Program Committee
This committee arranges logistics for regional meetings, CLEs, and webinars. It also arranges program speakers and topics, and it develops and coordinates sponsorship opportunities related to these programs. The Program Committee is aligned with the Annual Conference Committee, Industry Committee, PTAB Trials Committee, Committee on Appeals to the PTAB, and Committee on Appeals from the PTAB to coordinate substantive programming and topics, and is expected to coordinate with other committees to identify program speakers throughout the year.
Join us: program.committee@ptabbar.org
| Frank Bernstein | Joel Sayres | Jeremy Monaldo | Alexis Cohen | Gracie Mills | Ethan Goldschen | Grace Wang |
| Committee Co-Chair | Committee Co-Chair | Committee Co-Chair, Emeritus | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair | Committee Vice-Chair |
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Committee Webinars and Events
The PTAB Bar Association is pleased to make video recordings and presentation slides from past committee presentations available to the Association's members as an additional benefit of membership. Logged-in members can access those recordings and slides via the PTAB Bar Association's Presentations Page.
The PTAB Bar Association's committees regularly host free presentations for Association members. If you would like to become a member of the PTAB Bar Association, please visit Membership Information - PTAB Bar Association.
The PTAB Bar Association Program Committee produces webinars on various topics. If you have a topic that you are interested in hearing about or presenting on, please contact one of our chairs. The Program Committee hosted or partnered on the following events:
- On July 23, 2025, the PTAB Bar Association's Program Committee hosted a webinar, Evolution of PTAB Practice: Guidance on Discretionary Denials. The panelists discussed recent decisions related to discretionary denials, including factors such as settled expectations, trial dates, the presence of parallel proceedings, and other issues. Panelists also examined approaches to navigate the most recent Board decisions on discretionary denials, including a consideration of jurisdictions with aggressive scheduling orders and expedited timing. The panelists include Mishima Alam, Google; Charles Davis, Amazon; Nicholas Kim, Microsoft; and David Roadcap, Amgen. The program was moderated by Frederic Meeker, Banner Witcoff.
- On February 20, 2025, the Program Committee hosted a webinar, Discretionary Denials. Speakers included Kristi L.R. Sawert, Bridget Smith, Lestin L. Kenton, Jr., and Ethan Goldschen. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Discretionary Denials (February 20, 2025).
- On September 16, 2024, the Program Committee hosted a webinar, Bench and Bar Discussion of IPR Strategies and Practical Tips. Speakers included Hon. Jacqueline Bonilla, Frederic Meeker, Lestin Kenton, and Ethan Goldschen. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Bench and Bar Discussion of IPR Strategies and Practical Tips (September 16, 2024).
- On August 22, 2024, the Program Committee, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the USPTO (“RMRO”) and the Colorado IP American Inn of Court, held a special in-person event in Denver, Colorado, in conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of the RMRO entitled, The Evolution of PTAB Trial Practice Since the AIA: A Celebration of the 10-Year Anniversary of the RMRO. This three-part celebration brought together current and former USPTO judges and stakeholders, and featured programming at the RMRO and Colorado Bar Association, exploring the evolution of the RMRO and PTAB practice over the last decade. Speakers included: Chief Judge Boalick, Judges Haapala, Kalan, and Arpin, as well as Former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu, Former USPTO Deputy Director Russ Silfer, and Former USPTO Commissioner for Patents Bob Stoll.
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- On April 3, 2024, the Program Committee hosted a Webinar, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-Motions to Amend. Click here to access a recording of the presentation. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Motions to Amend (April 3, 2024).
- The Program Committee presented a series of three webinars on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) recently issued by the USPTO regarding PTAB practice. The ANPRM addresses many issues that have surfaced over the first ten years of IPR practice under the America Invents Act. The ANPRM is intended to solicit additional input from all interested parties before the USPTO issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
- The first webinar, Impact on Procedures – PTAB Proposed Rule Changes, was held on June 8, 2023 and addressed the potential impact on logistics surrounding preparation of petitions, procedural denials of petitions, and settlement of PTAB disputes. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Impact on Procedures – PTAB Proposed Rule Changes (June 8, 2023).
- The second webinar, on June 12, 2023,10:00amPT/1:00pmET, Improving IPR Practice – Implementing the AIA Ten Years Later, Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Impact on Parties addressed the potential impact of the ANPRM on parties to PTAB proceedings, including impacts on smaller entities, whether and how to collaborate in post-grant proceedings, and the estoppel effect on related parties. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Improving IPR Practice – Implementing the AIA Ten Years Later, Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Impact on Parties (June 12, 2023).
- The third webinar, PTAB Discretion – Proposed Rule Changes, June 16, 2023, 11:00amPT/2:00pmET, addressed proposed changes regarding discretionary denials, Fintiv, and “compelling merits”. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, PTAB Discretion – Proposed Rule Changes (June 16, 2023).
- On April 24, 2023, the Program Committee hosted a Webinar, Preservation of Appellate Arguments and Considerations for Appellate Review of PTAB Decisions. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, Preservation of Appellate Arguments and Considerations for Appellate Review of PTAB Decisions (April 24, 2023).
- On February 23, 2023, the Program Committee hosted a Webinar, Veterans Before the PTAB and in IP: A Discussion of Veterans as a Diverse Constituency Appearing Before the PTAB. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Diversity Committee/Program Committee, Veterans Before the PTAB and in IP: A Discussion of Veterans as a Diverse Constituency Appearing Before the PTAB (February 23, 2023).
- On June 30, 2022, the Program Committee hosted a Webinar, Discussion of New USPTO Guidance on PTAB Discretionary Denials and Applicant Admitted Prior Act (AAPA) Issued in June 2022. Logged-in members of the PTAB Bar Association can access a recording of the webinar at the following members-only link: Program Committee, New USPTO Guidance on Discretionary Denials (June 30, 2022).
