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(35)
Alfred Spigarelli
Principal Director of Quality Management at European Patent Office
Alfred Spigarelli was the Principal Director of Quality Management at the European Patent Office, focusing on enhancing patent quality.
Andrew Faile
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Andrew Faile was the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at the USPTO, overseeing patent examination and operational matters.
Andrew Hirshfeld
Commissioner for Patents at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Andrew Hirshfeld served as the Commissioner for Patents at the USPTO, overseeing the patent examination process.
Andy Faile
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Andy Faile is the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Arti Rai
Elvin R. Latty Professor of Law at Duke Law School
Arti Rai was the Elvin R. Latty Professor of Law at Duke Law School, specializing in patent law and innovation policy.
Brian Hanlon
Director, Office of Patent Legal Administration at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Brian Hanlon served as the Director of the Office of Patent Legal Administration at the USPTO, overseeing legal policy and procedures related to patents.
Charles Molster
Attorney at Law Offices of Charles B. Molster, PLLC
Charles Molster was an attorney at the Law Offices of Charles B. Molster, PLLC, specializing in intellectual property litigation.
Colleen V. Chien
Associate Professor at Santa Clara Law
Colleen Chien was an Associate Professor at Santa Clara Law, specializing in intellectual property law and policy.
Dr. Stuart Graham
Associate Professor at Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Stuart Graham was an Associate Professor at the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology, specializing in innovation and IP policy.
Greg Vidovich
Associate Commissioner for Patent Quality at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Greg Vidovich served as the Associate Commissioner for Patent Quality at the USPTO, focusing on enhancing the quality of patent examination processes.
Hans Sauer
Deputy General Counsel for IP at Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Hans Sauer was the Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, focusing on IP policy and advocacy.
Hon. Paul Grewal
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook
Paul Grewal served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook, overseeing the company's global litigation matters.
Hon. Paul R. Michel (ret.)
Chief Judge (retired) at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Judge Paul Michel retired as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, having presided over numerous patent law cases.
Hon. Raymond T. Chen
Judge at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Judge Raymond Chen served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, adjudicating cases related to patent law and other areas.
Hon. Sheldon Plager
Judge at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Judge Sheldon Plager served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, contributing to decisions on patent law and other areas.
Jack Harvey
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Jack Harvey was the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations at the USPTO, managing patent examination processes and operations.
Kevin Rhodes
President and Chief IP Counsel at 3M Innovative Properties Company
Kevin Rhodes served as the President and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at 3M Innovative Properties Company, leading the company's IP strategy.
Kirti Gupta
Director of Economic Strategy at Qualcomm, Inc.
Kirti Gupta served as the Director of Economic Strategy at Qualcomm, Inc., focusing on IP economics and policy.
Mark C. Vallone
IP Counsel at IBM
Mark Vallone served as Intellectual Property Counsel at IBM, managing the company's patent portfolio and IP strategy.
Mark Powell
Deputy Commissioner for International Patent Cooperation at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Mark Powell served as the Deputy Commissioner for International Patent Cooperation at the USPTO, overseeing international patent collaboration efforts.
Martin Rater
Acting Director, Office of Patent Quality Assurance at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Martin Rater was the Acting Director of the Office of Patent Quality Assurance at the USPTO, responsible for assessing and improving patent quality metrics.
Michelle K. Lee
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Michelle K. Lee served as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, leading the agency's efforts to promote innovation and protect intellectual property rights.
Robert A. Armitage
Consultant, IP Strategy & Policy
Robert Armitage was a consultant in IP strategy and policy, formerly serving as General Counsel at Eli Lilly.
Robert Bahr
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Robert Bahr served as the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy at the USPTO, guiding examination policies and practices.
Robin Evans
Director, Technology Center 2800 at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Robin Evans was the Director of Technology Center 2800 at the USPTO, overseeing patent examination in various technological fields.
Roger Gobrogge
IP Counsel at ITIP ProFiciency LLC
Roger Gobrogge served as Intellectual Property Counsel at ITIP ProFiciency LLC, focusing on IP strategy and management.
Russell Slifer
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Russell Slifer was the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO, assisting in managing the agency's operations.
Saurabh Vishnubhakat
Associate Professor of Law and Engineering at Texas A&M University
Saurabh Vishnubhakat was an Associate Professor of Law and Engineering at Texas A&M University, specializing in patent law and policy.
The Honorable Paul Grewal
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook
The Honorable Paul Grewal is the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Worldwide Litigation at Facebook and a former United States 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
The Honorable Raymond Chen is a Judge at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The Honorable Sheldon Plager
Judge at United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
The Honorable Sheldon Plager is a Judge at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Valencia Martin Wallace
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Valencia Martin Wallace is the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Valencia Martin-Wallace
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Valencia Martin-Wallace was the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality at the USPTO, leading initiatives to enhance patent quality.
Will Covey
Deputy General Counsel for Enrollment and Discipline at United States Patent and Trademark Office
Will Covey served 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)