Title: AI in Legal Practice: Patent Workflows, Governance, and Ethical Use
Speakers: George Ngengwe, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, and
Weston Dunn, Amazon Web Services
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how lawyers research, draft documents, and manage complex technical matters. This CLE will provide a practical overview of how generative AI is being used across intellectual property practice today, including patent drafting and prosecution workflows, prior art analysis, litigation preparation, and technical document review.
The program will also explore how companies are approaching AI governance and risk management from an in-house perspective, including issues related to privacy, intellectual property, and responsible AI deployment.
Finally, the presenters will discuss the professional responsibility obligations that arise when lawyers use AI tools in their practice, including duties of competence, confidentiality, supervision, and verification of work product, along with practical considerations such as engagement letter language and client transparency.
The session concludes with practical takeaways and audience Q&A.
Cost: WSPLA Members Free; $40 Non-members
CLE: Up to 1 General Credit and .5 Ethics Credit pending approval.
This CLE is sponsored by Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Bios
George Ngengwe
George focuses his practice on patent prosecution, counseling and litigation. He helps clients acquire, protect, manage and enforce their intellectual property, with a particular emphasis in patent-related matters. George has significant experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in a number of diverse technology fields, including artificial intelligence, distributed/cloud computing, Internet analytics (search, ads, maps, and social), user interfaces, gaming, complex event and data processing, Internet of things, medical software, telecommunications, athletic equipment, business methods and mechanical arts. George’s practice also includes analysis of patentability, patent infringement and patent validity, as well as performing patent portfolio evaluations for licensing, assertion and acquisition due diligence.
Before law school, George worked as an analyst and project manager evaluating and implementing various information technology systems. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media from Temple University. George’s experiences with computer information systems, project management, and telecommunications and media analysis give George a broad and valuable perspective when providing technology-based intellectual property services.
Weston Dunn
Weston Dunn is Product Counsel at Amazon Web Services, where he advises engineering and product teams on data privacy, security, AI governance, intellectual property, and competition matters across a portfolio of cloud services. He has been with AWS since 2021, serving clients across database, analytics, AI/ML, and emerging technology areas.
Prior to joining AWS, Weston practiced as an Associate at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, where he focused on patent prosecution for clients in fields including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and AR/VR.
Weston is also an Adjunct Professor at BYU Law School, where he teaches AI Law. He holds a J.D. with a focus in Intellectual Property Law from Seattle University School of Law and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University-Idaho.
