2019 Phoenix Meeting Recap

nowledge and community collided to inspire more than 500 attendees at the 2019 LES Annual Meeting in Phoenix. The Times They Are a’Changin’: The Nine No-No’s in 2019 was the opening plenary featuring Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Antitrust Division. More on Page 4.

Work-Life Balance; Misconception or Revolution? was brought to us by the Women In Licensing Committee. Attendees learned what work-life balance means for women leaders in different sectors along with tips on overcoming challenges. The PTAB Fireside Chat with Chief Judge Michel and Chief APJ Scott R. Boalick was moderated by Robert Greene Sterne. They discussed The Patent Trial Appeal Board (PTAB) and its fundamental impact on U.S. patents. More on Page 6.

New this year were Roundtable Sessions, dedicated networking time with a variety of structured and informal options. More than 20 roundtable topics were discussed, ranging from 5G to CRISPR to Hemp. They sparked engaged and lively debate. Photos on Pages 12-13.

Spotlight plenaries targeted to different tracks took a deep dive into various business trends. Anatomy of Failure–Lessons Learned in Licensing Startups observed that “failure” has a negative connotation, but it is typically a necessary stepping stone to success. Thomas Edison is said to have remarked, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Russell Levine’s Top 10 Court Decisions of 2019 Affecting Licensing had its usual standing-room-only crowd. Attendees learned how these cases impact the way we draft and negotiate patent and technology license agreements.

The Deals of Distinction Awards highlighted four teams that worked together to make our world a better place. Read more about these fascinating deals on Page 5. Educational add-on courses also offered CLE credit to many attendees. Nineteen workshops led by dozens of experts provided learning in a small-group format.

Western-themed networking events kicked off with the Welcome Reception held under the stars on the lawn where old friends reconnected and welcomed new attendees. Monday evening took us to the LES Desert Delights Reception featuring a flamenco dancer and acoustic guitar. Tuesday evening brought us outdoors to the Sector Beach Party and Margarita Competition. LES is famous for these fun and lively events that allow attendees to grow their network through shared experiences.

Check out meeting photos on the LES website: https://lesmeetings.org/photo-gallery/

Thanks To The 2019 Annual Meeting Team!

Ian DiBernardo, Chair, David Powsner, Arpi Siyahian, Dana Matzen, Efrat Kasznik, Adrian Cyhan, Michele Gunness, Anne Cannoni, Michael Perham, Sanjay Prasad, Justin Muehlmeyer Alex Markov, Stephen Kabakoff, Merri Moken and many more, including Eleanor Nelson and the LES staff.