2026 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference


Highlights from the 2025 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference


2026 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference 
March 18 -20, 2026 | Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C.


Registration Is Open!

~ Celebrating 10 Years of Connection, Collaboration, and Thought Leadership ~

The 2026 PTAB Bar Association Annual Conference will be held from Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. This year marks the 10-Year Anniversary of the PTAB Bar Association! Join us for an in-person event as we commemorate a decade of dedication and collaboration. The Annual Conference will honor our journey and look ahead to the future as we bring together Association and industry members, senior PTAB leadership and judges, and other partners.The program will feature dynamic discussions on cutting-edge topics in patent practice and offer networking opportunities throughout the conference. 

Programming will begin at 1:00pmET on the 18th and conclude by 1:00pmET on the 20th.  


REGISTER HERE!


PTAB Bar Association Registration Fees
Member: $935     Non-Member $1,130
Special rates available for judges/staff, in-house counsel, and students

 
NOW IS THE TIME TO Renew Your Membership with the PTAB Bar Association—
As you register for the Annual Conference, please be aware that membership with the PTAB Bar Association will expire in March 2026. You can renew your membership NOW at 2026 Membership Renewal or as part of your Annual Conference registration. Membership payment today will automatically be applied to your 2026-27 membership. Please note, if you are a member of a firm that participates with firm bulk renewal, please reach out to your firm administrator prior to renewing your PTAB Bar Association Membership.


"Navigating a Time of Change" - Annual Conference Details 

This engaging 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!

Session details are available at 2026 Annual Conference Agenda - PTAB Bar Association.

Wednesday, March 18     

Session 1: Demystifying Reexam and PGR Procedure 


Session 2: Funding the Future: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Litigation Funding and IP Policy  


Session 3: Section 101 at the USPTO and Beyond    


Networking Welcome Mixer

Thursday, March 19  

Walk for STEM


Breakfast Program with Helen Wan


Session 4: A Decade in Review: Evolution of PTAB Practice  


Session 5: Current State of PTAB Practice   


Session 6: Practical Implications of Recent Rules and Guidance   


Session 7: Pivoting in the New IPR Landscape  


Session 8: Interactive Roundtable Sessions with PTAB Judges  


Fireside Chat with Hon. Kalyan Deshpande, Chief Judge, USPTO


Networking Social Event

Friday, March 20

Session 9: Judges Panel


Session 10: Debate on Layered Patent Protection


Session 11: Ethics and AI   


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. 


Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! 

Please visit 2026 Annual Conference Sponsorship and contact LaTrese Wallace at latrese.wallace-ptab@mci-group.com to partner with the PTAB Bar Association as a valuable sponsor for this event.  

Networking Opportunities  

Plan to join us for the many networking opportunities throughout the Annual Conference, including: 

  • PTAB Bar Association committees will hold in-person committee meetings on Wednesday, March 18th from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Ritz-Carlton just prior to the start of the Annual Conference programming.  Those who are interested in attending the meeting should contact committee leadership.  Committee contact information can be found at PTAB Committees - PTAB Bar Association.

  • The National Inventors Hall of Fame, Camp Invention - Walk for STEM, a one-mile walk through Washington, DC, to support STEM education will be offered at 7:00am Thursday morning, March 19th, in front of the Ritz-Carlton.  Register HERE for the Walk for STEM. 

  • The Walk for STEM will be followed by Breakfast with Helen Wan, an attorney and author of The Partner Track, the novel that inspired the Netflix series Partner Track.  Click HERE to learn more about Partner Track. The Breakfast will include an art auction of an original portrait of Jane Goodall to raise funds for Camp Invention.

  • Networking events Wednesday and Thursday immediately follow the day’s programming. The special offerings crafted by the Ritz Carlton chef are always extraordinary culinary creations that never fail to delight conference attendees!



Questions?  Please contact  info@ptabbar.org