Assistant Dean Alexa Horne is leaving the position of Assistant Dean and Executive Director of the High Tech Institute and returning to private practice. According to Dean Donald J. Polden, “Alexa has been a marvelous administrator, a thoughtful leader of the law school’s intellectual property programs, and a wonderful colleague. Under her leadership, the High Tech Institute continues to be a leader in American legal education technology and intellectual property programs, and the leading educator for technology and intellectual property lawyers in Silicon Valley.”
Prior to coming to Santa Clara University’s School of Law, Assistant Dean Horne was a partner at Skjerven Morrill LLP. She represented a wide variety of domestic and foreign clients in all aspects of trademark and copyright law, with a particular emphasis on trademark counseling and prosecution and the emerging issues involved with the Internet. She counseled clients as to the availability of trademarks, their registrability worldwide, and licensing and enforcement, including opposition and cancellation proceedings in the Patent and Trademark Office.
Assistant Dean Horne served as Director of the Santa Clara’s High Tech Institute from 2003 to present and will continue to serve as Assistant Dean until February 11, 2005. Dean Horne will continue to stay involved in the high tech and intellectual property programs and activities, including service on the Dean’s High Tech Advisory Council.
Jessica Kahn, an associate in the High Tech Institute, will serve as Interim Assistant Dean of the Institute while a national search for the next Assistant Dean is conducted. Interim Assistant Dean Kahn graduated from the University of Chicago Law School with honors, and practiced law in the tax department at Fenwick and West LLP in its Silicon Valley office prior to joining the staff of the Institute.
