The Patent Quality Conference is a full-day event organized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in collaboration with Duke and Santa Clara Law Schools. It aims to advance patent quality across the intellectual property community by sharing insights, discussing initiatives, and fostering dialogue among stakeholders.
Key topics covered include the results of the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative (EPQI), clarity of the record pilot results, improving clarity and reasoning in office actions, master review form and quality metrics results, and discussions on international quality efforts. The conference also features panel discussions with federal judges on patent quality and its impact on U.S. courts, as well as ethics training on professional responsibility and practice before the USPTO.
Attendees have opportunities for networking, engaging with experts, and participating in interactive sessions. Notable speakers include USPTO Director Michelle K. Lee, Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality Valencia Martin Wallace, and judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The event is designed for patent practitioners, legal professionals, academics, and stakeholders interested in enhancing patent quality and staying informed about developments in the field.
Speakers(29)
Alfred Spigarelli
Principal Director of Quality Management at European Patent Office
Alfred Spigarelli is the Principal Director of Quality Management at the European Patent Office, contributing to international quality efforts.
Andrew Hirshfeld
Commissioner for Patents at USPTO
Andrew Hirshfeld serves as the Commissioner for Patents at the USPTO, delivering closing remarks on enhancing patent quality.
Andy Faile
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at USPTO
Andy Faile serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at the USPTO, contributing to discussions on patent quality.
Arti Rai
Elvin R. Latty Professor of Law at Duke Law School
Arti Rai is the Elvin R. Latty Professor of Law at Duke Law School, moderating panels on enhancing patent quality.
Brian Hanlon
Director, Office of Patent Legal Administration at USPTO
Brian Hanlon is the Director of the Office of Patent Legal Administration at the USPTO, discussing case study results.
Charles Molster
Attorney at Law Offices of Charles B. Molster, PLLC
Charles Molster is an attorney at the Law Offices of Charles B. Molster, PLLC, moderating panels on patent quality and its impact in the U.S. courts.
Colleen Chien
Associate Professor at Santa Clara Law
Colleen Chien is an Associate Professor at Santa Clara Law, moderating panels on international quality efforts.
Dr. Stuart Graham
Associate Professor at Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Stuart Graham is an Associate Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on international quality efforts.
Greg Vidovich
Associate Commissioner for Patent Quality at USPTO
Greg Vidovich serves as the Associate Commissioner for Patent Quality at the USPTO, discussing improvements in office actions.
Hans Sauer
Deputy General Counsel for IP at Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Hans Sauer is the Deputy General Counsel for IP at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, contributing to patent quality discussions.
Jack Harvey
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at USPTO
Jack Harvey serves as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at the USPTO, moderating panels on patent quality.
Kevin Rhodes
President and Chief IP Counsel at 3M Innovative Properties Company
Kevin Rhodes is the President and Chief IP Counsel at 3M Innovative Properties Company, discussing patent quality initiatives.
Kirti Gupta
Director of Economic Strategy at Qualcomm, Inc.
Kirti Gupta is the Director of Economic Strategy at Qualcomm, Inc., focusing on enhancing patent quality.
Mark Powell
Deputy Commissioner for International Patent Cooperation at USPTO
Mark Powell serves as Deputy Commissioner for International Patent Cooperation at the USPTO, discussing international quality efforts.
Mark Vallone
IP Counsel at IBM
Mark Vallone serves as IP Counsel at IBM, discussing next steps in enhancing patent quality.
Martin Rater
Acting Director, Office of Patent Quality Assurance at USPTO
Martin Rater is the Acting Director of the Office of Patent Quality Assurance at the USPTO, presenting on quality metrics results.
Michelle K. Lee
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director at USPTO
Michelle K. Lee is the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, delivering keynote addresses on advancing quality in the IP community.
Robert Armitage
Consultant, IP Strategy & Policy
Robert Armitage is a consultant in IP Strategy & Policy and former General Counsel at Eli Lilly, discussing applicant contributions to patent quality.
Robert Bahr
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy at USPTO
Robert Bahr is the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy at the USPTO, discussing next steps in patent quality.
Robin Evans
Director, Technology Center 2800 at USPTO
Robin Evans is the Director of Technology Center 2800 at the USPTO, presenting on clarity of the record pilot results.
Roger Gobrogge
IP Counsel at ITIP ProFiciency LLC
Roger Gobrogge is IP Counsel at ITIP ProFiciency LLC, contributing to discussions on international quality efforts.
Russell Slifer
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director at USPTO
Russell Slifer is the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO, focusing on patent quality and post-grant activities.
Saurabh Vishnubhakat
Associate Professor of Law and Engineering at Texas A&M University
Saurabh Vishnubhakat is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, contributing to discussions on patent quality.
The Honorable Paul Grewal
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook
Paul Grewal is Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook and a former U.S. District Court Judge.
The Honorable Paul Michel (ret.)
Chief Judge (ret.) at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Retired Chief Judge Paul Michel served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, providing insights into patent quality's impact on the judiciary.
The Honorable Raymond Chen
Judge at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Judge Raymond Chen serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, contributing to discussions on the effect of patent quality in U.S. courts.
The Honorable Sheldon Plager
Judge at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Judge Sheldon Plager serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, participating in discussions on patent quality.
Valencia Martin-Wallace
Deputy Commissioner of Patent Quality at USPTO
Valencia Martin-Wallace is the Deputy Commissioner of Patent Quality at the USPTO, contributing to discussions on patent quality initiatives.
Will Covey
Deputy General Counsel for Enrollment and Discipline at USPTO
Will Covey serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Enrollment and Discipline at the USPTO, overseeing professional responsibility and practice matters.
Event Details
- Date
- December 13, 2025
- Location
- 🇺🇸 San Jose, United States
- USPTO Headquarters
- Pricing
- Free
- Audience
- Patent practitioners, legal professionals, academics, and stakeholders interested in enhancing patent quality.
- CLE Credits
- 1 hour of MCLE credit in legal ethics (pending approval from the State Bar of California)