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: 

  • NEW: 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.
  • NEW:  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.
  • NEW:  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. 



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.  

  • 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