Meet the Editorial Board

Christian Chessman

Christian Chessman is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on patent litigation. His experience covers a broad range of technologies, including microfluidic devices performing next-generation genetic sequencing; multiband base-station antenna arrays; modular semiconductor contact probes; and check auto capture, transmission, and processing for financial institutions. In addition to his practice as a litigator, Christian has authored legal scholarship which has been cited by state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the California Fifth Appellate District Court of Appeal, and the Third Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Before he joined DLA Piper, Christian clerked for Chief Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap of the United States District Court for Eastern District of Texas, where he worked on six patent trials, including the first jury trial on patent-eligible subject matter in the history of the United States. Find out more about Christian here.

Abhishek (Abhi) Dubé

Abhi Dubé is a franchise and distribution lawyer who works with experienced and startup businesses in the restaurant, hotel and lodging, automobile manufacturing, alcohol, retail, fitness and other sectors. He helps brands to expand domestically and internationally through franchise and other structures,and through corporate transactions involving the buying and selling of franchised brands. Abhi serves on the Executive Committee of DLA Piper's Associates Committee and the firmwide Diversity Steering Committee, and he devotes significant time to pro bono work. In his free time, Abhi enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and three young kids (ages 5, 3 and 5 months) and, of course, cheering loudly for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Find out more about Abhi here.

Michael Geller 

Michael Geller is a recognized trademark, media and copyright lawyer whose experience includes domestic and foreign matters, including those associated with prosecution, enforcement and licensing. He has helped his clients litigate disputes in courts and administrative agencies on every populated continent, and he develops, handles, maintains and enforces large intellectual property portfolios. Michael also works closely with startup and emerging growth clients, identifying brand development goals and strategies from seed funding stages through product development and rollout, both domestically and internationally. He is a former major network television news producer with broadcast experiences in New York and California. Find out more about Michael here.

Joseph Wolfe 

Joseph Wolfe is a patent prosecution lawyer based out of Philadelphia, providing domestic and foreign prosecution, filing, validity and infringement analysis as well as due diligence guidance. He is often called upon to explore technologies related to machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies supporting the healthcare, financial and technology sectors. He has written on subject matter eligibility challenges associated with artificial intelligence and has been integral in the development of an AI handbook. Find out more about Joseph here.

Dana Zelman 

Dana Zelman is a telecommunications lawyer with broad experience in regulatory, transactional, and national security matters and a focus on telecommunications and technology.  She has experience with wireless and wireline telecommunications and related technologies, including next gen services like 5G, submarine cables, media ownership, and other telecommunications and technology issues. Dana has represented clients before Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and “Team Telecom” executive branch agencies, and prior to coming to DLA spent five years with the Federal Communications Commission. She holds a strong background that supports IPT News with an undergraduate degree in journalism (publication management), guiding viewers to novel topics in the telecommunications as well as tech, data and commercial areas of law. Find out more about Dana here.