PTAB Bar Association 

Welcome to the PTAB Bar Association, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the highest professional and ethical standards among lawyers and stakeholders who appear before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The PTAB Bar Association touches every aspect of patent practice, including AIA trials, ex parte appeals, and all appeals from the  PTAB to the Federal Court, and is the only community exclusively devoted to legal practice before the PTAB. Our members have unparalleled opportunities to share ideas, engage in interactive discussions on recent developments and current policy considerations before the PTAB, and forge meaningful connections with seasoned practitioners, PTAB judges, and top industry experts.  Members are the heart and soul of the PTAB Bar Association, and we encourage you to join this dynamic and growing bar association! 

If you are not currently a member of the PTAB Bar Association, we invite you to become a member of the PTAB Bar  Association to take advantage of everything the Association has to offer. The PTAB Bar Association is an organization for all attorneys, patent agents, or law students interested in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) practice. We encourage you to join this energetic and inspiring community! 


 2025 Thought Leader Summit, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 
Bi-Coastal Event:  Alexandria, VA | San Jose, CA

We hope you joined us for the PTAB Bar Association Thought Leader Summit that was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The Thought Leader Summit was offered as a bi-coastal experience, held at the Westin Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia from 2:00pm-5:00pmET, and at the USPTO in San Jose, California from 2:00pm-5:00pmPT.

We were very fortunate to hear Keynote Remarks from Acting Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande (in Virginia) and Acting Vice Chief Judge Michelle Ankenbrand (in California). Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) provided recorded remarks at both venues.  Panelists in Virginia and California discussed the latest trends and developments in discretionary denials. Judges and staff from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) participated in engaging and dynamic discussions at the Round Table events in both venues. The Thought Leader Summit was a wonderful opportunity to network and learn from fellow practitioners, in-house counsel, industry experts and judges. 

Additional program information is available at 2025 Thought Leader Summit Agenda - PTAB Bar Association.


2026 Annual Conference
Wednesday, March 18 - Friday, March 20, 2026
Washington, DC

MARK YOUR CALENDAR -- SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendar to join us for the PTAB Bar Association 2026 Annual Conference which will be held in person on March 18-20, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.  Registration and additional conference details will be available in December. Sponsorship opportunities will be available. If you are interested in partnering with the PTAB Bar Association as a valuable sponsor for this event, please contact LaTrese Wallace at latrese.wallace-ptab@mci-group.com.


Pioneering Women at the Board

November 7, 2024
Young Lawyers and Agents Committee
Nuts and Bolts Series
October 30, 2024
2024 Thought Leader Summit

October 10, 2024

Upcoming Events

View the full calendar below to see the scheduled meetings of our
fourteen different committees (learn more about our committees HERE). 
We invite you to contact the committees to join a meeting as a guest. 




No Current Events




Recent News and Events

Diversity, Women's, and Young Lawyers and Agents Committee Host "From Data to Action: Demystifying Meritocracy" Webinar - September 30, 2025

On September 30, 2025, the Diversity Committee, Women’s Committee, and Young Lawyers and Agents Committee of the PTAB Bar Association,...

Diversity, Industry, Women's, and Young Lawyers and Agents Committees Host Fall Mixer - September 24, 2025

On September 24, 2025, the Diversity Committee, Industry Committee, Women’s Committee, and Young Lawyers and Agents Committee...

PTAB Bar Association Congratulates New USPTO Director John A. Squires - September 18, 2025

The PTAB Bar Association congratulates the Honorable John A. Squires on his Senate confirmation as the next Director of the United...

Program Committee Hosts "Continuing Evolution of Discretionary Denials at the PTAB" Webinar - August 18, 2025

On August 18, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association's Program Committee hosted a webinar titled “Continuing Evolution of Discretionary...

Committee on Appeals from the PTAB Hosts "Appeals from the PTAB Mid-Year" Webinar - August 5, 2025

On August 5, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association Committee on Appeals from the PTAB hosted a webinar titled "Appeals from the PTAB...