Insights: News Kilpatrick Elevates Nine Attorneys to Counsel for 2026
ATLANTA (November 11) – Kilpatrick announced today the elevation of nine attorneys to Counsel, effective January 1, 2026. In addition, 14 attorneys have been elected Partner.
Learn more about the accomplished 2026 Counsel Class:
Stephen Anstey is a Government Relations & Regulatory attorney and registered federal lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He co-leads Kilpatrick Connect – AI Legal Consulting and founded the Firm’s Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Blog. Stephen is a member of Kilpatrick’s Generative AI and Digital Assets & Distributed Ledger Technology practices as well as the Firm’s Government & Regulatory, Fintech, Native American Affairs, and Energy teams.
Vanessa Bell is a Registered Patent Attorney in the Walnut Creek office. She focuses her practice on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the software and electronics industries, with particular experience in machine learning, medical devices, financial systems, animation, autonomous vehicles, and satellite systems. She also has substantial experience drafting inter partes review (IPR) petitions, advising on post-grant USPTO proceedings, and conducting standard essential patent (SEP) analyses for complex technology matters. Vanessa partners with clients ranging from startups to global corporations, delivering strategic intellectual property solutions that drive innovation and protect critical technologies.
Leland Black is a Registered Patent attorney in Denver. She focuses her practice on patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, IP strategy, and IP portfolio management for corporations, leading universities, and research institutions in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology fields.
Kathryn Ederle is a Complex Commercial Litigation attorney in Atlanta. She has more than ten years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of litigation matters. Kathryn also practices in white collar criminal defense matters.
Ryu Fukuyama is a Corporate attorney in San Francisco. He focuses his practice on representing emerging growth companies, their investors, and acquirers in mergers and acquisitions and investment transactions, as well as providing general counsel services to those companies.
Tony Glosson is a Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Governance attorney in New York. He has extensive experience negotiating complex technology contracts governing data use rights, data protection and cybersecurity measures, tech mergers and acquisitions, AI and web3 services, software licensing arrangements, risk mitigation and allocation, and confidentiality obligations.
Virginia Ring is a key leader of Kilpatrick’s E-Discovery Team. She capitalizes on her 17+ years of complex litigation experience and technical acumen to develop custom solutions that leverage AI-driven technology to solve data management challenges, optimize legal workflows, and address strategic client priorities.
William Sparkman is a Registered Patent attorney in Atlanta. He focuses his practice on patent preparation, prosecution, and other related counseling primarily in the electrical, mechanical, and software patent arts. He has extensive experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital advertising and marketing, electronic devices, and mechanical devices.
Kristin Strojan is a Trademark, Copyright & Advertising attorney in San Diego. Her practice encompasses the full spectrum of international trademark portfolio management, ranging from counseling, clearance, and prosecution to enforcement and strategic brand protection. Kristin’s diverse client base spans a wide array of industries, including technology, social media, entertainment, apparel and sporting goods.
About Kilpatrick
Kilpatrick is trusted counsel to the world’s most innovative companies. To serve our ground-breaking clients, we strive to be at the forefront of client service and on the cutting edge of law and technology. With recognized strength in the technology sector and a full range of service offerings, we deliver practical, business-centric solutions built upon strong and enduring connections.
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