SUMMIT
SPEAKERS
PANEL 2: Taking a Hard Look at the Illicit Goods Space: Understanding the Connections Between
Counterfeits, Gray Market, Diverted, Adulterated Goods
MODERATOR
Leah Evert-Burks is an Industry Fellow with the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection
(A-CAPP) at Michigan State University, the first preeminent academic body focusing upon these global
issues. She is also the Managing Editor for “The Brand Protection Professional”, an industry journal
dedicated to brand protection with articles written for and by practitioners and industry experts,
published by MSU in collaboration with Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Leah previously served on the
A-CAPP Industry Advisory Board. In addition to her work with A-CAPP, Leah is an Associate with
Foucart & Associates, a brand–protection consultancy led by former Director of the National
Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, Bruce Foucart, and works as an independent brand
protection consultant for footwear and apparel brands. Leah retired as Director of Brand Protection
with Deckers Brands in 2015 where she directed all anti-counterfeit programs worldwide and managed
IP litigation for the Deckers footwear brands which included the UGG® brand. Leah began her legal
career in 1984 working as a Paralegal for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. Since that
time, she has worked primarily in-house for various corporations for most of her career. Leah served as
the 2014 Co-Chair for the American Apparel and Footwear Association Brand Protection Council. As an
industry member of an FBI-led Working Group relating to IP Cyber-crimes, Leah helped write and
develop a set of PSAs on IP-Cybercrimes and counterfeiting, which were awarded an Emmy® in 2014.
Leah has been interviewed on the subject of counterfeiting by numerous media franchises including
Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Milken Institute Review, ABA
Journal Magazine among other publications and is a frequent speaker on the issue. Leah received her
BA in History from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
PANELISTS
Kasie Brill is the Senior Director of Brand Protection at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global
Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) and the Executive Director of the Global Brand Council. Kasie
advocates for the protection of IP rights both online and in physical markets with a special focus on
designing public policy solutions to combat counterfeit goods. Prior to joining the Global Intellectual
Property Center, Kasie served as an advisor to private sector clients fighting illegal online pharmacies.
She also served as law clerk to The Honorable C. Ray Mullins, Chief Judge for the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. Kasie is a graduate of both
Michigan State University and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. During law school, Kasie
served as President of the Student Bar Association, on the Executive Board of the Sherman Minton
Moot Court, Law Alumni Board, Admissions Committee, and 2012 Class Campaign for Excellence.
Involved in various student and volunteer organizations, upon graduation, Kasie received the honor of
Outstanding Contribution to Student Life. She also worked as a research assistant on issues of
globalization with a specialization on the global impact of counterfeit luxury goods. Kasie has a
wide-range of expertise in multiple disciplines. She worked for a national advertising agency, and in a
variety of federal government positions including work on Capitol Hill, at the United States Supreme
Court, and at the Federal Judicial Center. Kasie received her B.A. in Communication and Business
magna cum laude from Michigan State University in 2008. While an undergraduate, Kasie was
recognized by MSU faculty as Most Outstanding Senior.
15
Steve Francis is the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in
Michigan and Ohio. In this position, Mr. Francis is responsible for overseeing more than 220 law
enforcement agents, intelligence analysts and professional administrative staff throughout Michigan
and Ohio. The law enforcement personnel are charged with investigating over 400 violations of U.S.
laws in furtherance of promoting Homeland Security, Public Safety and Border Security. Preceding his
appointment, Mr. Francis served in several critical managerial positions. As the Deputy SAC, Mr. Francis
was responsible for managing and directing all investigative operations within Michigan and Ohio. As
the Assistant SAC, Mr. Francis was the administrative overseer of HSI Detroit’s Certified Undercover
Operation and maintained operational oversight of four criminal investigative groups comprised of law
enforcement officers from local, state, federal and foreign task force officers. Mr. Francis holds a
bachelor's degree at Michigan State University and graduated as the outstanding senior in the School
of Criminal Justice.