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.
,9:05 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.
,9:50 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.
,10:50 AM ET
Networking Break
11:15 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
Liliane Roriz
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.
,12:15 PM ET
Lunch
1:15 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.
Bijou Mgbojikwe
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.
,2:40 PM ET
What Patents Are Really Worth: The Economics of Patent Licensing
This panel will examine how sophisticated licensors, licensees, counsel, and valuation professionals assess patent value in real-world transactions and disputes. The conversation will explore royalty structures, comparable licenses, portfolio strength, litigation and validity risk, damages principles, SEP licensing, FRAND obligations, and the practical factors that drive parties toward—or away from—a deal.
Elizabeth Brannen
Janine Carlan
Carlyn Irwin
Ngoc Ngo, Ph.D.
This panel will examine how sophisticated licensors, licensees, counsel, and valuation professionals assess patent value in real-world transactions and disputes. The conversation will explore royalty structures, comparable licenses, portfolio strength, litigation and validity risk, damages principles, SEP licensing, FRAND obligations, and the practical factors that drive parties toward—or away from—a deal.
,4:05 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, Ph.D.
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
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.
,9:05 AM ET
Keynote: Coke Stewart
We are pleased to once again have Coke Morgan Stewart join us for a fireside chat with IPWatchdog President, Renée Quinn, and IPWatchdog Editor-in-Chief, Eileen McDermott. Coke Morgan Stewart is former Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO, from January 2025 through September 2025. In September 2025, Stewart became Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a position she held through July 31, 2026.
Eileen McDermott
Renée C. Quinn
Coke Morgan Stewart
We are pleased to once again have Coke Morgan Stewart join us for a fireside chat with IPWatchdog President, Renée Quinn, and IPWatchdog Editor-in-Chief, Eileen McDermott. Coke Morgan Stewart is former Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO, from January 2025 through September 2025. In September 2025, Stewart became Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a position she held through July 31, 2026.
,9:50 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.
Francesca Cruz
Becky Kaufman
Mary Penn
Valarie Rosen
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.
,10:50 AM ET
11:15 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
Ceyda Maisami
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.
,1:15 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.
,2:15 PM ET
Networking Break
2:40 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
Rinat Shangeeta
Marlene Valderrama
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.
,4:05 PM ET
AI Confidential: Protecting Trade Secrets When Every Employee Has an AI Tool
This panel will examine how generative AI is changing trade secret practice, including the risks created by public AI tools, prompt retention, training rights, confidentiality terms, privilege, readily ascertainable information, and internal AI policies. The discussion will also consider when trade secrets make strategic sense, when patent protection is still necessary, and how companies can protect competitive advantage without accidentally destroying the very secrecy they are trying to preserve.
Erin Crockett
Sarah Lopano
This panel will examine how generative AI is changing trade secret practice, including the risks created by public AI tools, prompt retention, training rights, confidentiality terms, privilege, readily ascertainable information, and internal AI policies. The discussion will also consider when trade secrets make strategic sense, when patent protection is still necessary, and how companies can protect competitive advantage without accidentally destroying the very secrecy they are trying to preserve.
,5:30 PM ET
The AI Content Wars: Copyright, Fair Use, Training Data and the Future of Human Creation
This panel will examine the fast evolving copyright and data-rights issues raised by generative AI, including fair use, training-data licenses, ownership of AI-assisted works, provenance, output risk, market harm, and the growing business importance of verified human-created content. The discussion will also explore why human creativity remains essential not only as a matter of law and policy, but as a technical and commercial input for AI systems that depend on high-quality training data.
Allison Gaul
Catherine Zaller Rowland
This panel will examine the fast evolving copyright and data-rights issues raised by generative AI, including fair use, training-data licenses, ownership of AI-assisted works, provenance, output risk, market harm, and the growing business importance of verified human-created content. The discussion will also explore why human creativity remains essential not only as a matter of law and policy, but as a technical and commercial input for AI systems that depend on high-quality training data.
,Friday, Sep 25, 2026
8:00 AM ET
9:00 AM ET
IPWatchdog Unleashed Live Podcast Recording
Gene Quinn
10:15 AM ET
IPWatchdog Unleashed Live Podcast Recording
Gene Quinn
11:30 AM ET
IPWatchdog Unleashed Live Podcast Recording
Gene Quinn
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