Agenda Day 1

7:30 am - 8:30 am REGISTRATION & COFFEE

8:30 am - 8:35 am OPENING REMARKS FROM IQPC

8:35 am - 8:45 am OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

8:45 am - 8:50 am LIVE POLLING

8:50 am - 9:10 am SHARED EXPERIENCE ROUNDTABLES

9:10 am - 9:40 am PRESENTATION: WHEN AI MET IP – WHAT IN-HOUSE COUNSEL CAN LEARN FROM THE SAG-AFTRA AGREEMENT

Tom Schwarz - Executive Director, DFW Local, SAG-AFTRA

As technology rapidly advances, it has become clear that AI is leading the way and transforming the way we view and create content. A recent strike among SAG-AFTRA members eventually led to an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers aiming to safeguard performers’ rights in relation to AI. Though confined to the entertainment industry, this agreement nevertheless serves as an outline for potential future discussions as companies utilizing generative AI for content creation start to equip themselves with the necessary tools to limit infringement on IP and ensure compliance.


  • Learn about the agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motions Picture and Television Producers, as well as different cases of copyright and personal rights’ infringement in order to stay ahead of evolving legal frameworks
  • Understand the importance of establishing a strategy to ensure compliance and mitigate risk, such as continuous monitoring and frequent employee training
  • Explore questions of ethics in an effort to shape a responsible AI landscape as a community of in-house counsels
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Tom Schwarz

Executive Director, DFW Local
SAG-AFTRA

9:40 am - 10:25 am PANEL DISCUSSION: TRANSFORMING YOUR IP LITIGATION & ENFORCEMENT APPROACHES TO OPTIMIZE RESULTS WHILST CONSERVING COSTS, TIME AND OTHER RESOURCES

Sarita Venkat - VP & Deputy General Counsel, Global Litigation & Competition, Cisco
Michael Carrozza - Partner, McAndrews, Held & Malloy
Carey Prill - Patent Trial Attorney & Partner, McAndrews, Held & Malloy

While litigation and enforcement remain critical for IP leaders, the current economic climate is leading them to seek efficient strategies that will not jeopardize results.


  • Home in on key practices to identify and retain the right outside counsel for you
  • Hear creative solutions for controlling costs while maximizing IP protection
  • Reflect on changes to policy and practice in light of current economic pressures


Moderated by McAndrews IP

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Sarita Venkat

VP & Deputy General Counsel, Global Litigation & Competition
Cisco

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Michael Carrozza

Partner
McAndrews, Held & Malloy

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Carey Prill

Patent Trial Attorney & Partner
McAndrews, Held & Malloy

10:30 am - 11:00 am THINK TANK: BRAND PROTECTION AT THE BORDER – WORKING WITH CUSTOMS TO PREVENT THE INFLUX OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS
Jeni Zuercher - Director, Global Brand Protection, YETI
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Jeni Zuercher

Director, Global Brand Protection
YETI

11:05 am - 11:35 am COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING

It is rare that a counterfeit is manufactured in the same geographical region in which it is sold. Components will often be sourced and assembled across the globe, reason for which brands are increasingly turning to supply chains and Customs to have an overview of the process and track down fake goods before they make it online. Customs and

border control going forward will continue to play a vital role in tracking down and stopping the inflow of counterfeits, but the key for in-house counsel remains to be able to work efficiently both with them and supply chain teams in order to cut off the issue at its root.


  • Explore the concept of ‘cradle to grave’ and of potential techniques to track products from its early stages through to delivery in order to reduce the entrance of fake goods in the market
  • Assess rules and laws across different geographical locations to better tailor your working strategy with Customs and supply chains
  • Discover strategies to efficiently communicate with Customs and supply chains, and initiatives to improve collaboration and slow the generation and dissemination of fake goods early before they hit online marketplaces

11:40 am - 12:10 pm THINK TANK: PERA AND PREVAIL – WARDING OFF IP PREDATORS AMIDST REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY

10:30 am - 11:00 am 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

11:05 am - 11:35 am 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

11:40 am - 12:10 pm 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

12:15 pm - 12:45 pm PRESENTATION: PRIOR ART PROBLEMS – STRATEGIES TO EFFICIENTLY MONITOR COMPETITORS, MANAGE YOUR PATENTS AND IMPROVE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

The whack-a-mole game of counterfeiting continues, but of recent years, schemes have become increasingly elaborate. With scams and phishing now taking centre stage and gravely affecting brand reputation and revenue, companies are increasingly having to come up with strategies that match the sophistication of such counterfeiting. The responsibility has also naturally shifted: while brand protection professionals might have been alone in tackling this beforehand, it has now become clear that everyone in the business, be it upper management, sales or marketing, must get involved and work together in order to detect these scams early and shut them down before the brand is affected.


  • Listen to peers’ counterfeiting stories and approaches they have taken to updating their brand protection strategies in order to catch fake products and scams early
  • Discover key ways to involve and educate other departments to maximize your brand protection strategy and keep your brand and customers safe
  • Hone in on the specifics of counterfeiters, including what platforms are being utilized and what tools can be used to address increasingly complex cases

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm LIGHTNING PRESENTATION: IN REAL TIME – A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BIG DECISIONS (AND HOW TO KEEP UP TO DATE IN THE IP WORLD)

John Flynn - Associate General Counsel, IBM
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John Flynn

Associate General Counsel
IBM

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm LUNCH

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm THINK TANK: THE AFTERMATH OF IN RE CELLECT – BEST PRACTICES FOR PTA, ODP AND TERMINAL DISCLAIMERS

The patent and trademark trolls landscape is an increasingly complex and sophisticated one, and one that necessitates a solid strategy to combat. Striking a balance between protection

1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

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Global IP Exchange US 2025

and warding off bad actors is key with respect to two proposed and highly divisive bills, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act. While designed to strengthen IP protections, detractors assert that these acts would have the opposite effect by empowering trolls and making it harder to invalidate overly broad patents.


  • Discuss the impact of the PERA and PREVAIL Act in order to adjust your protection strategy accordingly
  • Explore the possibility of proactive and defensive tactics, including defensive patent filings and pre-emptive legal actions, to stay ahead of the game
  • Learn what others have done to defend their business from bad actors

2:20 pm - 2:50 pm 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

2:35 pm - 2:40 pm LIVE POLLING

2:40 pm - 3:20 pm PRESENTATION: TRADEMARK TRICKERY – HOW TARGET UNCOVERED FRAUD UNDERMINING OUR TRADEMARK SYSTEM

Stephen Lee - Chief IP Counsel, Target

For a retailer like Target, launching own brands is a crucial part of the business model. From home goods to apparel, each own brand is in essence a standalone business in need of a marketing campaign, labelling, packaging and of course, a trademark to protect its assets. However, following their inability to register a trademark for a new brand, Target discovered a systemic problem: the successful registrations of thousands of fraudulent trademark applications. This emerging threat poses a significant issue for professionals – with a backlogged office and trademarks blocked by prior – fraudulent – applications, legitimate trademark owners are accruing significant costs and resources. Join this session to discover how Target, one of the leading trademark filers domestically and globally, has tackled this issue and is actively raising awareness to ensure the necessary steps are taken to manage fraudulent activity.

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Stephen Lee

Chief IP Counsel
Target

3:20 pm - 3:50 pm PRESENTATION: NAVIGATING THE UPC – HOW US PATENT HOLDERS CAN GET INVOLVED TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE COSTS

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm THINK TANK (TRACK 1): FOCUS ROOMS

A brand-new format for the 2025 Global IP Exchange US, Focus Rooms aim to offer a more niche, personalised angle to your challenges. Before the Exchange, you can opt to submit a problem you are currently facing that you do not see on the agenda – fellow peers will then be invited to gather around and discuss off-the-cuff solutions, sharing expertise and fresh ideas that have the potential to benefit all.

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm THINK TANK (PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECH TRACK): PULLING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS – ALIGNING INTERNALLY BETWEEN IP AND REGULATORY TEAMS IN PHARMA AND BIOTECH

In the highly competitive and regulated landscape of pharmaceuticals, striking a balance between the regulatory team’s communications with the FDA and the IP team’s filed patent can often lead to tension internally and a risk of non-compliance. This misalignment can also cause delays and missed opportunities, especially in such a fast-paced industry where timing is of the essence. Join this session to unpack this tension between internal teams, and what strategies can be employed to ensure a greater harmonization between IP and regulatory objectives.


  • Discover the impact of fostering clear communication and action between teams, such as joint risk assessment, to eliminate any miscommunication and move forward together
  • Hone in on the importance of early alignment from a team and business point of view in order to develop integrated strategies that benefit all
  • Explore the impact of mutual trainings and workshops to improve understanding of each other’s functions and foster trust and communication

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

4:35 pm - 5:05 pm COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING

4:35 pm - 5:05 pm 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

5:10 pm - 5:40 pm THINK TANK (TRACK 1): FROM IDEAS TO REVENUE – UNDERSTANDING, VALUATING AND MONETIZING YOUR IP ASSETS
Brienne Terril - Senior Director and Senior Managing Counsel, Co-Head of IP Legal, BNY

Patents and trademarks are viewed as mere protection, without much capacity for profit. In the current economic climate, this can reflect badly on the IP department, which is seen as a cost department. But increasingly, there have been efforts to monetize IP assets in an effort to bring IP to the forefront as a valuable advantage to the business. However, this strategy can also be challenging – the changing nature of the market means that an asset can quickly have its worth reduced, resulting in further challenges. It is one that requires careful consideration and an understanding of IP-backed financing in order to mitigate risk for the business.


  • Explore and contrast the different possible streams through which IP assets can generate revenue, from licensing to creating spin-out companies
  • Learn to uncover and understand the value of your portfolio and to prioritise patents according to revenue potential
  • Weigh in on the benefits of generating revenue with IP assets to raise awareness around the value of IP and its worth throughout the company
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Brienne Terril

Senior Director and Senior Managing Counsel, Co-Head of IP Legal
BNY

5:10 pm - 5:40 pm THINK TANK (PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECH TRACK): TO PATENT OR NOT TO PATENT – GETTING THE TIMING RIGHT DURING CLINICAL TRIALS

In-house counsel working in pharmaceuticals and biotech encounter rather unique challenges when it comes to clinical trial disclosures. The question remains as to whether patent applications should be filed before the company starts the trial, or only once the trial has been completed, and results have been received and evaluated. While the former option risks the patent being rejected without the necessary data to support the invention, the latter means details of the trial could enter the public domain or that another company pre-publishes something similar. It is of the upmost importance in this sense to ensure patent strategy is as efficient as possible in order to balance the timing and ensure the patent is granted.


  • Discover the worth of filing provisional patent applications early in the development process to establish an early priority date
  • Weigh in on the risks and advantages of different times to file, and the importance of assessing each situation on a case by case basis
  • Hone in on the importance of a global patent portfolio and of a robust data management system in order to coordinate patent filings based on clinical trial locations, market potential and regulatory timelines

5:10 pm - 5:40 pm 1:1 BUSINESS MEETINGS

5:40 pm - 6:25 pm PANEL DISCUSSION: GETTING AHEAD OF THE SCHEME – THE EVOLUTION OF COUNTERFEITING FROM AN IP PROBLEM TO A BUSINESS PROBLEM

Jared Gell - Manager, Brand Protection, Reebok
Lauren Dienes-Middlen - Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel - IP, WWE
Caldwell Camero - Associate General Counsel, Global IP & Technology, Fluke
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Jared Gell

Manager, Brand Protection
Reebok

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Lauren Dienes-Middlen

Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel - IP
WWE

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Caldwell Camero

Associate General Counsel, Global IP & Technology
Fluke

6:30 pm - 6:35 pm CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

6:35 pm - 8:35 pm DRINKS RECEPTION