Laura A. Peter 415-***-****
****@********************.***
CORPORATE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
Strategic Planning Finance Risk Management Intellectual Property & Patent Law International Law
Licensing Securities Corporate Governance Litigation Transactions Due Diligence Partnerships
Relationship Management Contract Management Human Resources Regulatory Compliance
Dynamic, results-driven leader with years of progressive experience leveraging legal skills and business
acumen to drive business growth, protect Intellectual Property (IP), minimize risk and assure compliance. An
astute analyst, strategic thinker and creative problem solver. Articulate and persuasive with a track record for
brokering powerful alliances and cultivating productive relationships with corporate boards of directors.
Global perspective; admitted to practice in the USA and the UK.
Superb litigator, spearheaded an $82,000,000 patent case for NASDAQ-listed, Immersion Corporation. Led
successful patent actions against Nortel Networks, Lucent Technologies and Alcatel on behalf of Foundry
Networks.
CAREER TRACK
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL Jan 2009 - Present
GLOBAL GENERAL COUNSEL San Francisco, California
Interim, project and part-time general counsel services to small and mid-sized companies on business
development initiatives and legal and business support for domestic firms implementing globalization
strategies and foreign firms seeking local counsel services in the US. Collaboration with business owners
and managers, and design strategic plans to promote growth and optimize financial returns.
VICE PRESIDENT / GENERAL COUNSEL / ASSISTANT SECRETARY JAN 2005 Aug 2008
IMMERSION CORPORATION San Jose, California
Catalyze business development initiatives and direct legal operations for a recognized leader in the
development, licensing, and marketing of touch feedback technology for medical, automotive, mobility,
entertainment, controls, and 3D interaction and measurement applications. Work with the board of
directors, collaborate with business managers, and design strategic plans to promote growth and optimize
profitability for this publicly traded entity generating $25,000,000+ in yearly revenues. Execute major
transactions, handle business-legal issues and spearhead patent litigation.
Crafted legal strategy and led the appeal of an $82,000,000 jury award before the Federal Circuit
Court (Immersion v. Sony).
Reengineered the legal department; recruited key talent and wrote policy; forged productive
relationships with Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Purchasing and Data Security managers.
In 2006, served as a member of a committee of 10 distinguished attorneys from various law firms and
corporations appointed by T. John Ward, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Texas to provide recommendations focused on reducing the costs of discovery in patent litigation.
DIRECTOR / ACTING ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 2002 - 2004
FOUNDRY NETWORKS San Jose, California
Provided critical expertise on international legal affairs for this leading provider of high-performance
enterprise network and service solutions with subsidiaries / branches in 15+ countries. Developed
hardware / software licensing strategies and controlled a patent portfolio. Managed employment issues,
corporate governance, Sarbanes-Oxley and other compliance issues including SEC filings. Approved press
releases and advertising.
Managed concurrent patent litigation against Nortel Networks, Lucent Technologies and Alcatel;
forced a private settlement on excellent terms for the purchase of a key patent.
Orchestrated budgets and tactical plans for simultaneous patent litigation cases and multiple
licensing negotiations; developed standard contracts, Internet usage polices and export licenses.
Laura A. Peter Page 2
ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL 1999 - 2001
MICROMUSE / INSWEB United Kingdom / California
Directed legal operations for publicly traded, technology-based corporations in the US and UK with a
focus on IP issues. Instituted corporate policy. Crafted, negotiated and monitored compliance with
contracts, software licenses and business relationships. Conducted audits and provided oversight in data
protection, employment and warranty law matters and reviewed advertising copy.
Secured favorable terms for European technology licensing for Micromuse; standardized contracts,
introduced click-wrap product agreements; created marketing, non-disclosure agreements and a
sales acknowledgement form. (2000-2001)
Performed due diligence on acquisitions for internet insurance enterprise, InsWeb and brokered the
terms of a joint venture with a Japanese firm; established domestic and international patent,
trademark, copyright and domain name portfolios. (1999-2000)
ASSOCIATE / ATTORNEY AT LAW 1997 - 1999
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND / OFFICES OF RAFAEL CHODOS San Francisco / Santa Monica, California
Represented Townsend and Townsend and Crew clients in patent, trademark, copyright cases,
competition and contract issues. (1997-1999)
Appointed to represent CIS Hollywood, visual effects provider to the movie industry for the Law
Offices of Rafael Chodos. (1995-1997)
LEARNING CREDENTIALS
MASTER OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: Intellectual Property With merit
University of London King s College London, United Kingdom
CERTIFICATE IN PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
Hague Academy of International Law The Netherlands
JURIS DOCTOR: Intellectual Property Law With honors
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California
MASTER OF ARTS: Public Policy
University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: Industrial Engineering
Cornell University Ithaca, New York
BAR ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of the United States United States Court of Appeals Federal Circuit United States Patent &
Trademark Office Patent Bar Law Society of England and Wales State Bar of California
ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS
Founder - Women s Intellectual Property Law Association American Bar Association, International Section
Association Litt raire et Artistique Internationale-USA Order of the Eastern Star
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
Intellectual Property on the International Arena 2011
Cyber Institute Program, State Bar of California
Protecting your Secret Sauce
EntrepreneurTrek, Stanford University, California 2009
Communicating with the Media and Investors in Your High-Profile
IP Matters. IP Counsel Caf, Silicon Valley, California 2009
Issues Between the Departed Employee and the Employee's New Employer.
Law Seminars International, Palo Alto, California 2009
Strategies for American Companies Protecting Intellectual Property Abroad.
State Bar of California: 81st Annual Meeting, Monterey, California 2008
Meet the Press Dealing with the Press in IP Litigation.
San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association, San Francisco, California 2008
Laura A. Peter Page 3
A New Era of Patent Licensing How Seagate, SanDisk, MedImmune
and Other Recent Cases are Changing the Game.
The Annual IP Counsel Conference IP Law & Business, San Jose, California 2008
Recent Developments in Patent Law.
American Corporate Counsel - Spring Seminar, San Francisco, California 2007
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The Virtue of Patents.
Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2007, page A17.
Recognizing the Territorial Nature of Copyright Law A Necessity in the Global Marketplace.
IP Litigator, May / June 2000. Global Trademark and Copyright, Practicing Law Institute; October 1999.
Copyright, Practicing Law Institute; October 1999.