Scott E. Brient is a partner with Alston & Bird LLP. His practice focuses on intellectual property law, primarily on obtaining patent protection for inventive business methods, computer systems, mechanical devices, and industrial designs. He also has significant experience managing large patent portfolios and advising clients as to the intellectual property of others. A large part of his practice focuses on assessing the patent landscape in particular fields of business and using this information to counsel clients on both avoiding any potentially problematic patents and maximizing the scope of their own patent portfolios. He also has particular experience drafting and prosecuting patents to protect financial systems and business methods, unique insurance products, transportation and logistics systems, and complex mechanical devices. In addition, he is experienced in helping clients protect industrial designs through design patents, trade dress, and copyrights. Mr. Brient received his J.D., with honors, in 1999 from the University of Florida and dual degrees in mechanical engineering and German in 1993 from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a systems analyst for Electronic Data Systems and as a mechanical engineer and software developer for the department of anesthesiology at the University of Florida.
B. Scott Burton is a member of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP's Corporate Practice Group, focusing on corporate mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, and other transactional and regulatory matters. His experience includes representing buyers and sellers in acquisitions and dispositions of private and publicly held life and property and casualty insurance companies, blocks of insurance business, investment advisers, broker-dealers, insurance agencies, and other insurance-related organizations. He also represents insurance companies with respect to restructuring, reinsurance, financing, regulatory, and general corporate and transactional matters. He has published a number of articles and other materials with respect to corporate and insurance law matters, and he is a frequent speaker at legal and insurance industry events and conferences.
Brian S. Kaas is a partner with the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP. He is a member of the insurance industry and health care industry teams. His practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate, transactional, and regulatory insurance law. He is also experienced in the areas of reinsurance, runoff and commutation matters, captive companies, insurer insolvencies, and corporate restructurings. Mr. Kaas is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. He is a member of the American Bar Association (business law section, administrative law and regulatory practice section, and tort and insurance practice section), the State Bar of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Bar Association. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and he is an avid speaker and writer on his areas of expertise.
Ernesto N. Mayoral is a capital member of the corporate practice group of McConnell Valdés LLC, concentrating in banking and financial institution law. He chairs the firm’s financial institutions and insurance practice areas. From 1991 until he joined the firm in June 1994, he was the director of the legal division of Popular Inc. He served as legal counsel to Banco de Ponce from 1982 until its merger with Banco Popular in late 1990. He has advised directors and officers on a wide range of banking, securities, and insurance acquisitions, and on regulatory applications to federal and Puerto Rico banking agencies. He regularly works in banking, financial, and insurance regulatory matters, for banks, other financial institutions (including international banking entities doing business in Puerto Rico), and insurance companies and producers. He has worked in a wide range of corporate transactions, including commercial real estate acquisitions and securities offerings. Mr. Mayoral has been a speaker in professional and industry forums on corporate law and regulatory topics. He obtained a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in 1978 and a J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico Law School in 1981. He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Puerto Rico Notarial Bar Association. He was a member of the Puerto Rico Bar Examination Board from 1990 until 1994, and an associate professor on banking law at the Interamerican University School of Law in 1993 and 1994.
