF, his transition into law after nearly a decade in industry, and how that hands-on experience continues to inform the way he thinks about intellectual property, risk, and value creation. The conversation explores why great IP lawyers must go beyond technical excellence, and how understanding a client’s business objectives is often the real differentiator. Harry and Peter dive into the story behind founding Lando & Anastasi in 2003 — what it takes to build and scale an IP boutique, the energy and uncertainty of the early years, and how culture, trust, and long-term thinking can shape a firm’s identity over decades. Peter also shares candid insights on mentorship, loyalty in the legal profession, and why empathy, judgment, and problem-solving matter just as much as legal precision. The episode also looks forward, touching on the evolution of IP practice, the impact of technology and AI, and how young lawyers can future-proof their careers by developing breadth, judgment, and commercial awareness. Throughout, Peter emphasizes a core philosophy that has guided his career: don’t tell clients “no” — help them understand how. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about building a meaningful legal career, serving clients well, and staying grounded while navigating change in the IP landscape.

Episode 8: Neel Chatterjee - Tech & IP Litigation Partner at King & Spalding

In this episode of That IP Podcast, host Harry Hawthorne sits down with Neel Chatterjee, partner and co-head of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice at King & Spalding and one of the most respected technology trial lawyers of his generation. Recently named Attorney of the Year by The American Lawyer in 2025 — an honor widely regarded as the legal industry’s highest — Neel reflects on a career defined by high-stakes technology disputes, landmark cases, and moments that helped shape modern internet and IP law. Neel walks through his path into the law, from his academic foundations at Dartmouth College and Vanderbilt University School of Law to clerking for the Colorado Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, before building a national reputation for stepping into the hardest cases — often just before trial — where the outcome can define a company’s future. Neel speaks candidly about mentorship, leadership, and the responsibility that comes with influence. He reflects on founding the Bay Area Diversity Career Fair, serving on numerous nonprofit and professional boards, and why diversity, sponsorship, and honest feedback are not optional add-ons but core to the profession’s future. The episode also touches on burnout, longevity, client trust, and how to build a legal career that sustains intensity without losing perspective. It’s a wide-ranging, grounded conversation about trial law, technology, and what it really takes to stay at the top over decades — while still enjoying the work and bringing others along with you.

Episode 7: Mike Jakes - Patent Litigation Partner at Finnegan

In this episode of That IP Podcast, host Harry Hawthorne sits down with Mike Jakes, long-time partner at Finnegan and one of the leading figures in patent litigation and appeals, to walk through a 37-year career that started in engineering and evolved into high-stakes IP work. Mike explains how his early days as an electrical engineer at Westinghouse and night-school computer science degree at Johns Hopkins shaped the way he thinks about technology, how a single lunch with legendary patent lawyer Don Dunner nudged him toward law school at Georgetown, and why clerking for Judge Giles Rich at the Federal Circuit was a defining experience. He reflects on joining Finnegan in 1988 and never leaving, what it was like practicing before email and online research, and how the mechanics of lawyering have changed while the fundamentals of advocacy and judgment have stayed the same. Mike talks about learning from giants of the profession, the value of honest feedback, how to seek and use mentorship, and why good writing and constant reading still sit at the heart of great lawyering. He shares his thoughts on burnout, long-term career sustainability, building habits that actually matter, the realities of winning and losing in court, and even his trial ritual of pizza and My Cousin Vinny. It’s a grounded, thoughtful conversation about building a long career in patents, staying curious, and figuring things out as you go.