ILMA Compoundings - May 2019 - 52

PORTRAIT

Matt Levetown
Associate Counsel to ILMA
"Although I can't take credit for the lesson,
'I neither know nor think that I know' is a
guiding principle that I've found rings true.
I've found that everyone has a different
understanding, colored by experiences and
personality, even with the same material.
I do not always adhere to the principle, but
I find it useful when talking to people about
their passions or careers or when engaging
in discussion."

LEADING LESSONS

A LOVE FOR LAW AND THE SCIENTIFIC
"My experience has always been in law, with an early focus on
patent law in particular. I worked in all aspects of patent law,
from licensing university researchers to 'patent troll,' to best
understand the field. At Virginia Tech, I took classes across scientific disciplines, from organic chemistry to electromagnetism
to drive a career in intellectual property law. Although I did not
major in a science, I've found use in a shallower understanding
of science doing work on chemicals litigation, where the first
step is identifying relevant issues and figuring out what kind of
future information is needed to make an argument."

THE BELOVED PARADOX OF ISRAEL
"I traveled to Israel in college with a group of fellow students,
and I find Israel to be one of the most unique places I've ever
witnessed. The country itself is a paradox - you can walk
through the Old City of Jerusalem, which has existed for literally thousands of years, while dodging motor scooters. It is easy
to imagine all the people walking through the streets throughout history, even as planes fly overhead. I had the opportunity
to meet with extended family in the country, and walking into
a room full of strangers and walking out as relatives is a wholly unique opportunity!"

COOKING CLOSE TO THE HEART
"Lately, I've found a passion in cooking. I come from a large
family, so cooking was always a central part of home life. My
dad and I often chose a particular cuisine and experimented
our way through as many failed dishes as successful ones.
Luckily there are many resources available for anyone learning to cook, from YouTube videos to food blogs."

MAY 2019

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

"Science and technology philosophy professor Dr. Joseph Pitt at
Virginia Tech had a particularly strong influence on my development through my undergraduate studies and into today. I took
a number of his classes, and he heavily emphasized concise, but
thorough, arguments. More than that, a portion of his classes
typically involved a presentation/dialogue by each student:
'How do you define X? What is an example of X?' followed by
questions and answers. Classes also consisted of reading and
then debating the merits of particular philosophers, reminiscent
of the Athenian Agora. Structured critical thinking on the fly
along with being able to define and defend a position are both
essential skills in law and life. When I asked him for a recommendation for law school, I remember him asking: 'Are you sure
that's what you want?' To many, his response to my question
would've come across as irritatingly pedantic, but to me, it was
a good, final lesson heading into the field of law."

TRIPS TO THE SMITHSONIAN
"The Smithsonian Institute in D.C. has museums and exhibits
covering everything from modern art to Native American
history, all completely free and within walking distance from
each other. The experience of being able to take a weekend
drive into the city in my childhood and explore paleontology
in the morning and art in the afternoon helped shape my interest in learning as much as possible - there are people with
expertise in every field, and I want to understand as they do."

A RELATIONSHIP A-BREWIN'
"One of my favorite drinks is a Dark 'n Stormy: black rum, lime
and ginger beer. My first year in law school, a friend hosted
a board game party. I was helping prep the bar, and he had
dark rum, limes - but no ginger beer! I asked, 'How are we
supposed to make Dark 'n Stormys?!' At the same moment, a
woman walked in carrying ginger beer and said, 'Hope these
help!' Like any great romantic comedy, we have now been
dating for three years."

AN APPETITE FOR HOBBIES
"My peers might be surprised to learn about the sheer amount of
hobbies I have - there are few hobbies I have not yet tried. I have
tried my hand at homebrewing, creative writing and gardening.
I run and hike regularly and am always up for a game of tennis
or racquetball. I own an ever-expanding library of board games
and books. Once I have the space, I want to attempt blacksmithing and beekeeping. My attitude is to try everything."

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ILMA Compoundings - May 2019

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