Fenwick IP Litigators Recognized Among Most Influential Women in Business
May 22, 2019
Two Fenwick intellectual property litigation partners have been recognized for their excellence and leadership. San Francisco Business Times has honored partner Jennifer Kelly as one of The Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business for 2019, whileSilicon Valley Business Journal has highlighted partner Charlene Morrow as one of the 100 Women of Influence for her impact on her profession and community.
Jennifer Kelly – One of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business
One of the foremost authorities on IP issues pertinent to the games industry, Kelly co-chairs Fenwick’s games industry group and chairs the firm’s IP and commercial litigation practice group. She serves on the Executive Board of TechLaw – the first woman elected to a leadership position in the organization’s history – and she also serves on the Video Game Bar Association’s board of directors.
Kelly has extensive experience handling complex, high-stakes commercial disputes at all stages and has filed copyright infringement actions on behalf of clients whose games have been cloned, such as King, Glu Mobile, Gram Games and Peak Games.
She told San Francisco Business Times that her biggest professional accomplishment is, “becoming the co-chair of a successful practice in the games industry, which has historically been dominated by men,” and notes her inspiration as “Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for her brilliance and fearlessness.”
This is the third time Kelly has been recognized in the last five years.
Charlene Morrow – One of the 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley
Morrow has a nationwide trial practice and is particularly sought after by information technology and life sciences companies. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) and one of her publications was cited in ongoing discussions in Congress on patent reform. She has represented technology companies and research institutions in enforcing their intellectual property, and defended against patent assertions by non-practicing entities. She has coordinated international assertion and defense strategies. She has also undertaken portfolio improvement projects.
Of her career path, Morrow told Silicon Valley Business Journal that “winning a case via a motion I worked on during my first summer after law school convinced me I might like private practice.”
She also highlighted opportunities early in her career that helped her develop as a litigator. “I was able to break through because of Fenwick’s representation of startups. I was put on witnesses at trial when I was a mid-level associate, and after that was able to take the lead.”
In addition, Morrow emphasized the importance of supporting women litigators. “There are too few female trial lawyers in my field,” she said. “I’m often in large defense groups and the only female lead.”
Jennifer Kelly and Charlene Morrow’s full profiles are available through the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal.