22nd Annual Chapter Conference
Innovation in the Age of Acceleration: Strategy, Policy and Capital
Thursday, April 2, 2026
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
at
The Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
Early Bird Registration (through March 15):
Members $150
Non-Members $175
Regular Registration:
Members $200
Non-Members $225
Learn More & Register
PROGRAM
IP and licensing professionals today are dealing with a period of unprecedented change in rapid technological breakthroughs, economic uncertainty and policy shifts as the landscape of innovation, strategy, and deal-making is evolving faster than ever. LES-SVC's 22nd Annual Conference brings together the leaders, investors, and dealmakers transforming the future of AI, semiconductors, life sciences, and emerging technologies. This full-day event will convene leading professionals across the innovation ecosystem to explore the critical trends at the intersection of strategy, policy, and capital driving change and advancing technology.
Attendees will gain insights from expert panels and discussions covering the latest developments in IP licensing, funding strategies, policy landscapes, and deal-making practices across sectors. Beyond the sessions, networking breaks throughout the day provide valuable opportunities to connect with a diverse community of innovation and IP professionals. We look forward to you being part of this exciting conversation about navigating innovation in the age of acceleration.
SPEAKER INFORMATION AND SESSION DETAILS
Fireside Chat with Heather Kernehan
Speakers:
- Heather Kernehand, Founder and CEO, Novella Ventures
- Moderator: Edgar Baum, Founder and CEO, Avasta
Panel Discussion: Powering the Digital Economy: Semiconductors, Data Centers, and the Intelligent Edge
Semiconductors and data center infrastructure are at the core of today’s digital transformation, driving innovation across industries and reshaping the global economy. This panel will explore key technology and market developments in semiconductor processors, networking, memory, and advanced packaging, and how these innovations are enabling next-generation data centers optimized for performance, power efficiency, and cooling demands. The discussion will also examine how these advances extend beyond centralized infrastructure to the edge — supporting IoT, mobile, and distributed applications that require low latency, scalability, and intelligent connectivity. Together, the panel will provide a view of the semiconductor-to-system stack driving the evolving digital ecosystem.
Speakers:
- Alicia Shah, Attorney, Tenstorrent
- Elizabeth Morris, Legal Director of Intellectual Property & Product, Pure Storage
- Jason Kang, Assistant Director and Group Counsel of Patents, Intel
- Mark Reiten, Vice President Memory Products and Licensing Business Units, Microchip
- Moderator: George Park, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Development, IPValue
Panel Discussion: The Modern IP Profession: IP Management, Licensing, and Litigation in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the day-to-day work of intellectual property professionals, from portfolio strategy to licensing negotiations and litigation damages analysis. This panel brings together leading experts from across the IP profession to explore how AI tools are transforming core IP functions. Can AI meaningfully assess the value of a patent portfolio and map competitive landscapes? How effectively can AI help identify potential infringement across complex product ecosystems? And can AI enhance the rigor and efficiency of reasonable royalty determinations e.g. in complex SEP disputes? Beyond efficiency gains, the discussion will also examine limitations and risks, including bias, explainability, and confidentiality concerns. Attendees will gain practical insights into how AI is being integrated into everyday IP workflows and how it may redefine strategic decision-making in patent portfolio management, licensing, and patent litigation.
Speakers:
- Gail Su, Senior Counsel, Google
- Kirti Gupta, Vice President and Chief Economist of Global Technology, Cornerstone Research
- Jessica Meyers, Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft
- Paul Lee, CEO and Co-founder, Patlytics
- Moderator: Tim Pohlmann, Managing Director Americas, LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions
Panel Discussion: IP: What Angel Investors Look for in Startups
Speakers:
- Dr. Ronald Weissman, Chairman, Software Industry Group at Band of Angels
- Moderator: Mark Holmes, CEO, PatentBridge
- Additional speakers will be announced soon
Panel Discussion: Funding the Future: VC Perspectives
Speakers:
- Austin Noronha, Managing Director, Sony Innovation Fund
- Bill Reichert, Partner, Pegasus Tech Ventures
- David Hartford, Senior Advisory Board/Limited Partner, Irongate Capital Advisors
- Nola Masterson, Lead Investor, Portfolia Femtech Funds
Panel Discussion: Innovation and Licensing in an Evolving U.S. IP Environment
This panel examines recent governmental developments impacting the US patent ecosystem and their implications for innovation, patent licensing, and technology commercialization. These developments may include recent and proposed legislative initiatives related to patent eligibility, damages, and venue; administrative guidance on patenting, post-grant proceedings, and licensing practices; and judicial decisions affecting patent validity, infringement, and damages. The discussion will focus on how licensors and licensees can navigate the evolving legislative, administrative and judicial landscape.
Speakers:
- Jamie Simpson – Chief Policy Officer and Counsel, C4IP
- Jason Lott – Interim Regional Director, Western Regional Office, USPTO
- Junaid Islam – Founder of XQ
- Peter-Anthony Pappas – Director of IP Policy, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
- Moderator: Sam Wiley – Managing Director, Strategic Business Intelligence Lead, Specialty Services
Fireside Chat with Dick Thurston: My Life in Semiconductors: From Texas Instruments to TSMC to Made-In-America-Again
Speakers:
- Dick Thurston,Chairman and CEO, Great Lakes Semiconductor; Retired SVP and General Counsel, TSMC
- Moderator: Joe Yang, Partner, PatentEsque Law Group
