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American Intellectual Property Law Association Announces New Board Members and Award Recipients at 2026 Annual Meeting

Written November 2, 2026

Washington, DC - The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) hosted the 2026 Annual Meeting from October 29 - 31, at the Westin DC Downtown in Washington, DC, where new Board Members were selected for the 2026-2027 year and eleven awards were presented to deserving recipients.


AIPLA is pleased to announce the new Executive Committee and Board Members for the 2026-2027 year:

  • Matthew Wagner, Arthēa, President

  • Nancy J. Mertzel, Mertzel Law PLLC, President-Elect

  • W. Todd Baker, Kirkland & Ellis, First Vice President

  • David Kappos, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Second Vice President

  • Salvatore Anastasi, Immediate Past President

  • David Gosse, Nokia, Secretary

  • Stephanie Bald, Kelly IP, Treasurer

  • Sean Garrison, Bacal & Garrison Law Group, Board Member

  • Debora Plehn-Dujowich, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, Board Member

  • Scott Pivnick, Alston & Bird, LLP, Board Member

  • Michael Stewart, Fishman Stewart, Board Member


View the full Board of Directors here.


AIPLA also recognized eleven recipients at this year's Annual Meeting. Congratulations to the following award winners:

  • Excellence Award: Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

  • President's Outstanding Service Award: Kevin Tottis, TottisLaw

  • Jan Jancin Award: Yi Qu, Harvard Law School

  • Maurice Klitzman Award: Kayla Lee, DENSO International America Inc.

  • Mentor of the Year Award: Ali Anoff, Procter & Gamble

  • AIPLA Past President's Award: Lauren Grohowski, University of Virginia School of Law

  • Robert C. Watson Writing Competition Award: Porter Alexander Tynes, III, University of Georgia, School of Law

  • Coordinator of the Year: Anthony Curtis, Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

  • Project Award: Law Practice Management Committee, presented to Ryan Dean, Chair, and Kristen Pursley, Vice Chair

  • Committee of the Year: Design Rights Committee, Presented to Justin DeAngelis, Chair, and Ivy Estoesta, Vice Chair

  • Diversity Champion: Elaine Spector, Harrity & Harrity LLP


 

The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) was founded in 1897 to maintain a high standard of professional ethics, to aid in the improvement in laws relating to intellectual property and in their proper interpretation by the courts, and to provide legal education to the public and to its members on intellectual property issues. AIPLA is a national bar association constituted primarily of lawyers in private and corporate practice, in government service, and in the academic community.

 


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