Eric Cheng JD 2010 is an alumnus who does not do anything halfway. This tech-savvy attorney completed his undergraduate career at UC Berkeley with a double degree in electrical engineering/computer science and business administration. However, during a business law class he realized a legal career combining skills learned from his undergraduate degrees was the right path for him.
A Bay Area native, Cheng was first drawn to USC Gould due to its impressive reputation and location. "I wanted to stay in California and USC was an obvious choice based on what it offered and being in the center of a vibrant city like Los Angeles. USC Gould provided the right courses, great faculty and tools to succeed, but what really made the decision for me was the students I met while visiting," he said. "There was true excitement and enthusiasm from students that I did not experience at other schools."
Years later, Cheng reflects that his fondest memories of Gould involve his relationships with fellow students and the bonds he made while completing his degree. Today, he remains close to many of his classmates personally and through work. He also often thinks about what he learned at Gould and how it relates to his career. "My experience at Gould prepared me well for my role as an intellectual property attorney at a big law firm. The combination of practical and theoretical classes was very useful; I still refer to it in practice today."
Seven years after graduating from USC Gould, Cheng is an intellectual property litigation partner in Kirkland & Ellis' Palo Alto and San Francisco offices. His practice focuses on intellectual property disputes in U.S. district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission. He also maintains an active pro bono practice.
Maintaining connections with Gould students and the desire to give back to the USC Gould community led to Cheng's interest in the role of Chair for the USC Gould Alumni Association, San Francisco Bay Area.
The group's programming this year has included a happy hour to welcome USC summer associates to the Bay Area to a tour of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Cheng credits the success of the group to the alumni in the Bay Area and a very engaged and enthusiastic Alumni Association board. He loves meeting new alumni and fostering connections between USC Gould alumni and students. He feels that the relationships he built at USC Gould made a significant impact on his career and development and volunteering with alumni is one way he can pay it forward.
After the final event of 2017, a 'Welcome to the Bar/Holiday Mixer' held on Dec. 13 in downtown San Francisco, Cheng and the board are gearing up for a busy 2018 with plans for a wide spectrum of events and hopes to engage even more local alumni.
"Whether they are a new graduate or have been practicing law for many years, we are always looking for new alumni connections and strongly encourage Bay Area Gould alumni to reach out and engage with the Alumni Association," Cheng urged. "This group has gained momentum with recent events and we want to continue to build up our network."
Are you an alumnus in the Bay Area who would like to be involved with the Alumni Association? Email [email protected] to find out more.
