2025 Thought Leader Summit Agenda


PTAB Bar Association 
2025 Thought Leader Summit 

Wednesday, October 8, 2025
 
Bi-Coastal Event
Alexandria, VA | San Jose, CA

Agenda for the California Venue is available HERE.
Agenda for the Virginia Venue is available HERE.

 

We hope you joined us for the PTAB Bar Association Thought Leader Summit which 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.  After the sessions, attendees enjoyed the chance to network with peers and colleagues during networking receptions held at each venue from 5:00pm-6:30pm. 
 
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. 
The 2025 Thought Leader Summit focused on the evolving Discretionary Denial landscape. This year’s program featured influential voices from both the PTAB and the broader industry, offering critical insights in the following sessions:

Remarks from Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)
 
Keynote Remarks - The PTAB View on Discretionary Denials  
  • Acting Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande in Virginia 
  • Acting Vice Chief Judge Michelle Ankenbrand in California (virtual) 
Session One -Panel Discussion (CLE Session)
This session will explore: 
  • The Latest Discretionary Denial Trends and Developments 
Session Two - Round Table Discussions with PTAB Judges (CLE Session)
Table Moderators will facilitate discussions on the following topics: 
  • Latest Director Review Decisions 
  • Alternatives to IPRs/PGRs (e.g., EPRs) 
  • Winning Arguments Under the New Bifurcated Process 
  • Other Discretionary Denial Strategies