Agenda for Women’s IP Forum 2026
Subject to change. CLE panels are designated by an asterisk after the panel title.
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026
8:00 AM ET
9:00 AM ET
Welcome to the 2026 Women’s IP Forum
Renee Quinn, President of IPWatchdog, welcomes attendees to the 2026 Women’s IP Forum and opens a program designed to advance substantive discussion, professional growth, and meaningful connection across the intellectual property community. She will preview the themes that will shape the Forum and set the stage for two days of candid conversation, practical insight, and shared experience.
Renée C. Quinn
Renee Quinn, President of IPWatchdog, welcomes attendees to the 2026 Women’s IP Forum and opens a program designed to advance substantive discussion, professional growth, and meaningful connection across the intellectual property community. She will preview the themes that will shape the Forum and set the stage for two days of candid conversation, practical insight, and shared experience.
,9:10 AM ET
What Forty Years in Patent Law Taught Me About Career, Life, and What Matters
Drawing on nearly four decades as a patent lawyer, corporate leader, advocate, and mentor, Sherry Knowles will share the real-life experiences and lessons that shaped her career. Through personal stories, she will examine the decisions, setbacks, relationships, risks, and unexpected turns that rarely appear in a professional biography but often determine the course of a life and career.
Sherry Knowles
Drawing on nearly four decades as a patent lawyer, corporate leader, advocate, and mentor, Sherry Knowles will share the real-life experiences and lessons that shaped her career. Through personal stories, she will examine the decisions, setbacks, relationships, risks, and unexpected turns that rarely appear in a professional biography but often determine the course of a life and career.
,9:40 AM ET
Carving Your Own Path: Navigating Career, Family, and Life in IP
Building on Sherry Knowles’ reflections from nearly forty years in patent law, this panel will broaden the conversation from one woman’s career journey to the many different paths women are carving across the IP profession today. Panelists at different stages of their careers will discuss the choices, turning points, tradeoffs, and support systems that have shaped both their professional lives and their lives beyond the workplace.
Melissa Pytel
Jennifer Brinkerhoff
Nancy Braman
Building on Sherry Knowles’ reflections from nearly forty years in patent law, this panel will broaden the conversation from one woman’s career journey to the many different paths women are carving across the IP profession today. Panelists at different stages of their careers will discuss the choices, turning points, tradeoffs, and support systems that have shaped both their professional lives and their lives beyond the workplace.
,10:30 AM ET
Networking Break
11:00 AM ET
The Shifting Global IP Landscape: Protection, Enforcement, and Innovation Across Borders
Drawing on the findings of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 International IP Index, this panel will examine where global IP systems are advancing, where they are losing ground, and what those changes mean for rights holders and businesses operating across borders. Panelists will explore the policies, institutions, and economic pressures reshaping international IP protection.
Kelly Anderson
Alaina van Horn
Drawing on the findings of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 International IP Index, this panel will examine where global IP systems are advancing, where they are losing ground, and what those changes mean for rights holders and businesses operating across borders. Panelists will explore the policies, institutions, and economic pressures reshaping international IP protection.
,12:00 PM ET
Lunch
1:00 PM ET
American Innovation Law and Policy: Patents, Drugs, AI, and the Road Ahead
This panel will examine the most significant legislative and regulatory developments affecting patents, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and innovation in the United States. The discussion will consider which proposals are most likely to advance, how federal and state initiatives may intersect or conflict, and what these developments could mean for innovators, creators, companies, rights holders, and the lawyers who advise them.
Jamie Simpson
Jocelyn Ulrich
This panel will examine the most significant legislative and regulatory developments affecting patents, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and innovation in the United States. The discussion will consider which proposals are most likely to advance, how federal and state initiatives may intersect or conflict, and what these developments could mean for innovators, creators, companies, rights holders, and the lawyers who advise them.
,4:00 PM ET
Protecting the Pipeline: Building Life Sciences Patent Portfolios for Long-Term Value
This panel will examine how life sciences companies build layered patent protection around their most important products and pipelines. The discussion will explore claim strategy, continuation practice, global filing decisions, platform and product protection, formulations, methods of treatment, manufacturing innovations, diagnostics, and follow-on developments.
Erica Fishel
Nicole Mastrangelo
Runa Shah-Qaderi
This panel will examine how life sciences companies build layered patent protection around their most important products and pipelines. The discussion will explore claim strategy, continuation practice, global filing decisions, platform and product protection, formulations, methods of treatment, manufacturing innovations, diagnostics, and follow-on developments.
,5:30 PM ET
The Modern Brand Protection Playbook: Counterfeits, Platforms, Supply Chains, and the Border
Counterfeiting has evolved into a sophisticated, global enterprise that exploits online marketplaces, social media, fragmented supply chains, and weaknesses in cross-border enforcement. This panel will examine how leading brand owners and their counsel are building modern enforcement programs that identify threats earlier, disrupt counterfeit networks, and allocate resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Sydney Redden
Margaret Turchinski
Liliane Roriz
Counterfeiting has evolved into a sophisticated, global enterprise that exploits online marketplaces, social media, fragmented supply chains, and weaknesses in cross-border enforcement. This panel will examine how leading brand owners and their counsel are building modern enforcement programs that identify threats earlier, disrupt counterfeit networks, and allocate resources where they can have the greatest impact.
,Thursday, Sep 24, 2026
8:00 AM ET
9:00 AM ET
Welcome Back and Day Two Preview
Renee Quinn welcomes attendees back for the second day of the 2026 Women’s IP Forum and reflects on the ideas and conversations that defined Day One. She will preview the day ahead, highlighting how the program will build on that foundation with additional perspectives on leadership, career development, legal strategy, and the evolving IP landscape.
Renée C. Quinn
Renee Quinn welcomes attendees back for the second day of the 2026 Women’s IP Forum and reflects on the ideas and conversations that defined Day One. She will preview the day ahead, highlighting how the program will build on that foundation with additional perspectives on leadership, career development, legal strategy, and the evolving IP landscape.
,9:10 AM ET
Inside the In-House IP Function: Pressures, Priorities, and the Problems No One Sees
In this candid, off-the-record discussion, experienced in-house IP professionals will examine the pressures that come with managing an IP function from the inside. The conversation may address competing internal demands, budget and staffing constraints, relationships with business units and outside counsel, portfolio triage, litigation exposure, executive expectations, career pressures, and the challenge of delivering practical advice when the available choices are imperfect.
Becky Kaufman
Mary Penn
Erin Wills
In this candid, off-the-record discussion, experienced in-house IP professionals will examine the pressures that come with managing an IP function from the inside. The conversation may address competing internal demands, budget and staffing constraints, relationships with business units and outside counsel, portfolio triage, litigation exposure, executive expectations, career pressures, and the challenge of delivering practical advice when the available choices are imperfect.
,10:05 AM ET
10:35 AM ET
Translating IP for the C-Suite: Counseling Leadership on Innovation, Risk, and Enterprise Value
Building on the preceding discussion of the pressures and constraints facing the in-house IP function, this panel will explore what the C-suite and board need to hear, which metrics and narratives resonate, how to frame IP spending as an investment rather than a cost, and how to obtain support before a crisis forces the issue. Panelists will also address how effective IP leaders move beyond reporting activity to shaping decisions—connecting intellectual property strategy with innovation, market position, risk management, and long-term enterprise value.
Krista Aiello
Anna-lisa Gallo
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Sheila Kadura
Building on the preceding discussion of the pressures and constraints facing the in-house IP function, this panel will explore what the C-suite and board need to hear, which metrics and narratives resonate, how to frame IP spending as an investment rather than a cost, and how to obtain support before a crisis forces the issue. Panelists will also address how effective IP leaders move beyond reporting activity to shaping decisions—connecting intellectual property strategy with innovation, market position, risk management, and long-term enterprise value.
,11:30 AM ET
Networking Break
12:00 PM ET
The Art of Patent Litigation: Skills, Strategy, and Storytelling that Win Patent Cases
This panel will explore the craft behind effective patent litigation, including case framing, witness preparation, expert strategy, written and oral advocacy, courtroom judgment, and the strategic decisions that shape outcomes long before trial. Panelists will discuss how successful litigators simplify without oversimplifying, adapt their approach to different forums and decision-makers, and develop an authentic advocacy style that is both persuasive and strategically effective.
Sarah S. Burg
Janine Carlan
Elisabeth (Bette) Muirhead
Katie O’Sullivan
This panel will explore the craft behind effective patent litigation, including case framing, witness preparation, expert strategy, written and oral advocacy, courtroom judgment, and the strategic decisions that shape outcomes long before trial. Panelists will discuss how successful litigators simplify without oversimplifying, adapt their approach to different forums and decision-makers, and develop an authentic advocacy style that is both persuasive and strategically effective.
,5:00 PM ET
How Generative AI Is Reshaping IP Risk
This panel will examine how generative AI is changing the IP risk landscape and what organizations should be doing now to respond. Panelists will discuss emerging litigation and regulatory trends, the limits of existing legal frameworks, practical approaches to AI governance and contracting, and how counsel can identify and manage risk without unnecessarily slowing innovation.
Stephanie Curcio
Kendra Ervin
Allison Gaul
This panel will examine how generative AI is changing the IP risk landscape and what organizations should be doing now to respond. Panelists will discuss emerging litigation and regulatory trends, the limits of existing legal frameworks, practical approaches to AI governance and contracting, and how counsel can identify and manage risk without unnecessarily slowing innovation.
,Friday, Sep 25, 2026
8:00 AM ET
9:00 AM ET
Beyond Business Development: Cultivating Professional Opportunity Without Selling Yourself
This interactive Friday morning interactive workshop will focus on building visibility, relationships, credibility, and trust to create career momentum, referrals, leadership opportunities, and sustainable professional opportunity. The session is not limited to client development or private-practice rainmaking. It is designed for those in private practice, in-house roles, government, business, and leadership tracks who understand that authentic professional relationships drive long-term career resilience, client opportunities and future options regardless of role or employer.
Gene Quinn
Francesca Cruz
This interactive Friday morning interactive workshop will focus on building visibility, relationships, credibility, and trust to create career momentum, referrals, leadership opportunities, and sustainable professional opportunity. The session is not limited to client development or private-practice rainmaking. It is designed for those in private practice, in-house roles, government, business, and leadership tracks who understand that authentic professional relationships drive long-term career resilience, client opportunities and future options regardless of role or employer.
,9:00 AM ET
Opportunity Is Built, Not Left to Chance
Even introverted professionals can succeed by taking incremental steps, practicing authentic communication, and focusing on listening rather than selling themselves.
Even introverted professionals can succeed by taking incremental steps, practicing authentic communication, and focusing on listening rather than selling themselves.
,9:10 AM ET
The Debrief: What Worked, What Felt Awkward, What Surprised You?
An interactive discussion where attendees share and process what happened during the Forum and identify lessons, successes and struggles from real interactions.
An interactive discussion where attendees share and process what happened during the Forum and identify lessons, successes and struggles from real interactions.
,9:40 AM ET
Relationship ROI: Playing the Long Game
The real return from business development done properly comes from compounding visibility, trust, referrals, introductions, invitations, credibility, and market presence over time, which creates a gravitational pull.
The real return from business development done properly comes from compounding visibility, trust, referrals, introductions, invitations, credibility, and market presence over time, which creates a gravitational pull.
,10:10 AM ET
The Follow-up Playbook: Creating Momentum After First Connection
It is time to move beyond a pleasant conference conversation and into what will hopefully become a meaningful professional relationship. This is accomplished through thoughtful follow-up, genuine curiosity, useful introductions, and small next steps that create momentum but fit within your daily professional routine.
It is time to move beyond a pleasant conference conversation and into what will hopefully become a meaningful professional relationship. This is accomplished through thoughtful follow-up, genuine curiosity, useful introductions, and small next steps that create momentum but fit within your daily professional routine.
,10:35 AM ET
Turning Interest into Action: The Relevance Conversation
The goal so far has been to get noticed and be likable. Now you need to move from “nice to meet you” to “I can help you.” Conversations that move the needle avoid generic self-promotion and instead prove relevance.
The goal so far has been to get noticed and be likable. Now you need to move from “nice to meet you” to “I can help you.” Conversations that move the needle avoid generic self-promotion and instead prove relevance.
,11:15 AM ET
The Value Conversation: Turning Insight into a Useful Next Step
The objective all along has been to build enough trust and to gather enough context so you can provide something useful and relevant to the other person. Often this next step is considered a “pitch”, but that misses the point entirely.
The objective all along has been to build enough trust and to gather enough context so you can provide something useful and relevant to the other person. Often this next step is considered a “pitch”, but that misses the point entirely.
,11:35 AM ET
Building Visibility That Creates Future Opportunity
Visibility creates familiarity. Familiarity builds credibility. Credibility reinforces expertise. Expertise earns trust. And trust is what ultimately creates opportunity. This means consistent visibility is essential to any serious professional business opportunity-building strategy.
Visibility creates familiarity. Familiarity builds credibility. Credibility reinforces expertise. Expertise earns trust. And trust is what ultimately creates opportunity. This means consistent visibility is essential to any serious professional business opportunity-building strategy.
,11:55 AM ET
Sponsors
