Global Standards Leadership Conference 2026
The Global Standards Leadership Conference 2026, held on June 18, 2026, at the University of San Diego, convened C-level executives and industry experts to explore critical topics in Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) licensing, litigation trends, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on innovation. This annual event, now in its fifth year, serves as a platform for leaders from business, law, policy, technology, and academia to address pressing challenges in the standards and SEP ecosystem.
Key themes of the conference included the evolution of SEP strategy influenced by AI, global enforcement, new licensing models, and the expansion of standards ecosystems into areas such as content, data centers, memory, and satellite-enabled connectivity. Discussions focused on data transparency, essentiality and valuation, and FRAND licensing and rate setting. Notable sessions covered topics like the shift from device-level to usage-based licensing in streaming media, the emergence of AI infrastructure as a new SEP frontier, and the road to 6G as an AI-native platform.
The event featured a keynote by Tim Pohlmann, Managing Director Americas at LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions, who emphasized the transformative role of AI in SEP analysis. Panel discussions and fireside chats delved into global SEP disputes, FRAND frameworks, streaming media SEP licensing, AI infrastructure, DRAM memory standards, and the future of 6G. Experts from various fields, including Justus Baron, Kirti Gupta, Jon Putnam, and others, shared their insights and expertise.
The conference provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing attendees to engage with thought leaders and peers. It was particularly beneficial for professionals involved in SEP licensing, patent litigation, standards development, and those interested in the intersection of AI and intellectual property. The event aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and connections necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of global standards and innovation.
Speakers(22)
Clay Gaetje
VP Licensing and Head of Video Services/OTT at InterDigital
Mr. Gaetje is Vice President of Licensing and Head of Video Services/OTT at InterDigital, a wireless technology company.
Emil Zhang
Not specified at Not specified
Information not available.
Jerome Ma
Senior Licensing Counsel at Via Licensing Alliance
Mr. Ma is Senior Licensing Counsel at Via Licensing Alliance, managing licensing programs.
Jim Harland
CEO at The Standard Strategy
Mr. Harland is CEO of The Standard Strategy, a firm specializing in standards strategy.
John Jarosz
Managing Principal at Analysis Group
Mr. Jarosz is a Managing Principal at Analysis Group, providing economic analysis in litigation and regulatory matters.
John Pint
Senior Vice President at Access Advance
Mr. Pint is Senior Vice President at Access Advance, a patent pool administrator.
Jon Chow
Assistant Chief Counsel at The Walt Disney Company
Mr. Chow is Assistant Chief Counsel at The Walt Disney Company, overseeing legal matters.
Jon Putnam
Founder and Principal at Competition Dynamics
Mr. Putnam is the founder and principal of Competition Dynamics, a firm specializing in competition economics.
Justus Baron
Founder at FRANDLY and BRELA
Mr. Baron is the founder of FRANDLY and BRELA, organizations focused on standard-essential patents and licensing.
Kent Baker
Former Head of Intellectual Property at u-blox
Mr. Baker was the Head of Intellectual Property at u-blox, a company specializing in wireless communication.
Kerry Kimes
Vice President Licensing at Rambus
Mr. Kimes is Vice President of Licensing at Rambus, a technology solutions company.
Kirti Gupta
VP and Chief Economist Global at Technology Cornerstone Research
Dr. Gupta is a Vice President and Chief Economist at Technology Cornerstone Research, specializing in economic analysis of technology markets.
Michael Rueckheim
Patent Litigation Partner at King & Spalding
Mr. Rueckheim is a patent litigation partner at King & Spalding, a global law firm.
Micky Minhas
SVP Corporate Development and Technology at Avanci
Mr. Minhas is Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Technology at Avanci, a licensing platform for IoT.
Nandan Das
Global Head of Wireless Standards at ViaSat
Mr. Das is Global Head of Wireless Standards at ViaSat, a satellite communications company.
Richard Pinckney
Partner at Bristows
Mr. Pinckney is a partner at Bristows, a UK-based law firm specializing in intellectual property.
Ryan Cunningham
Associate at Sheppard Mullin
Mr. Cunningham is an associate at Sheppard Mullin, a global law firm.
Shahrokh Nayeb Nazar
VP of Technology at Qualcomm Technology
Mr. Nayeb Nazar is Vice President of Technology at Qualcomm Technology, focusing on wireless technologies.
Shayne O’Reilly
Director and Associate General Counsel at Meta
Mr. O’Reilly is Director and Associate General Counsel at Meta, overseeing legal affairs.
Tim Pohlmann
Managing Director Americas at LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions
Dr. Pohlmann is the founder of LexisNexis IPlytics, a leading data solution for SEP analytics and standards intelligence. He served as CEO of IPlytics for a decade before the company was acquired by LexisNexis in 2022.
Tom Pease
Shareholder and Partner at Greenberg Traurig
Mr. Pease is a shareholder and partner at Greenberg Traurig, a global law firm.
Willy Chang
Head of AI Pools at Sisvel
Mr. Chang is Head of AI Pools at Sisvel, a company specializing in intellectual property management.
Event Details
- Date
- June 25, 2026
- Location
- 🇺🇸 San Diego, United States
- University of San Diego
- Pricing
- Varies by tier
- Audience
- C-level executives, industry experts, professionals in SEP licensing, patent litigation, standards development, and AI in intellectual property.
- CLE Credits
- CLE accreditation pending
- Attendees
- Not specified