AIPLA will be offering in-depth skills workshops at the Spring 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 Spring Meeting registration. If you have already registered for the 2026 Spring Meeting and are interested in attending the workshops, please refer to your registration confirmation page for a link to register for the workshops
Wednesday, May 13, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
TRACK 1: Behind the Dialogue: Improving Your Patent Examiner Interview Skills
Examiner interviews remain one of the most effective tools in patent prosecution—but how well do we really understand this practice? The USPTO recently introduced USPTO AIR, a web-based platform that allows applicants to request and conduct interviews for their pending applications. Whether you’re new to practice or a seasoned practitioner, interviewing examiners is a skill that needs continual refinement. In this session, we hope to bring in USPTO Examiners to share their insights and perspectives.
TRACK 2: Patent Drafting 101
The skills workshop is directed to law student/patent agents/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.
Wednesday, May 13, 2:15 - 4:00 PM
TRACK 1: Navigating the Intersection Between IP and Regulatory Exclusivities for Protecting and Evaluating Pharmaceutical, Biologic, and Medical Device Products
This panel will discuss why IP practitioners should become familiar with regulatory exclusivities and how this knowledge brings value to stakeholders focused on product and business development in the pharmaceutical, biologic, and medical device spaces. Regulatory and patent exclusivity drive significant value during the product development lifecycle and can be critical factors in patent prosecution strategy and in the evaluation of merger and acquisition, licensing opportunities and/or litigation. In the commercialization of medical products, regulatory strategy is often inextricably intertwined with other business and legal topics, such as intellectual property protection and competitive intelligence. This panel will discuss, from both a regulatory and IP perspective, how alignment of strategy can help identify opportunities to leverage exclusivity windows which may be driven by both patent protection, and regulatory submissions. It is important for both private and in-house counsel practitioners (particularly those practicing in patent prosecution, patent litigation, and IP transactions) to understand both the regulatory and patent regimes that provide exclusivity protection for pharmaceutical, biologic, and medical device products to provide more value to clients engaged in product and/or business development in this space.
TRACK 2: Ex Parte Appeals
Ins and Outs, practice pointers, how to maximize the ex parte patent appeal process
Thursday, May 14, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
TRACK 1: Securing Patent Foreign Licenses
TRACK 2: Trademark Prosecution 101
Come learn the basics of trademarks, what is use, what is likelihood of confusion? Designed for those new to trademarks.
Thursday, May 14, 2:15 - 4:00 PM
TRACK 1: The Art of Gathering
A practical, discussion-driven workshop inspired by Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering to help IP professionals rethink how we design and run our meetings. Parker’s book argues that meaningful gatherings begin with a sharp purpose, intentional participation and structure, and explicit norms that foster trust, energy, and results. Anchored in two core themes—clarifying purpose and setting explicit rules—we will create space for candid discussion and actionable takeaways that can be used in firm, in-house, and committee settings. The session will feature two small-group conversations, each introduced with a brief framing of Parker’s ideas, followed by quick report-outs to the whole room. Participants will surface the unspoken norms of professional meetings, respond to provocative prompts on when a meeting should exist at all, and explore how clear rules can enable—not stifle—better decisions and engagement. It is not necessary to have read the book to fully participate in the workshop.
TRACK 2: It's All About the Prompts! The AI Prompts
Learn how to craft effective prompts to generate useful AI content on various AI platforms.
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