Smart & Biggar practitioners share reflections on IP from the 2026 IPO Annual Meeting

From September 27 to 29, Smart & Biggar practitioners attended the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) Annual Meeting, joining intellectual property leaders and professionals from around the world.

During the meeting, the firm proudly sponsored the Monday Night Reception at Steam Whistle Brewing, which welcomed guests and showcased Canadian hospitality in the heart of downtown Toronto.

A few of our practitioners have shared their insights, highlights and reflections from the conference below. 

Interviews have been edited lightly for style and clarity.

Emerging trends and topics

Jeff Leuschner, Principal: There were several topics, but not surprisingly, one of the trending themes across the conference was AI. I was particularly interested in one session that discussed the use of agentic AI for patent prosecution, because that's an emerging area directly in my line of practice.

Jason Hynes, Principal: I quite liked the AI and ethics session. The panel did a great job talking about how AI can and should be used ethically in the modern intellectual property law landscape. The panel also provided case studies, fact patterns and hypotheticals about AI use cases, dangers and disclosures. The conversation recognized that AI is here to stay but emphasized our ethical obligations as IP professionals.

Lei Liu, Principal: The panel with in-house counsel from Boeing, Microsoft, Novartis, and 3M discussing their in-house AI deployments and expectations was valuable.  It's important for us to understand and stay ahead of industry standards and what in-house counsel may be expecting from outside counsel.

Conference highlights

Ainslie Parsons, Principal: The IPO Annual Meeting always has a welcoming atmosphere. It's a great opportunity to meet people organically beyond set meetings.  The attendee group is small enough that if you meet someone on Sunday night, there’s a good chance you'll see them again on Tuesday, which I appreciate.

Jason: I was impressed by the energy and the optimism about the future. Everybody was engaged and excited. Attendees shared many growth and success stories, which left me with a positive impression about the global perspective on IP and our future.

Monday Night Reception at Steam Whistle Brewing, sponsored by Smart & Biggar. Photo c/o IPO 2026 Annual Meeting.

Smart & Bigggar Monday Night Reception

Jeff: The Monday night reception was very well attended and provided a great opportunity  to connect with clients and colleagues in an informal setting. The event did an excellent job of showcasing different flavours across Canada, with regional food stations set up at multiple locations in the venue.

Jason: The reception was at the John Street Roundhouse, where the Steam Whistle Brewery is situated, and is such a historic site. What an incredible venue to be at—the modern bright lights of the city contrasted against these historic railroad cars and these cobblestone streets was a wonderful juxtaposition.

Carmela De Luca, Principal: It was a spectacular evening, with a great venue, lots of laughter and fantastic conversations, all while catching up with old colleagues and meeting new ones.

Spending time with colleagues.

Final thoughts

Ainslie: As someone from the host city, the best part about IPO this year was welcoming associates, clients and colleagues to Toronto and being able to show them around. I was proud to have the opportunity to showcase the city.

Lei: This was my third time attending IPO, and with the excellent educational sessions and great networking, I had a very positive experience. I'm looking forward to attending next year.

Jason: The global IP community is strong and healthy, and it's great to know that there's a fantastic network of engaged and dedicated professionals all over the world. Having them in our own backyard, and to have our firm be such a big part of this event, was a very special experience.