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Design Law 2026

Design Law 2026

October 28, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

The Design Law Symposium, hosted by the design practice groups of Banner Witcoff and Sterne Kessler, is a premier event that brings together leading practitioners and innovators in the design patent community to explore emerging trends and critical issues shaping intellectual property. Drawing on the deep experience and thought leadership of both firms’ renowned design practices, the program is designed to offer forward-looking perspectives while fostering meaningful discussion on cutting-edge design-related topics.

The Symposium attracts design practice leaders from across the United States, as well as a broader audience with an interest in design and intellectual property, and continues to generate global interest among attendees across jurisdictions and industries.

Design Law 2026 Materials

TimeTopicSpeakers
8:00 AM – 9:00 AMRegistration and Breakfast 
9:00 AM – 9:15 AMWelcome Remarks and Conference IntroductionRob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
9:15 AM – 10:00 AMDesign Patent Claim Interpretation: Factoring Out Function or Viewing the Whole Design?

Download the presentation.		Rob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff (Moderator)
Chris Carani, Partner, McAndrews, Held & Malloy
Brad Van Pelt, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
10:00 AM – 10:30 AMComparison Prior Art: Essential Context or Unnecessary Complexity?

Download the presentation.		Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox (Moderator)
Michael Joffre, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Vicki Webb, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
10:30 AM – 10:45 AMMorning Break 
10:45 AM – 11:15 AMCopyright Protection of Design for Useful Articles: Better in U.S. or EU/UK

Download the presentation. 		Rob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff (Moderator)
Michael Conway, Partner, Birketts
Ivy Estoesta, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
11:15 AM – 12:00 PMUpdated USPTO Guidance for GUI Design Patent Applications: Expanded Flexibility, More Strategic Considerations

Download the presentation. 		Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox (Moderator)
Alisa Abbott, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
Rebekah Holtz, Associate, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
12:00 PM – 1:00 PMLunch
1:00 PM – 1:30 PMKeynote | AI’s Role in the Industrial Design Process

Download the presentation.		Dylan Brockhaus, Senior Industrial Designer, Garmin
1:30 PM – 2:15 PMHuman Enough? Where Should the USPTO Draw the Line on AI-Assisted Designs?

Download the presentation.		Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox (Moderator)
Dylan Brockhaus, Senior Industrial Designer, Garmin
Josh Davenport, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
Dan Gajewski, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Similarity vs. Dissimilarity – Did Range of Motion Reframe the Design Patent Infringement Test?

Download the presentation.		Rob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff (Moderator)
Sean Jungels, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
George Raynal, Managing Partner, DesignLaw Group
2:45 PM – 3:15 PMAlternative Designs for Trade Dress Non-Functionality: Relevant Evidence or Red Herring?

Download the presentation. 		Rob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff (Moderator)
Monica Riva Talley, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Evi Christou, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
3:15 PM – 3:30 PMAfternoon Break
3:30 PM – 4:15 PMClaim Construction or Claim “Constriction” – Should Words Matter in Assessing Design Patent Scope?

Download the presentation. 		Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox (Moderator)
Elizabeth Ferrill, Partner, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
Mark Janis, Professor, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Richard Stockton, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
4:15 PM – 4:45 PMTown Hall Wrap Up: Is Design Law Headed in the Right Direction?Rob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
4:45 PM – 5:00 PMClosing RemarksRob Katz, Shareholder, Banner Witcoff
Tracy Durkin, Director, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
5:00 PM – 6:00 PMReception