About Us

Elan Bitan, Strategic Advisor, Elan’s background covers multiple disciplines relating to business and technology with emphasis on strategy, e-business and management. Elan is a unique individual who can view business problems from both strategic and tactical points of view. He led organizations of different sizes to success. Elan was a Partner with Ernst & Young in the Corporate Development & Strategy Group. He provided leadership in business transformation and technology strategy initiatives for the firm on a national level. While with Ernst & Young, Elan worked with the investment arm of the firm and with venture capital partners. Prior to joining Ernst &Young, Elan established the e-commerce division at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) for the Global Financial Markets Group, serving clients like NASDAQ, JP Morgan and Bankers Trust. Elan has extensive experience in multiple disciplines relating to business and technology with emphasis on strategy, ebusiness and management. Elan holds a BA degree in Mathematics and Computers Science from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (1985) and an MBA in Information Systems and Finance from The Bernard M. Baruch College in New York, New York (1991).

Edward Roney, Advisor IP Counsel; Ed has a broad array of intellectual property legal experience including patent and trademark preparation, portfolio counseling, clearance, enforcement, litigation, post-grant proceedings, licensing agreements, and technology transactions. He represents companies ranging from start-ups to publicly traded Fortune 500 companies. Having founded and successfully sold an innovative telecommunications semiconductor company and patented many inventions himself, Ed brings a unique perspective to his IP practice.

Ed’s patent experience spans all aspects of telecommunications, from physical layer signal processing and RF circuitry to higher-layer software protocols, networking, and information security. His experience also encompasses a wide variety of technologies including aerospace and defense, AI, neural networks and machine learning, blockchain, clean energy, cloud computing, consumer products, eCommerce, energy generation, information technology and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing processes, medical and drug delivery devices, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), robotics, semiconductors, transportation, and water treatment systems.

He works closely with clients to build standard-essential patent portfolios designed to withstand scrutiny in due diligence and litigation. Ed also provides analysis on patent validity and infringement issues, assists with patent and trademark clearance matters, conducts IP due diligence for transactions, and drafts inbound and outbound technology and software licenses.

Additionally, Ed represents clients in intellectual property disputes and litigation, including post grant review (PGR) and inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He has also successfully represented clients in litigation related to unfair competition practices, trademark infringement, and copyright infringement.

Ed regularly writes and presents on patent law and telecommunications technology issues. He is the current managing editor of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Issues in Intellectual Property Law publication. Ed has also represented numerous companies on various U.S. and international industry technical standards groups, including 3GPP, 3GPP2, ANSI, ETSI, and TIA/EIA.

Prior to practicing law, Ed founded PrairieComm, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company providing baseband chips and software to leading cellular handset manufacturers. PrairieComm was recognized by Inc. Magazine in 2000 as one of the top 25 fastest growing companies in the U.S. In 2001, Ed was named by The Wall Street Journal to its ‘Unstrung 25’ list for his leadership in the wireless communications industry.

Joseph Dickinson, Advisor, Legal Counsel; Of Counsel where his practice focuses on information governance, data use, privacy, and cybersecurity. With more than 30 years of practice in the industry, his background in technology and cybersecurity is marked by numerous achievements Joe’s experience covers multiple privacy and security issues facing entities in the private and public sectors. He has worked with clients in the development of data privacy and cybersecurity programs, global data breach response, cross-border data transfers, HIPAA, GDPR, GLB, security breach notification law compliance, and the cybersecurity and privacy issues related to government contracting. He regularly drafts and reviews technology licenses and transfer agreements, contracts involving data sharing, data flows, and management of the related legal risks and obligations, intellectual property and information technology, governmental privacy-related investigations, and corporate internal investigations. Joe also advises clients on the legal issues related to IoT risks, cloud services, AI, and big data analytics. He evaluates the software development process, privacy by design, and counsels clients on responding to software audit requests.

Keith Perry, Sales & Marketing Advisor, Skilled Fortune 500 business strategist and change agent with a demonstrated record of revitalizing and managing technology companies to new levels of performance and profitability.  Highly adept at identifying business opportunities and guiding corporate expansions.  Broad functional background encompasses sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, finance and human resources.  Sr. Director, Sales / Sr. Director, Business Development / Sr. Director, Worldwide Storage Marketing .  Built a national sales force and created a marketing organization.  Professor: Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Software Engineering, and Environmental Studies San Jose State University. BS Computer Science, MS Software Engineering, MBA Business in Technology.

Diane Conti, Corporate & Business Advisor, Diane has over 25 years of industry experience at firms such as the NASD, NASDAQ, the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange, Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, BNYM, the FDIC, Fannie Mae, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations.  A Senior Director in PwC’s Financial Services Advisory Practice, she has held executive positions within several financial services technology organizations and possesses a high degree of knowledge and practical experience in applying real-time processing, market regulations and credit risk to the operations of major exchanges, investment and consumer banking and securities industry initiatives. Diane has been responsible for the deployment and maintenance of enterprise architectures, as well as leading global complex organizational transformational programs.  She has taught graduate courses in the Software Engineering Masters Program at Fairfield University’s School of Engineering and served as a member of the committee, which developed the Program.  PricewaterhouseCoopers: Senior Director, Advisory Services, 2005 – 2015.   Bank of America Securities: Principal, Investment Banking, 2003 – 2005.  NASDAQ: Vice President Enterprise Programs, Technology Operations & Strategy, 1998 – 2003.  Diane holds a Masters in Computers and a Doctorate in Applied Linguistics from Columbia University.  Additionally, she holds a Master of Science from the University of Bridgeport.

Mike Brazao, Strategic and Architectural Advisor, After graduating from the Portuguese Naval Academy, Mike served in the Navy where he held the position of Director of Tidal Analysis at the National Hydrographic Institute. After leaving the Navy, Mike served as the chief actuary and MIS Director at Tranquilidade de Seguros, the largest insurance company in Portugal. Moving to Wang Labs, Mike was fully responsible for development of the WANG 2200 product line, including its associated high performance storage subsystem.  His last position at Wang reported directly to the Chairman with the responsibility for the US operations of Wang Taiwan Ltd.  At Groupe Bull where he reported directly to the Chief Development officer in a technology advisory position and was responsible for worldwide product globalization for this large multinational enterprise.  Storage Computer Corporation (AMEX:SOS), which he co-founded as chief architect he helped deliver innovative RAID storage systems.  Mike has a BA in Mathematics, and an MA in Mathematics.

Mark Lister. Has extensive technical and managerial past roles, including:

• Senior Vice President of Government Operations for the Sarnoff Corporation, responsible for setting the corporate strategy for the government sector, overseeing the management of Sarnoff’s government programs, and serving as Sarnoff’s legislative liaison. 
• Founded, served as the Managing Director of the Rosettex Technology and Ventures Group, a joint venture of Sarnoff Corporation and SRI International. 
• Executive Director of the National Information Display Laboratory, and was responsible for directing research and development in the areas of advanced display and visualization systems, advanced digital imaging, video processing, computing, distributed collaboration, communications technology, compression techniques, multi-media database design, and other information technologies. 
• Director, Advanced Development and Applications in the Research and Development Group of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Space
• In 1981 at the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, D.C. member of the team responsible for the creation of the Global Positioning System (GPS). 
• Served on the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee, the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel, Chairman of the Naval Research Advisory Committee, the senior scientific advisory group to the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of Naval Research.

Mr. Lister received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University, and a B.S. in Mathematics from St. Vincent College.  He received a MEA from George Washington University.