Workshops

All times listed are Eastern Time, unless otherwise noted

AIPLA will be offering in-depth skills workshops at the Annual Meeting. Please be sure your experience aligns with the workshop's requirements and targeted audience. The workshops offer a chance to learn and engage with instructors in a smaller setting. The workshops will be limited to 20 people unless noted otherwise, run at the same time as tracks, and attendees will be required to review any materials the instructor has listed as prerequisites. CLE will not be offered, and separate registration is required. Additional details will be provided following general Annual Meeting registration. If you have already registered for the 2026 Annual Meeting and are interested in attending the workshops, please refer to your registration confirmation page for a link to register for the workshops

FOR INDIVIDUALS ALREADY REGISTERED FOR the 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

Register Here

 

Thursday, October 29, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM - Concurrent Sessions

WORKSHOP A: Navigating Artificial Intelligence Issues in Life Sciences Law

 

This interactive session examines how ethical challenges in life sciences IP often emerge through everyday decisions, from inventorship and data use to the growing role of AI in innovation. Drawing on perspectives from the USPTO, private practice, and industry, speakers will guide attendees through a real-world case study, fostering discussion and practical insights into identifying and navigating complex ethical issues.

Moderator: Kathleen Ranney, Prince Pines LLC, Andover, MA

Instructors:
  • Kevin E. Noonan, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP, Chicago, IL
  • Teresa Stanek Rea, Rea Consulting LLC, Fairfax Station, VA
  • Jen Burdman, TRIQUETRA LAW GROUP, Boston, MA

     

 

WORKSHOP B: Trademark Prosecution 101

 

Come learn the basics of trademarks, what is use, what is likelihood of confusion? Designed for those new to trademarks.

Instructor: Shana Olson, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, Washington, DC

 

 

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Thursday, October 29, 2:15 - 4:00 PM - Concurrent Sessions

WORKSHOP A: From Presence to Pipeline: Setting the Stage for a Successful Career

 

The Skills Workshop will equip new lawyers with practical strategies to build their personal brands, leverage LinkedIn for professional growth, lay the groundwork for future business development, and maximize opportunities through conferences and professional associations. Through interactive exercises, participants will gain tools and confidence to strengthen their professional presence and expand their networks.

 

Instructors:

  • Bree Vculek, Solve Intelligence, Washington, DC
  • Fernanda Flores, American Arbitration Association, Los Angeles, CA
  • Hetal Kushwaha, Kushwaha Business Development Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

WORKSHOP B: Patent Drafting 101

 

The workshop is directed to law students, patent agents, and attorneys with little or no experience preparing patent applications, or returning to the field. The workshop will cover essential topics such as best practices for drafting claims and specifications based on the latest case law, as well as interviewing inventors, determining inventorship and handling filing formalities.

 

Instructors:

 

  • Anthony Curtis, Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, P.A., Chicago, IL
  • Babak Akhlaghi, Novotech, Washington, DC

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Friday, October 30, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM - Concurrent Sessions

WORKSHOP A: The ABCs of IPRs

 

Learn the basics of Inter Partes Reexaminations before the USPTO.

 

Instructors:

  • Timothy Tang, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, Washington, DC
  • Jason Mudd, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, MO
  • David Lindner, Crowell & Moring LLP, Chicago, IL


WORKSHOP B: Hands-On Hague Workshop with WIPO: Filing Best Practices & eHague Updates

 

Join WIPO for a practical workshop on Hague application filing best practices, the latest eHague tools, and recent developments in the Hague System.

Instructor: Sidney Gray, WIPO, Switzerland

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Friday, October 30, 2:15 - 4:00 PM - Concurrent Sessions

 

WORKSHOP A: Using the Madrid System for International Trademark Protection
This small, hands-on workshop is designed to provide specific guidance on best practices for using the Madrid System for international trademark protection. The workshop will be led by a WIPO.

 

Instructors:

  • Quan-Ling Sim, Head of Madrid Operations Service, WIPO, Switzerland
  • Nancy Mertzel, Mertzel Law, PLLC, New York, NY

WORKSHOP B: PCT Skills Workshop: Practical Filing Strategies for US Practitioners 


This interactive workshop explores common challenges and strategic decisions faced by PCT users. Through practical case studies and real-world examples, participants will learn how to avoid common pitfalls, evaluate filing pathways, and make informed decisions at key stages of the international patenting process.

Instructors:

  • Matthias Reischle-Park, Deputy Director, PCT Legal and User Relations, WIPO, Zurich, Switzerland
  • Hanna Kang, Senior Legal Officer in the PCT Legal and User Relations Division, WIPO, Zurich, SwiterlandWIPO on the Patent Cooperation Treaty