2026 Thought Leader Summit Agenda
PTAB Bar Association
2026 Thought Leader Summit
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Alexandria, VA
Join us for the 2026 PTAB Bar Association Thought Leader Summit on Wednesday, October 7th! The event will be held at the Westin Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia from 2:00pm-5:00pm ET.
In a time of unprecedented change across the patent landscape, staying informed and connected has never been more important. The PTAB Bar Association's Thought Leader Summit brings together fellow practitioners, in-house counsel, industry experts, and judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to discuss the developments, challenges, and opportunities shaping patent practice today.
This year's Summit promises a rich lineup of educational programming, including remarks from Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande, PTAB, USPTO and two CLE sessions examining the issues and latest developments influencing today's PTAB and patent landscape. Attendees will hear from leading voices in the industry during a dynamic panel discussion before participating in engaging roundtable conversations that encourage the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and practical strategies.
In a time of unprecedented change across the patent landscape, staying informed and connected has never been more important. The PTAB Bar Association's Thought Leader Summit brings together fellow practitioners, in-house counsel, industry experts, and judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to discuss the developments, challenges, and opportunities shaping patent practice today.
This year's Summit promises a rich lineup of educational programming, including remarks from Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande, PTAB, USPTO and two CLE sessions examining the issues and latest developments influencing today's PTAB and patent landscape. Attendees will hear from leading voices in the industry during a dynamic panel discussion before participating in engaging roundtable conversations that encourage the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and practical strategies.
- Session One, a Panel Discussion exploring the Latest PTAB Policy Developments
- Session Two, Round Table Discussions with PTAB Judges, facilitated by moderators on the following topics:
- Discretionary Denial Factors
- Pre-Order Patent Owner Submission and Section 325(d) Discretion in Ex Parte Reexamination Proceedings
- Real Party in Interest Updates
- Voluntary Search Disclosure Declarations
- Recent Developments in Means-Plus-Function Law
Additional program details will be forthcoming!
