Houston Intellectual Property Law Association upcoming events

Best Practices for Working with Expert Witnesses - HIPLA October 2026 CLE Luncheon (October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:30:00 GMT

HIPLA's first CLE luncheon of Fall 2026 features tricks and treats provided by Gary Woods and Steven Spears.

This the new date for our CLE program that was originally scheduled for February 2026.

If you paid for this event for February 2026 and asked that their registration be applied to the re-scheduled event, please email vpatel@kmd.law

Agenda:

11:30 am: Doors open for lunch and networking.
11:50 am: Call to order and "sneak preview" of the 41st Annual Fall Institute.
12:00 pm: CLE program begins.
No later than 12:59 pm: CLE program concludes.

Location:

Candente

Handcrafted Tex-Mex

4306 Yoakum Blvd (at Richmond Ave just west of Montrose)

Houston, TX 77006

https://www.candentehtx.com

Notes:

Dress for HIPLA CLE lunches is business casual. Suits are not expected.
To invite friends or colleagues, please share the event link from the HIPLA events calendar or from "Tell them you're going!" below.
If you have any questions, please contact the HIPLA Meetings & Programs Chairs:

Vikesh Patel <vpatel@kmd.law>

George Webb <gwebb@rice.edu>

Michael Lew <michael.lew@squirepb.com>

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Tell them you're going!

Tell your friends and colleagues about this event by sharing the event link and the hashtag #HIPLA:

https://hipla.org/event-6447651

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Have an idea for HIPLA's next CLE?

HIPLA welcomes members to submit proposals for CLE programs for 2026:

Proposed topics should be authoritative, timely, and of practical interest to IP attorneys and patent agents who are HIPLA's members.
For details and to submit a proposal, please visit our new portal at https://forms.gle/rKhBr6rMafbw1RVEA

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Previous event details:

Best Practices for Working with Expert Witnesses: A point/counterpoint discussion between a veteran IP litigator and an experienced expert witness

Approved for 1 hour of Texas CLE credit (including 0.25 hrs ethics)

Course No. 174310640

Speakers:

Steven Spears

Partner, Munck Wilson Mandala

Gary Woods, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor in the Practice

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rice University

Dr. Woods has served as an expert witness in over 20 IP matters, while Steve has worked with experts both as in-house counsel and as an IP trial attorney involved in billion-dollar cases. Join us as they share best practices as well as ethical considerations for attorneys and experts to work together at each stage of the case.

[other] IPIL Fall Lecture (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

For complete details, visit https://law.uh.edu/ipil/falllecture.asp

Dave Fagundes

Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Faculty

Emory University Law School

Click here for Professor Fagundes's Emory faculty listing

Thursday, November 10, 2025
5:30 P.M. LIGHT RECEPTION
6:15 P.M. LECTURE, FOLLOWED BY HEAVY RECEPTION

The Houston Club
910 Louisiana, Suite 4900 – Houston

To RSVP or for further information, contact
ipil@uh.edu or 713.743.2180

Copyright Administration by Accretion: 50 Years of the 1976 Copyright Act

One of the most overlooked ways that the 1976 Act transformed American copyright is how it changed the course of the Copyright Office as an administrative agency. This Lecture discusses how the 1976 Act ushered in a form of administration that was not only new to copyright but rare among agencies generally: administration by accretion. It then elaborates this descriptive claim and its implications in three steps. First, by detailing how copyright administration has unfolded following the inflection point of the 1976 Act. The Act expanded the administrative duties of the Copyright Office but did so without providing a clear vision or practical infrastructure for effectuating those new responsibilities. Subsequent statutes have grafted further obligations onto the Office, also in a piecemeal manner. Second, by showing how this distinctive expansion of the Office constitutes a phenomenon largely untheorized in agency governance that we call “administration by accretion.” Accretion reflects the serial addition—typically through separate statutes addressing separate policy problems—of functionally heterogeneous regulatory, adjudicatory, allocative, or advisory duties to an existing agency without a corresponding redesign of that agency’s mission, structure, procedures, expertise, political supervision, or resources. Finally, by touching on the benefits and drawbacks of administration by accretion as applied to the novel challenges faced by American copyright law in the next half-century of the 1976 Act regime.

2026 HIPLA Holiday Luncheon (December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 17:30:00 GMT

2026 HIPLA Holiday Luncheon

Please join us for a festive lunch,

featuring IP fellowship and holiday libations!

Includes Market Table, Meats, Sparkling Wine Toast & Two Drinks

Vegetarian Options Available Upon Request

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse -

8250 Westheimer Rd

Houston, TX 77063

(713) 978-6500

https://fogodechao.com/location/houston/

Recommended dress for the Holiday Luncheon is CASUAL, and silly Christmas sweaters are especially welcome.

MENU:

(1) Soup & Salad - array of seasonal salads, charcuterie, exotic fruit, nutrient dense superfoods, feijoada (black bean stew with sausage and rice) and more

(2) Fire Roasted Meats & Sides (unlimited) - Enjoy continuous tableside carving of premium Brazilian cuts like our signature Picanha (prime part of top sirloin), Fraldinha (bottom sirloin), and steakhouse favorites like Filet, Lamb Chops, Bone-in Ribeye, Roasted Chicken and more.

(3) Dessert - Chocolate Brigadeiro and Cheesecake

(4) Beverages - Sodas, Coffee, Tea, Sparkling Wine Toast, Two Alcoholic Drinks (beer/wine/caipirinha)

Agenda for HIPLA CLE lunches:

Opens at 11:30 AM for lunch and networking.
HOLIDAY ATTIRE IS WELCOMED!
To invite friends or colleagues, please share the event link from the HIPLA events calendar or from "Tell them you're going!" below.

If you have any questions, please contact the HIPLA Meetings & Programs Chairs:

Vikesh Patel, vpatel@kmd.law

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tell them you're going!

Tell your friends and colleagues about this event by sharing this link and the hashtag #HIPLA:

https://www.hipla.org/event-6847158

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Have an idea for HIPLA's next CLE?

HIPLA welcomes members to submit proposals for CLE programs for 2027:

Proposed topics should be authoritative, timely, and of practical interest to IP attorneys and patent agents who are HIPLA's members.
Please reach out to: Vikesh Patel <vpatel@kmd.law>, George Webb <gwebb@rice.edu>, Michael Lew <michael.lew@squirepb.com>

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CLE luncheon with USPTO Director John Squires (April 01, 2027)

Thu, 01 Apr 2027 16:30:00 GMT

HIPLA is thrilled to welcome

Hon. John A. Squires

Under Secretary of Commerce

and Director of the United States Patent & Trademark Office

https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/john-squires

as our distinguished CLE speaker for spring 2027!

To our knowledge, this is the first time the current USPTO Director has visited Houston.

Note: Due to the complexities of the Director’s calendar, the location and other details are not finalized. Registration will open at this link (https://www.hipla.org/event-6725177) once all details are set. Thank you!

Agenda:

11:30 am: Doors open for lunch.
11:50 am: Call to order, announcements, and instructions
12:00 pm: Event concludes <-- earlier than usual, since there is no CLE topic.

Event Notes:

Dress for HIPLA CLE lunches is business casual. Suits are not expected.
To invite friends or colleagues, please share the event link from the HIPLA events calendar or from "Tell them you're going!" below.
If you have any questions, please contact the HIPLA Meetings & Programs Chairs:

Vikesh Patel <vpatel@kmd.law>

Michael Lew <michael.lew@squirepb.com>

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tell them you're going!

Tell your friends and colleagues about this event by sharing the event link and the hashtag #HIPLA:

https://www.hipla.org/event-6725177

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Have an idea for HIPLA's next CLE?

HIPLA welcomes members to submit proposals for CLE programs for 2026:

Proposed topics should be authoritative, timely, and of practical interest to IP attorneys and patent agents who are HIPLA's members.
For details and to submit a proposal, please visit our new portal at https://forms.gle/rKhBr6rMafbw1RVEA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[other] State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting (June 17, 2027)

Thu, 17 Jun 2027 05:00:00 GMT

HIPLA is pleased to share notice of certain non-HIPLA events that may be of interest to HIPLA members:

For these events, please confirm the event details with the host organization, as HIPLA makes no representations regarding the accuracy of the information presented here.
To recommend an event for inclusion, please contact George Webb, HIPLA Meeting Arrangements & Programs Chair, at (713) 348-2704 or gwebb@rice.edu

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State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting

https://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Events/AnnualMeeting/Future_Dates/default.htm

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Have an idea for HIPLA's next CLE?

HIPLA welcomes members to submit proposals for future CLE programs:

Proposed topics should be authoritative, timely, and of practical interest to IP attorneys and patent agents who are HIPLA's members.
For details and to submit a proposal, please visit our new portal at https://forms.gle/rKhBr6rMafbw1RVEA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .