We are pleased to announce that the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association is holding our flagship fall educational event on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Guided by member feedback and a unanimous Board vote, PIPLA is redesigning its programming around larger, signature events that offer expanded CLE programming, broader networking opportunities, and greater convenience for attendees.
Though additional CLE opportunities will remain available later in the year, we are thrilled to announce that our October meeting will serve as our premier educational event, offering 5 CLE credits with presenters from the judiciary, private practice, in-house, academia, and the USPTO. Lunch will be provided, with a reception to follow the programming.
Details regarding our October meeting are located below. Please RSVP by October 15, 2026.
Location: Convene, Two Commerce Square
2001 Market Street, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Check-in: 10:30 AM- 11:00 AM
Programming Start Time: 11:00 AM
Panel Presentations: Each CLE presentation will run for one hour for 1 CLE credit per panel. Lunch will be provided shortly after 1PM, with a reception to follow the programming from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM including beverages and hors d’oeuvres.
Panel 1- Trade Secrets: What are “Reasonable Measures” to Protect? 11:15 AM -12:15 PM | Speakers: | Travis S. Hunter, Director, Richards Layton & Finger, PA Christopher J. Merken, Associate, Fisher Phillips LLP Michael Risch, Professor of Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Linhong Zhang, Principal, Fish & Richardson P.C. |
| Description of CLE Program: | This CLE panel will address recent developments in trade secret law and their practical implications for businesses and intellectual property practitioners. The discussion will focus on evolving judicial interpretations of what constitutes “reasonable measures” to protect trade secrets under federal and state law, including the adequacy of confidentiality agreements, employee training, access controls, cybersecurity practices, and internal governance policies. Panelists will analyze significant recent decisions, identify emerging trends, discuss the risks companies face when trade secret protection measures are deemed insufficient, and provide guidance on what clients and companies may do to safeguard their trade secrets. | |
Panel 2- Emerging Developments in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Protection 12:20 PM – 1:20 PM | Speakers: | Elizabeth Jackson, USPTO Acting Director of the Northeast Regional Outreach Office Andrew John (AJ) Rudowitz, Partner, Duane Morris LLP Lynn E. Rzonca, Partner, Vice Chair of the IP Department, and Co-Leader of the False Advertising Litigation Team, Ballard Spahr LLP Gabrielle J. Sellei, Principal, Sellei Law LLC |
| Description of CLE Program: | As the legal landscape surrounding name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights continues to evolve, practitioners face new challenges and opportunities in protecting clients’ personal brands and commercial interests. This CLE panel will explore emerging developments in NIL law, including the intersection of NIL rights with trademark and publicity law, as well as recent guidance and trends at the USPTO regarding trademark applications involving athletes, influencers, and other public figures. Panelists will discuss best practices for securing and enforcing NIL-related rights, navigating sponsorship and endorsement agreements, managing brand protection strategies, and advising clients on the legal and business considerations associated with monetizing and safeguarding their identities. | |
Panel 3- The Intersection of Antitrust Law and Intellectual Property 1:50 PM – 2:50 PM | Speakers: | Steven D. Maslowski, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP James J. Rodgers, Partner & Chair of the Antitrust Group, Dilworth Paxson LLP Jacqueline Romero, Partner, BakerHostetler |
| Description of CLE Program: | Intellectual property rights grant exclusivity, while antitrust laws are designed to protect competition. This tension creates an important and often complex relationship. This CLE panel will explore the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property law, including how courts, practitioners, and government enforcement authorities approach exercise, licensing, and enforcing IP rights. Panelists will discuss recent developments, circumstances in which IP-related conduct may raise competition concerns, governmental role in evaluating those concerns, and practical considerations for counseling clients at the intersection of innovation, IP protection, and antitrust risk. | |
Panel 4- Skinny Labels and Induced Infringement after Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc. 2:55 PM – 3:55 PM | Speakers: | Michael A. Carrier, Board of Governors Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School Matthew L. Fedowitz, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney P.C. The Honorable Stephen M. Orlofsky (Ret.), Partner at Blank Rome LLP and former U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Angie Verrecchio, Assistant General Counsel, Johnson & Johnson |
| Description of CLE Program: | This CLE panel will examine the evolving law of induced patent infringement in the pharmaceutical industry following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc., a landmark case addressing the extent to which generic drug manufacturers may face inducement liability when marketing products with “skinny labels” that carve out patented indications. The discussion will explore the Court’s guidance on what constitutes actionable encouragement of infringement, the role of FDA-approved labeling and related marketing communications, and the practical implications for both brand and generic pharmaceutical companies. | |
Panel 5- The President’s Panel: A 2026 IP Year in Review 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Speakers: | Brian M. Goldberg, Partner, Dechert LLP The Honorable Mitchell S. Goldberg (Ret.), Senior Counsel at Blank Rome LLP and former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Paul R. Gugliuzza, Professor of Law, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law The Honorable John F. Murphy, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
| Description of CLE Program: | This annual CLE panel will provide a comprehensive review of the most significant intellectual property decisions and legal developments of the past year, offering attendees a unique opportunity to hear perspectives from the judiciary, academia, and private practice. Panelists will discuss key rulings and emerging trends across all areas of IP law, examining how recent decisions are shaping litigation strategies, business practices, and the future direction of intellectual property jurisprudence. Through a multidisciplinary discussion, the panel will explore the practical implications of these developments, highlight areas of evolving legal uncertainty, and provide practitioners with insights and strategies for advising clients. |
Pricing: Early bird registration pricing will be available until September 30, 2026. Starting October 1, 2026, regular pricing will apply.
| Category | Early Bird Rate (available through 9/30/26) | Regular Rate (applies starting 10/1/26) |
| PIPLA Members | $250 | $300 |
| Non-Member In-House Counsel/ Government | $325 | $375 |
| Non-Member Private Practice | $425 | $475 |
If you plan on attending only part of the event and will not be participating in either lunch and/or the reception, please email PIPLAPhilly@outlook.com. The cost for partial attendance will be $40 per CLE credit for members and $50 per CLE credit for non-members.
Up to two spots per law school will be reserved for complimentary student attendance. If you are interested, please indicate that you are a student on your RSVP.
Payment may be made via check made payable to “PIPLA”, via Venmo (@PhiladelphiaIPLawAssoc-PIPLA), PayPal, or ACH. Checks should be mailed to the PIPLA Treasurer, Phillip Wolfe, at the following address:
To attend the October meeting, we invite you to RSVP and complete your secure payment through PIPLA’s new website by clicking here by October 15, 2026. Five hours of Pennsylvania and Delaware CLE credit has been requested.
Please also join us in congratulating our new Officers and Board members who helped make this event possible.
President: Allison R. Tramontana (Caesar Rivise)
President-Elect: Patrick S. Griffin (Volpe Koenig)
Vice-President: Ava E. Lutz (Panitch Schwarze)
Treasurer: Phillip D. Wolfe (Morgan Lewis)
Secretary: Ling Zhong, Ph.D. (Buchanan)
Board of Governors: Michael Barboun (Morgan Lewis) (2025-2027)
William P.W. Kehoe (BakerHostetler) (2025-2027)
J. Evan Mucha (USPTO) (2025-2027)
Gregory Ferroni (DLA Piper) (2026-2028)
Jonathan Underwood (Akin Gump) (2026-2028)
Past President: John M. Bollinger (Volpe Koenig)
Applications for new members and membership renewals for the 2026-2027 association year are due by November 13, 2026.
The application for new membership can be viewed by clicking here.
The membership renewal form can be viewed by clicking here.
Follow us on LinkedIn here.
Please contact PIPLAPhilly@outlook.com with any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
