Welcome and Keynote Speakers
Bob Barchiesi
President
IACC
Bob Barchiesi is President of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC). In this role, Bob leads one of the world’s oldest and largest trade associations representing exclusively the interests of over 250 companies concerned with trademark counterfeiting and the related theft of intellectual property.
Dawn Atlas
IACC Chairperson and Vice President
Enforcement and Assistant General Counsel
Calvin Klein
Dawn Atlas is the Vice President, Enforcement and Assistant General Counsel of Calvin Klein, Inc. She has been responsible for the worldwide enforcement of intellectual property for Calvin Klein for over 20 years.
Christopher A. Coons
United States Senator
Christopher Coons has served as a U.S. Senator for more than a decade and is currently the senior senator from Delaware. Senator Coons sits on the Judiciary, Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Small Business, and Ethics Committees. He is the Vice Chairman of the Ethics Committee and the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
The Honorable Leslie Crocker Snyder
Former New York State Supreme Court Justice & Legal Expert
Leslie Crocker Snyder has spent her career working across the criminal justice system—as a prosecutor, judge, legal consultant, and advocate for reform. She was the first woman to try both felony and homicide cases in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. She also founded and led the nation’s first Sex Crimes Prosecution Bureau, which became a national model, and coauthored key legislation including New York’s Rape Shield Law.
Dr. Santiago Nieto
Director General of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI)
He holds a PhD in Law with a distinguished career in the legal, academic, and public administration fields. He is a professor at UNAM and the Universidad Panamericana, and a member of the National System of Researchers, Level II.
Feature and General Session Government Speakers
Sidney Aki
Director of Field Operations
San Diego Field Office
Mr. Sidney Aki is the Director of Field Operations (DFO) for the San Diego Field Office within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). DFO Aki oversees 2,700 employees assigned to the 5 land border ports of entry of San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico and Andrade. The San Diego Field Office also encompasses the San Diego International airport, the San Diego seaport, and multiple general aviation centers. DFO Aki’s geographical area of responsibility covers all Southern California border ports of entry extending to the Arizona border.
Derek Benner
Chief Executive Officer
Our Rescue
Derek Benner serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Our Rescue, bringing leadership experience in mission operations and federal law enforcement. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Derek led Our Rescue’s Mission Operations and Survivor Care teams, developing a deep understanding of the organization’s work and forging strong connections with its people. He is committed to advancing Our Rescue’s mission with purpose, integrity, and an unwavering focus on impact.
Shawn Gibson
Special Agent in Charge
Homeland Security Investigations San Diego
Shawn S. Gibson currently serves as the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego, California. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the agency’s criminal investigative operations across San Diego and Imperial counties. His leadership of 600 law enforcement and support staff encompasses a wide range of investigative efforts aimed at disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations.
Maria Strong
Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs
United States Copyright Office
Maria Strong is the Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs of the U.S. Copyright Office. Appointed to this position in 2019, she advises the Register with critical policy functions, including domestic and international copyright analyses, legislative support to Congress, trade negotiations, and related developments concerned with the international aspects of copyright protection and enforcement.
Raymond A. Tierney
District Attorney
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney is a career prosecutor, having served more than 30 years as a prosecutor at both the state and federal levels. Elected on November 2, 2021, he is committed to enforcing the law in an ethical and accountable manner to protect the citizens of Suffolk County.
Alaina van Horn
Chief, Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch,
Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
Alaina van Horn currently serves as the Chief of the Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE) Branch where she is responsible for administering CBP’s IP border enforcement efforts in interdicting counterfeit and infringing goods before they enter the U.S. stream of commerce.
Conference Co-Chairs
Kevin Klapprodt
General Counsel
Strider Sports International
Rafa Gutierrez
Sr. Director, Intellectual Property
Uber
Rafa Gutiérrez is a Senior Legal Director at Uber and is the head of its global trademark, copyright and domains practice groups. Rafa was Uber’s first in-house trademark attorney and has had the opportunity to develop and build Uber’s in-house trademark and domain systems and policies from the ground up, including its anti-counterfeiting practice. Rafa and his team manage Uber’s global trademark portfolio, handling matters relating to clearance, prosecution and enforcement (including anti-phishing and anti-counterfeiting).
Cynthia Tregillis
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary
Western Digital Corporation
Cynthia Tregillis oversees the company’s worldwide legal, risk management, compliance, and government relations functions. In her role, Cynthia advises the company’s executive leadership team and members of the company’s Board of Directors. She oversees the teams responsible for supporting the company’s efforts to develop, manufacture, market and sell storage products globally through the company’s independent subsidiaries.
Tony Zook
AVP Global Security
Merck & Co., Inc.
Tony serves as Merck’s Associate Vice President of Global Security and head of Merck’s global Product Integrity program. This includes responsibility for the development and execution of the Company’s strategy that protects Merck products from illicit actions, including counterfeiting, diversion, tampering, and theft.
Kiyoshi Tsuru
Founder and Senior Partner
TSURU, Aquique, Rangel, Perez
Kiyoshi Tsuru is the Founding Partner at TSURU, Aquique, Rangel, Pérez (TSURU). Additional information: Arbiter WIPO; Executive Director, Mexican Videogame Developers (GD MEX); Country Manager, BSA Mexico; Chair, advisory council for negotiation of USMCA.
Panel/Workshops Speakers
Mark Abumeri
Attorney Advisor
USPTO
Mark Abumeri is an Attorney Advisor with the Intellectual Property (IP) Enforcement team of the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He has a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. While in law school, he interned with the United States District Court in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining the USPTO, Mr. Abumeri practiced IP law with a national IP law firm where he represented U.S. clients in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions in the protection and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. In addition, Mr. Abumeri served as an Adjunct Professor of Law and taught patent law courses at several U.S. law schools for over fifteen years. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Abumeri was an electrical engineer for a U.S. company in the telecom industry.
Adriana Barrera
Managing Partner
BARLAW – Barrera & Asociados
Adriana Barrera, founder and managing partner of BARLAW – Barrera & Asociados, lawyer with more than 28 years of experience, advising global corporations, developing comprehensive strategies for the protection, defense and litigation of trademarks, unfair competition, copyrights, patents, and protection of personal data. Graduate from the University of Lima (Peru) with postgraduate studies at PAD School of Senior Management – Universidad Piura (Peru), Franklin Pierce Law Center LL.M. (USA), and University of Salamanca (Spain). She was the President of the IP Commission of the American Chamber of Commerce in Peru (2021-2022), currently, she is part of the Board of Directors of the Intellectual Property Commission. Also, she has been invited to participate in the Global Advisory Council of Latin America and the Caribbean, for a period of two years, which is an elite group of International Trademark Association – INTA. Recently, she has been appointed as an expert for Peru within UNIFAB (‘Union des Fabricants’). She is an active member of INTA, MARQUES, AIPPI, APPI, IAPP, IACC, ASIPI, ECTA and AMCHAM. Recognized as an outstanding lawyer by many international magazines and rankings such as Leaders League, Managing IP – IP Stars, WTR 1000, Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, Latin Lawyer, WIPR, IAM Patent 1000, Benchmark Litigation, Patent Lawyer, Best Lawyers, among others.
Patrick Bush
Director of Global Security Americas
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
I have been with Novartis for 13 1/2 years and I am Director of Global Security for the Americas. For the last 4 years I have been the Head of Falsified Medicines for the LATAM region. I am also the region Head for Supply Chain Security and perform and oversee Falsified Medicine and Supply Chain Investigations. I also provide Executive Protection to the Chairman, CEO and Executives of Novartis. I am retired from the US Secret Service where I served for almost 26 years. I ended my US Secret Service career as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge overseeing all aspects of the agency’s responsibilities to include overseeing all operations in the LATAM region.
Christine Casaceli
Head of IP Compliance – US Legal
Temu
Christine Casaceli is Head of IP Compliance at Temu where she oversees Intellectual Property and Product Regulatory Compliance for the U.S. Prior to coming to Temu, she worked at an e-commerce Amazon aggregator start-up where she managed IP, Litigation, and Product Compliance. She began her career at Hasbro where she spent six years working as an IP and e-commerce attorney.
Joseph Cherayath
VP of Online Enforcements & Alliances
IP House
Joseph Cherayath brings more than a decade of experience leading teams of investigators and operations specialists to develop and implement advanced enforcement strategies that tackle IP challenges head-on. Renowned for his expertise in managing complex IP investigations, he leverages cutting-edge technologies to combat IP crimes. Joseph has played a critical role in landmark IP criminal cases, earning recognition as a thought leader in brand protection and antipiracy.
Allison Cronin
Director of Strategic Initiatives
IACC
Allison leads the IACC’s strategic partnerships to build on the IACC’s success in bringing like-minded partners from all sectors to find innovative solutions to combat counterfeiting. She is also responsible for directing enhancements to one of IACC’s Online Enforcement Programs — the IACC-Amazon Program — to improve its effectiveness and participant experience.
Andres Diaz
Managing Director
AIT Enforcement
Andres Diaz is an International Senior Consultant specializing in Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Illicit Trade. He founded AIT Enforcement, offering disruptive investigation services across the Americas. Andres has a strong track record of leading teams in high-risk countries to protect patients, consumers, farmers, market shares, and corporate reputation. Notable cases include dismantling a medication counterfeiting ring in Jalisco, Mexico, thanks to the relentless pursuit of authorities highly committed to safeguarding public health, and a veterinary medication counterfeiting law enforcement operation on the Colombia-Venezuela border. He is recognized for building solid relationships with government officials, ethics, and going the extra mile.
Amanda Eng
Interim Head of Brand Protection
Shopee
Amanda Eng is a seasoned e-commerce leader with extensive experience across marketing, commercial, analytics, and brand protection at Shopee. She currently serves as Shopee’s Interim Head of Brand Protection while leading the Regional Brand Partnerships team. In this role, Amanda drives Shopee’s regional brand protection strategies and strengthens collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve impactful results. Passionate about fostering a safe and vibrant e-commerce environment, she works closely with rights holders, brands, associations, and enforcement agencies to uphold intellectual property rights and ensure a trusted shopping experience on the Shopee platform.
Aaron Fennimore
Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel
Western Digital Corporation
Aaron Fennimore has been advising clients for more than 15 years on the protection, management and enforcement of trademarks, copyrights and domain names, as well as in the areas of marketing and advertising, rights of publicity and privacy. He currently serves as Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel for Western Digital Corporation, a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of data storage technologies. He currently leads a global team dedicated to trademark portfolio management and a broad range of brand protection issues, including trademark infringement, unfair competition, anti-counterfeiting, cybersquatting and fraud.
Chris Gibbins
Senior Brand Protection Manager
Goorin Bros.
With over 30 years of experience in the Consumer Accessory Industry and as a Brand Protection veteran, I work tirelessly to help companies protect their intellectual property rights and brand reputation. Capitalizing on experience relating to supply chain management, manufacturing processes, product development, and business development, I develop holistic Brand Protection Programs from the ground up, battling infringers from a proactive hands-on approach.
Enrique Godinez
Sergeant
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Supervises Deputies who are assigned to specific areas by district and are tasked with addressing Quality of Life issues in those patrol areas. Provided services from a community-oriented policing approach; working and partnering with residents to identify problems and formulate solutions. Supervisor to the Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement (CAPE) Team and manages a team of Deputies assigned to investigate, identify, apprehend, and criminally prosecute persons who engage in the Sale/Manufacture of Counterfeit goods and enforce those laws and ordinances related to Intellectual Property Rights crimes which substantially interfere with the quality of life, the health and safety risks of residents, community wellbeing, and lawful commerce in Los Angeles County and surrounding cities with direct links to Los Angeles County. Overseer’s tactical entries for Search Warrant, undercover surveillance, Buy Bust operations and high-risk criminal investigations with over 11 years in IPR investigations.
Gabriel Gonzalez
Associate Director for Latin America
Merck
Mr. Gabriel Gonzalez works for Merck’s Global Security Group as the Latin America Region Associate Director for Product Integrity where he leads initiatives to protect Merck’s patients from the dangers of counterfeit, diverted, and tampered medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Prior to joining Merck’s Global Security Group, Mr. Gonzalez retired from Homeland Security Investigations as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge. During his 32 years with Homeland Security Investigations, Mr. Gonzalez served in roles of increasing responsibility at Homeland Security Investigations. He worked at the National Intellectual Property Rights Center in Washington D.C. as the Section Chief for Intellectual Property Rights Crimes and served as the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations Regional Attaché for Brazil and Bolivia. Mr. Gonzalez also served as the Deputy Attaché for Homeland Security Investigations in Mexico and Spain where he coordinated global investigations targeting traffickers of counterfeit products, supervised complex and sensitive investigations around consumer protection, Commercial Fraud, Narcotics, Money laundering, and Arms smuggling.
Charles Hoskin
Global Director of Brand Protection
Beiersdorf
Charles is an Australian brand protection professional and trademark attorney with 20 years’ experience, predominantly in Asia. He is currently the Global Director of Brand Protection at Beiersdorf, one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies. Prior to this, Charles held brand protection roles at Shopee, LVMH, Johnson & Johnson and Unilever. He holds master degrees in Security & Asian Studies, and is the Treasurer of the Gulf Brand Protection Group in Dubai.
Mikhail Jackson
Partner
Livingston Alexander & Levy
Mikhail is a Partner at Livingston, Alexander & Levy in Kingston, Jamaica, where he leads a dynamic Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement practice. A seasoned litigator, his expertise encompasses Anti-Counterfeiting and Patents, representing numerous local and international brands in contentious IP disputes before the Courts and Customs Authorities. Actively involved in regional and international efforts against counterfeiting, Mikhail contributes his insights to organizations such as INTA, ASIPI, the Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA); the Intellectual Property Caribbean Association (IPCA); Jamaica’s National Anti-Contraband Committee. Mikhail has a deep understanding and practical experience navigating the complexities of IP law in the Caribbean region.
Ying JI
Chairman
Quality Brand Protection Committee of CAFEI (QBPC)
Ji Ying has been a passionate and active professional in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection in China. With over 19 years of experience in legal practice, she has made significant contributions to the development of China’s IPR protection regime. Ying starts chairing QBPC from 2025. Currently, she is a group leader for the Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine legal team in China. Prior to this role, she spent eight years leading GSK’s brand protection and related IPR work for Greater China. Renowned for her expertise, Ji Ying has been invited to speak at various meetings and international seminars to share her extensive experience in IPR protection. In recognition of her outstanding professional achievements, Ji Ying was shortlisted for the U.K. Alumni Professional Achievement Award in 2019 by the British Council in China. Before transitioning to in-house roles, Ji Ying worked in private practice as an attorney at Baker & McKenzie and King & Wood Mallesons. She also holds an MBA degree from Tsinghua University Economics Management School. Ying has both the PRC Bar and U.S. California Bar.
Candace Johnson
Program Manager, Customer Trust
Amazon
Candace Johnson is a Program Manager for Amazon’s Customer Trust External Relations team. She specializes in strategic brand protection initiatives within the Hardlines industry and leads the IACC-Amazon program. Throughout her career, Candace has worked with numerous brands across the electronics, technology, and entertainment sectors. Before joining Amazon, Candace earned a Master of Business Administration from Utica University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Hampton University. Outside of work, Candace enjoys shopping, staying active on the treadmill, and traveling with her family.
Jay Kennedy
Head of Policy and Engagement, Illicit Trade Prevention – US
Philip Morris International (PMI)
Dr. Jay Kennedy is the Head of Policy and Engagement, Illicit Trade Prevention – US for Philip Morris International (PMI). Jay brings over a decade of experience in the brand protection industry, including prior roles with Amazon and A-CAPP Center at Michigan State University. He has written extensively on counterfeiting and other crimes against business, is co-author of the book “White Collar Crime: An Opportunity Perspective”, and was a contributor to Forbes writing on counterfeiting issues within retail. In his current role he leads the USA-IT coalition, a public-private sector initiative to raise awareness on the harms of illegal trade.
Saif Khan
Partner- Litigation and Enforcement
Anand and Anand
Mr. Saif Khan is a Partner at Anand and Anand in the Litigation Department. He is not only heading the White-Collar Crime Practice and IP Enforcement team of the firm but also litigates contentious IP matters regularly. He has a vast experience in litigation and advisory for various Fortune 500 companies and other leading organizations worldwide. He has vast experience of strategizing and advising on contentious matters relating to Corporate Frauds, Technological Frauds/Cyber Crimes, Commercial Disputes, Intellectual Property Rights Disputes, Disparagement/Defamation, Data Protection, Domin name issues and International Arbitration. He has been independently representing conglomerates in such contentious matters before various forums and Courts in India. Saif has also successfully led as the main counsel in some of the most complex and high-stake IP commercial litigations.
Lucie Kwon
Bureau Chief, Financial Crimes Bureau
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Lucie is a career prosecutor, serving as an Assistant District Attorney over the last two decades with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, followed by a Juris Doctorate from the Cardozo School of Law. During her tenure with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Lucie served in several bureaus, including Major Crime Bureau, White Collar Bureau, and Asset Forfeiture Unit. In January 2022, the Honorable Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney of Suffolk County, appointed Lucie to her current position-Bureau Chief of the Financial Crimes Bureau. Lucie serves distinctively as the first Asian American Bureau Chief in the history of Suffolk County government.
Eric Lacoma
Senior Manager, Intellectual Property Department
Louis Vuitton
Eric has been at Louis Vuitton since 2013. He is responsible for maintaining the brands integrity throughout North America. In this role he oversees and guides investigations through a cadre of investigators and law enforcement contacts.
Prior to joining Louis Vuitton, Eric served 25-years in the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and one of its predecessor agencies, the U.S. Customs Service, Office of Investigations. Eric held several supervisory positions and has received numerous awards for investigative excellence in programmatic areas such as narcotics, money laundering, violent gangs, and intellectual property.
Andrew Love
Global Brand Protection Manager
Specialized Bicycles
Andrew Love, Global Brand Protection Manager at Specialized Bicycles heads up the Brand Security/Investigations of the Global team. A department he created in 2008 and now leads. In his career with Specialized, cases Andrew has investigated have resulted in arrests across Italy, China, Colombia, U.S., Spain, and Thailand. Andrew has overseen seizures of over $2M in cash from counterfeiter’s bank accounts, taking down hundreds of websites and online listings valued at over USD 112 million a year. He and his team average 229 takedowns a day on major e-commerce and social media platforms.
Jesse K. Martin
Associate General Counsel & Senior Vice President
Motion Picture Association
Jesse Martin is Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Content Protection and Legal Affairs for the Motion Picture Association (MPA). In this role, Jesse manages global intermediary outreach programs focused on disrupting piracy services’ use of legitimate third-party services in their illegal operations. Jesse works closely with attorneys internally and at the MPA member studios to develop voluntary global strategies for combating and disrupting the use of intermediaries by piracy operators, as well as developing various escalation strategies when initial voluntary initiatives are not successful. Prior to joining the MPA, Jesse served as Associate General Counsel and Senior Director, Compliance Solutions for BSA | The Software Alliance in Washington, DC. Among other responsibilities, she spent more than a decade developing and implementing strategies for end-user copyright enforcement programs throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa to protect member companies’ intellectual property through civil, criminal, and administrative legal actions. Prior to BSA, Jesse spent five years as a litigation associate at the law firm Troutman Sanders, LLP (now Troutman Pepper Locke).
Diana Karina Martínez Rodríguez
Of Counsel
Arochi & Lindne, S.C.
Diana Martinez is of Counsel and head of the IP Enforcement department of Arochi & Lindner’s Mexico office. She has extensive expertise developing anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy strategies to protect and enforce the intellectual property rights of leading companies in a variety of industries, including electronics, technology and software; entertainment and media; gaming; fashion and luxury goods along with fast-moving consumer goods.
Paul J. May
Senior Vice President, Production
USAopoly, LLC
Serving as Senior Vice President, Production for USAopoly (the Op Games) and have been working with them since 1994. Prior to The Op, was the Pre-Press Manager for a local printing company here in San Diego after serving with the United States Marine Corps. Intricately involved in all aspects of the licensing, creative, manufacturing, and logistical process at the Op which includes combatting the production of counterfeit goods. Program member of the IACC since 2019 and the Alibaba SME Advisory Committee (SAC) since 2020.
Marc Miller
Senior Vice-President, IP Protection
DHgate
Marc Miller serves as Senior Vice President for IP Protection with DHgate. Marc helps lead DHgate’s global brand protection efforts by engaging with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to identify impactful collaborations that enhance IP Protection efforts in the e-commerce sphere. Marc previously served in leadership positions as Senior VP for Corporate Strategy at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, Senior VP for Content Protection with the Motion Picture Association and as Nintendo’s Anti-Piracy Counsel for the Americas & Asia/Pacific. Prior to his private sector experience, Marc worked for the United States Department of Justice for almost 10 years.
Vinny Minhas
Head of GTM, Americas
MarqVision
Vinny is Head of GTM, Americas, at MarqVision, where he leads the integration of AI into brand protection strategies. Specializing in data-driven solutions, he bridges the gap between online and offline brand enforcement, helping global brands proactively combat counterfeit threats. Vinny partners closely with brands and legal teams to navigate evolving digital risks across social media, e-commerce platforms, and physical marketplaces. Passionate about empowering companies with actionable insights, he supports brands in protecting consumers and maintaining authenticity in today’s increasingly complex market landscape.
Kay Peralta-Suaverdez
Head of IP Enforcement & Brand Integrity
WobbleWorks, Inc.
Ten years of experience in IP protection and enforcement, Kay is a dedicated IP professional at WobbleWorks, Inc. ‘3Doodler’ is renowned as the world’s first and the best 3D printing pen, has promptly shipped millions of 3d pens worldwide. Throughout her career, Kay has specialized in safeguarding her company’s intellectual property on major e-commerce platforms, ensuring robust protection against infringement, fostering innovation, and contributing to the broader dialogue on IP rights within the digital marketplace.
Geoffrey Potter
Partner
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
Geoffrey Potter is a Partner and Chair of Patterson Belknap’s Anti-Counterfeiting Practice and Brand Protection team. A highly-experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Potter litigates counterfeiting and product diversion cases for major corporations worldwide. He specializes in counterfeits that can cause serious injury or death. Chambers named Mr. Potter a Leading Practitioner for Intellectual Property Litigation, calling him a “noted authority on anti-counterfeiting issues.” He is cited on anti-counterfeiting matters in numerous publications including in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Mr. Potter received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from Cornell University.
Eric Richardson
Manager, Forecasting & Data Analytics
The Op (USAopoly)
Currently serving as Manager, Forecasting & Data Analytics for The Op (USAopoly) and has been working with USAopoly for the past 7 years. Prior to USAopoly, Eric was a Sr. consultant for First Republic Bank where he oversaw Dodd-Frank Act capital and liquidity stress testing. He has also served as the West Coast regional operations Manager for Macy’s inc. In 2015 Eric earned his M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco.
Mike Rieger
Senior Investigator
IP House
Mike spent 23 years with the New York City Police Department, where he spent a decade enforcing trademark counterfeiting laws with a Manhattan Task Force as well as the Intelligence Division. Since departing law enforcement, Mike has transitioned into a role with Allegiance Protection Group and now IP House, where he assists brands with protecting their intellectual property rights by supporting law enforcement in criminal cases as well as seeking civil remedies.
Christopher Salgado
CEO
All Points Investigations, LLC
Christopher Salgado, former Facebook investigator and CEO of All Points Investigations, leads a global firm specializing in cyber, OSINT, and physical investigations. With over 20 years of expertise, he tackles threat management issues from corporate risk and brand protection to cults and cyberstalkers. Named a Top Investigator of 2024 by PI Magazine, Christopher has presented to the FBI, DEA, Interpol, and major global entities. He’s a member of the London Speaker Bureau, a former keynote speaker at CrimeCon 2022, and founder of Anti-Hackathon and AGGOSO™ Training, both dedicated to advancing public safety and investigative excellence in the cyber domain.
Daniel Shapiro
SVP of Brand Relationships & Strategic Partnerships
Red Points
After working at Macy’s and eBay, Daniel joined Red Points to lead the company’s strategic partnership with eCommerce platforms, websites, Intellectual Property firms, and other stakeholders. Daniel was a Senior Manager of Brand Protection at eBay for almost 8 years, leading international teams in disrupting counterfeits worldwide.
Jonathan Skufca
Senior Analyst, IP Protection & Security
Entertainment Software Association
Hailing from Western Pennsylvania and now based in Washington DC, Jonathan Skufca is a Senior Analyst at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade association for the video game industry. There, he manages ESA’s Latin American Enforcement and Criminal Enforcement programs and works closely with law enforcement globally on training and referral matters. Of special interest to him are issues related to digital piracy and counterfeit goods; the development of devices and technologies that circumvent technological protection measures; the growing intersection between content protection and cybercrime; and the ever-changing laws surrounding technology, video games, and the internet.
Zach Toczyński
Sr. Director of Global Brand Protection
Levi Strauss & Co
Zach Toczyński is the Sr. Director of Global Brand Protection at Levi Strauss & Co., where he has led global programs for anti-counterfeiting, online enforcement, trademark infringement, and IP policy since 2013. He oversees brand protection efforts for Levi’s®, Beyond Yoga®, Dockers®, DENIZEN®, and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™. Previously, Zach worked in political consulting and software at Aristotle International and served as a Legislative Assistant in the Monroe County Legislature, NY. He spent 12 years at the Entertainment Software Association, leading anti-piracy training and investigations. Zach holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Xinghao Wang
Director of Global IP Enforcement
Alibaba
Xinghao joined Alibaba in January 2015, and is a member of Global IP Enforcement team. He works with international brands and retail partners, industry associations, government regulators, law enforcement and other organizations to advance Alibaba Group’s IP protection efforts. Before joining Alibaba, he was an IP attorney at HSML in Minneapolis and focused on helping US companies protect their IP rights in the US as well as in China.
Jose H. Werner
Partner
Dannemann Siemsen
Professional Experience:
– Partner at Dannemann Siemsen;
– Director of ANGARDI – Brazilian Association for the Protection of IP Rights;
– 30 years of experience;
– Deep knowledge in unrestricted criminal litigation practice;
– Wide experience in complex investigation cases;
– Responsible for strategies, legal opinions, organization and administration of specific or massive anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting campaigns;
– Anti-fraud Specialist.
Evan Williams
Senior Director, Global IP Enforcement
Alibaba International
Evan Williams is a Senior Director for Alibaba International Global Intellectual Property Enforcement, based in Washington, D.C. Evan works with public and private IPR stakeholders to eliminate online trafficking of counterfeit goods on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms and to pursue counterfeiters offline. Evan retired in 2021 as Senior Counsel from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, where he prosecuted intellectual property and cybercrime offenses. From 2016-2021, Evan was posted at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, serving a long-term detail as one of DOJ’s first International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney-Advisors for Asia.
Jasmine Xu
Senior Manager of Global IP Enforcement Team
Alibaba Group
Jasmine Xu serves as Senior Manager of Global IP Enforcement Team, Alibaba Group. She joined the Global IP Enforcement team in 2021, and has been working with international stakeholders on IPR concerns.
She joined Alibaba Group in August 2018 as Senior Manager, Public Affairs Department. She has more than 10 years of work experience in international relations and cross-cultural communication. Prior to Alibaba, Jasmine has worked for the Consulates General of Canada and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China. She holds an MPhil degree from the University of Cambridge.
Roundtable Hosts
Maral Behnam-Garcia
Head of Intellectual Property Risk & Compliance
eBay inc.
Maral is the Head of Intellectual Property Risk & Compliance at eBay, Inc. With more than 16 years in the field, Maral is an accomplished leader specializing in developing pragmatic anti-counterfeiting programs, implementing technological solutions, and leading large scale operations teams to protect against IP infringement. Maral prides herself in working closely with brand or rights owners to provide a collaborative approach in combating counterfeiting. Prior to eBay, Maral was the Senior Director of Global Brand Protection & IP the e-commerce platform, WISH. Maral holds a Masters in Business Administration as well as a Bachelors in Political Science & Sociology with an emphasis in law.
Christine Casaceli
Head of IP Compliance – US Legal
Temu
Christine Casaceli is Head of IP Compliance at Temu where she oversees Intellectual Property and Product Regulatory Compliance for the U.S. Prior to coming to Temu, she worked at an e-commerce Amazon aggregator start-up where she managed IP, Litigation, and Product Compliance. She began her career at Hasbro where she spent six years working as an IP and e-commerce attorney.
Yongjia Chen
Associate Manager, Public Affairs
Tencent
Yongjia is an Associate Manager on the Global Public Affairs team at Tencent, based in Washington, D.C. She has been part of the team for over three years, working in Palo Alto, Hong Kong, and D.C., on IP policies and narratives, including efforts to strengthen brand protection for Weixin. She facilitates stakeholder engagements across international markets and works internally to drive actions based on feedback. Yongjia holds a B.A. from Beijing Foreign Studies University and an M.A. in International Policy with a minor in Cyber Policy from Stanford University.
Julien Dudouit
Deputy Head of Global Brand Relations
eBay
Julien Dudouit is Deputy Head of Global Brand Relations for eBay, responsible for supporting Rights Owners in protecting their Trademarks and Copyrights by managing the Verified Rights Owner programme (VeRO) on eBay’s platforms globally. Prior to this, Julien was closely involved in implementing eBay’s anti-counterfeit operational strategy. Julien holds a bachelor’s degree in business and management and has been working on Anti-Piracy matters for the past eighteen years.
Amanda Eng
Interim Head of Brand Protection
Shopee
Amanda Eng is a seasoned e-commerce leader with extensive experience across marketing, commercial, analytics, and brand protection at Shopee. She currently serves as Shopee’s Interim Head of Brand Protection while leading the Regional Brand Partnerships team. In this role, Amanda drives Shopee’s regional brand protection strategies and strengthens collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve impactful results. Passionate about fostering a safe and vibrant e-commerce environment, she works closely with rights holders, brands, associations, and enforcement agencies to uphold intellectual property rights and ensure a trusted shopping experience on the Shopee platform.
Paula Fernandez Pfizenmaier
Intellectual Property Director
Mercado Libre
With over 20 years of industry experience as an associate and partner at leading law firms in Argentina, Paula joined Mercado Libre in 2021 as the Head of Intellectual Property, overseeing global initiatives. She holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Buenos Aires and is a registered Industrial Property Agent. Additionally, she earned a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law from Austral University. Paula currently serves as a Board Member of INTA and Co-Chair of the Global Advisory Council (GAC) for the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Guadalupe García Crespo
Brand Protection Manager
Mercado Libre
Attorney graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. Industrial Property Agent. Master degree in Intellectual Property Law from Austral University (pending thesis). Internet Law and Communications Technology Program from University of San Andrés. Training Course for IP Protection Lawyers from the Japanese Patent Office (scholarship winner). Prior to joining Mercado Libre in 2016, she worked in the Trademark Department at Marval, O’Farrell and Mairal in Buenos Aires.
Mike Liu
Head of Trust & Safety
Temu
Mike Liu is the Head of Trust and Safety at Temu, overseeing product compliance, intellectual property protection, and merchant compliance, ensuring a secure and reliable platform for users worldwide. Mike has been in the e-commerce industry for 16 years and previously served as compliance policy manager and operation head in a leading US online payment company.
Nate McMurdie
Sr. Program Manager, Customer Trust External Relations
Amazon
Nate McMurdie is a Sr. Program Manager for Amazon’s Customer Trust External Relations team. He focuses on strategic initiatives with the Media & Entertainment industry, specializing in brand protection and licensing. During his career, he has had the pleasure to work with brands across electronics, technology, books, music, media, and entertainment industries. Prior to joining Amazon, Nate earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Marriott School of Business. When not at work you’ll find Nate coaching youth sports, playing sports himself, or hiking and biking a new trail in the Pacific Northwest with his family.
Samantha Medina
Manager
Mastercard
Samantha has been with Mastercard since 2018, during which time she has held various roles within the Franchise group. She currently serves as the Brand Performance Team Operations Coordinator, where she supports several global customer performance programs. This includes the Business Risk Assessment Management (BRAM) Program and the Global Rules Investigation Program (GRIP), which are aimed at identifying and reducing risks that affect the payments ecosystem, including illegal activities, brand damage, and misleading practices. Before joining Mastercard, Samantha supported a federal task force that investigated fraud and money-laundering activities linked to various offenses, including violations of intellectual property rights.
Marc Miller
Senior Vice-President, IP Protection
DHgate
Marc Miller serves as Senior Vice President for IP Protection with DHgate. Marc helps lead DHgate’s global brand protection efforts by engaging with key stakeholders in the public and private sector to identify impactful collaborations that enhance IP Protection efforts in the e-commerce sphere. Marc previously served in leadership positions as Senior VP for Corporate Strategy at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, Senior VP for Content Protection with the Motion Picture Association and as Nintendo’s Anti-Piracy Counsel for the Americas & Asia/Pacific. Prior to his private sector experience, Marc worked for the United States Department of Justice for almost 10 years.
Xinghao Wang
Director of Global IP Enforcement
Alibaba
Xinghao joined Alibaba in January 2015, and is a member of Global IP Enforcement team. He works with international brands and retail partners, industry associations, government regulators, law enforcement and other organizations to advance Alibaba Group’s IP protection efforts. Before joining Alibaba, he was an IP attorney at HSML in Minneapolis and focused on helping US companies protect their IP rights in the US as well as in China.
Ross Zhang
Senior Legal Counsel
Tencent
Ross is a Weixin brand protection team member based in Singapore who has been constantly communicating with stakeholders outside China. Before joining Tencent, Ross worked in the China office of an international law firm as an IP lawyer and has extensive experience in brand protection and IP enforcement matters.