2026 Annual Conference Agenda




 

2026 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference
March 18 -20, 2026
"Navigating a Time of Change" - Annual Conference Details 
 
The 2026 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference will bring together practitioners, in-house counsel, and APJs to explore the latest in PTAB practice. We expect that our dynamic program will include the following topics and more: 
 
  • Section 101 at the USPTO and Beyond - This panel will discuss recent Section 101 developments, including the apparent divide between Director Squires’ guidance for the Examining Corps and Federal Circuit decisions, which side ex parte PTAB decisions are landing on, and what would happen if the pending PERA legislation is enacted, with a focus on major unresolved questions concerning the eligibility of AI inventions.
     
  • Ex Parte Rexaminations - Conference sessions will address both the procedural aspects of ex parte reexaminations and the strategic considerations of ex parte reexaminations as an alternative to IPRs.
     
  • Ethics and AI - This program will examine the ethical considerations of using AI in patent practice.
     
  • Interactive Roundtable Sessions with PTAB Judges - Back by overwhelming demand from the Thought Leader Summit—and for good reason. Join intimate, small-group discussions with current and former PTAB judges. Bring your questions, your challenges, and your perspective for a rare chance to engage directly with the people who know PTAB practice from the inside.
     
  • Current State of PTAB Practice - Explore today’s dynamic PTAB landscape as this panel delves into recently issued proposed rules and guidance, as well as pending legislation before Congress.
     
  • Practical Implications of Recent Rules and Guidance - Gain strategic knowledge of how the PTAB’s proposed rules and guidance may impact practice and decision-making.
     
  • Judges Panel - Hear directly from current judges as they provide valuable insights into recent changes and evolving practices.
     
  • Litigation Funding - Discover the growing role of litigation funding in PTAB proceedings and its intersection with today’s practice trends.
     
Attorneys can earn up to 12 CLE credits including 1 Ethics CLE credit.
Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and connect with leading experts in the industry. 
A detailed Conference Agenda will be forthcoming.