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Workshops
All times listed are Central Time, unless otherwise noted
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 2025 Spring Meeting and are interested in attending the workshops, please click here to register.
Register for the 2025 Spring Meeting Workshops
Tuesday, May 13, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Invention Analysis & Claim Drafting: A Workshop for New Practitioners
Designed for those with 0-5 years of patent preparation and prosecution experience, this interactive session teaches new patent practitioners the art of invention analysis and claim drafting. The workshop uses an interactive format to guide you in identifying inventive concepts and drafting broad claims that enhance your client’s portfolio. The workshop also includes a brief segment on leveraging AI-powered patent proofreading tools to minimize errors and improve claim quality.
Instructor: Ann McCrackin, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Cavendish, VT
Tuesday, May 13, 2:15 - 4:00 PM
Litigation Skills Workshop: IPR Expert Depositions - Tips and Practice
This session has limited enrollment. To register for this session, you should have at least 1-2 years of experience doing PTAB work. The session will require you to do preparation in advance of the session, including reviewing a fact pattern and developing a deposition outline.
Deposing the expert in IPRs must serve as trial testimony, examination to support exclusion, and getting a better understanding of the submitted declaration. This Skills Workshop will review tips for taking and defending the expert deposition, and allow participants to practice that skill, getting some valuable feedback from seasoned IPR litigators.
Instructors: Andrew Mason, Klarquist Sparkman, Portland, OR, and Neal Seth, Wiley Rein, Washington, DC
Tuesday, May 13, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
In- Depth OTDP/Terminal Disclaimers Strategies for Surviving ODP Post-In re Cellect
Join a dream team of experienced patent practitioners for an in-depth look at a how you can perfect your OTDP practice, including when and how to file a terminal disclaimer.
Wednesday, May 14, 10:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Quantum Computer and Emerging Technologies
The Rise of Quantum Computing at the USPTO - Patent Drafting Tips, Perils, Pitfalls (e.g., obviousness of quantum patent apps in view of classical patent apps, drafting claims for quantum computing applications versus classical computing patent applications, etc.)
Instructors: Brad Pedersen, EnQuanta, Minneapolis, MN, Gang Chen, Crowell, Chicago, IL, and Jennifer Maisel, Rothwell Figg, Washington, DC
Wednesday, May 14, 2:15 - 4:00 PM
Amplifying the Interview Outcome with Your Examiner
We cannot emphasize enough how important an interview can be to patent applications. However, despite the fact almost everybody knows the importance of an interview, not everyone knows how to conduct an interview efficiently to amplify the outcome. There are at least three aspects we can talk about in this matter. First, from the perspective of procedures, when and how to have an interview, how an Examiner’s signatory authority affects the outcome, etc. Second, from the perspective of people interaction: how to be affirmative and persuasive while maintaining courteous and respectful to the Examiner. Third, from the perspective of serving Applicants/Clients, how do you make sure of progress even if the Examiner rejects your original proposal of claim amendment?
Instructors: William Cooper, Cooper Legal Group, LLC, Hinckley, Ohio, and Ann McCrackin, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Cavendish, VT
Wednesday, May 14, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Ex Parte Appeals
Effective and efficient patent prosecution must include appeals to the Board as an important tool in the toolbox. The written legal rules for preparing an adequate appeal brief are clear enough, but the practical rules for winning an appeal are not. This workshop will explain the longitudinal cause-and-effect relationships that extend through the life of a patent application so you can use earlier phases to set up success at later phases. Discussion topics:
- Basic writing tips for briefs--How do you draft the brief to meet the legal requirements, to work with the incentives of all the players to lead them to a favorable conclusion?
- A few of the Board's patterns of repeated mistakes--burden of proof, standard of review, when sub-regualtory guidance is binding and when it isn't, etc.--and how you can prophylactically head them off
- A primer on the Administrative Procedure Act as it applies to appeals
Participants will be given a pre-print of an article to be published soon. Participants will be invited to submit appeal briefs either recently filed or about to be filed, to use for live drafting exercise (we'll do a conflict check).
Instructor: David Boundy, Potomac Law Group, PLLC, Newton, MA