Please join us for a fireside chat with the Honorable Todd M. Hughes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Honorable Cathy Ann Bencivengo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The discussion will explore insights into IP cases, focusing on patent litigation and prosecution issues that arise in district courts and the Federal Circuit. Any questions for the judges should be submitted in advance to the SDIPLA email address, board@sdipla.org.
- Presenters: Judge Todd M. Hughes and Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo
- Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Time: 5:30-7:30pm; 5:30-6:30pm Networking with Heavy Appetizers; 6:30-7:30pm Fireside Chat
- Location: Jones Day, 4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92121
This presentation will qualify for 1 hour of CLE credit.
Parking Information: Parking is available in the parking structure located adjacent to the building. Please pull a ticket to park in the structure. Parking will be validated.
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If you are not sure if you are a member, please email
board@sdipla.org
Speaker Bios
Honorable Todd M. Hughes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Todd M. Hughes was appointed by President Barack H. Obama in 2013. Judge Hughes served as Deputy Director of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice from 2007 to 2013. He was the Assistant Director in that office from 1999 to 2007 and a Trial Attorney from 1994 to 1999. From 1992 to 1994, Judge Hughes clerked for Circuit Judge Robert Krupansky of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He was an Adjunct Lecturer in Law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law during the Spring 1994 semester. Judge Hughes received a J.D. from Duke Law School in 1992, an M.A. from Duke University in 1992, and an A.B. from Harvard College in 1989.
Hon. Cathy Ann Bencivengo U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California
Judge Bencivengo was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California by President Barack Obama and confirmed in February 2012. Prior to her confirmation, she served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District since December, 2005. Judge Bencivengo was a participant in the Southern District’s Patent Pilot Program and is a member of the District’s Criminal Justice Act Advisory Committee.
Before joining the bench, Judge Bencivengo was a partner with the law firm of DLA Piper LLP (formerly Gray, Cary), where she specialized in intellectual property litigation and was National Co-Chair of the firm’s Patent Litigation Practice Group. As a patent litigator, Judge Bencivengo represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of technologies, including computer hardware and software, chemistry, immunology, semiconductor chip manufacturing, medical devices and consumer products. She was also the lead trademark and copyright litigation counsel for Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LLP.
Judge Bencivengo attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, earning a B.A. in journalism and political science and an M.A. in political science as a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. She received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude.
Judge Bencivengo is a Master in the J. Clifford Wallace Chapter, the Louis M. Welsh Chapter and the newly formed San Diego Intellectual Property Chapter of the American Inns of Court. She was Chair of the Ninth Circuit Education Committee. She is immediate past President of the Ninth Circuit District Judges Association and a member of the Ninth Circuit Public Information and Community Outreach Committee. She is a Judicial Advisor for the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Sedona Conference.