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3RD AnnuaL

IP Dealmakers

Europe

Where IP Strategy, Disputes and Capital Converge

May 11-13, 2026

RoYAL garden hotel LONDON

featured speakers

About The Event

For IP Leaders and Innovators

IP Dealmakers Europe brings together senior leaders to define the future of IP valuation, enforcement, and commercialisation. By focusing on execution over theory, we provide a deal-driven environment where corporate IP strategy intersects with institutional capital.

Co-located with 3rd Annual LF Dealmakers Europe, the forum brings the funders and investors deploying capital into complex disputes. The result is a uniquely connected, deal-driven ecosystem where strategy, execution, and capital actively intersect.

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

New closed-door boardrooms: Designed for deeper, candid conversations

Pre-event workshop: AI across the patent lifecycle

In-house strategy focus: How IP teams are building and extracting value

Judicial panel: Perspectives from the bench on complex disputes

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform facilitating new partnership and business opportunities

Critical discussions on emerging trends, global market dynamics and in-house strategy.

Audience

A curated audience of carefully vetted senior decision-makers made of corporate IP leaders, investors, law firms and specialist advisors – the people you actually need to meet.

92percent

Overall networking was rated very good to excellent

90percent

Program quality was rated very good to excellent

88percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Dealmakers by the numbers

250+

Decision
Makers

8+

Hours of dedicated networking

40

EXPERT
SPEAKERS

120+

one to one
meetings

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS Europe in action

sponsorship opportunities

Become a sponsor

2026 PRELIMINARY agenda

Get updates and inquire about sponsoring in 2026 below.

Please note: This event will be co-located with the 3rd Annual LF Dealmakers Europe. If you would like to attend sessions at both events, register with an all access ticket.

pre-day workshop: monday, may 11, 2026

AI ACROSS THE PATENT LIFECYCLE: FROM TOOLS TO STRATEGY


A peer-to-peer workshop on real use cases, gaps and the future of AI in IP

AI ACROSS THE PATENT LIFECYCLE: FROM TOOLS TO STRATEGY
is a half-day, peer-to-peer workshop for IP leaders, practitioners and technology builders navigating the rapid adoption of AI in patent practice. Moving beyond pilots and product demos, the workshop focuses on how AI is actually being used across invention, search, drafting, portfolio management, monetisation and enforcement — where it is delivering value today, where it falls short, and what capabilities are still missing. Through candid panels and facilitated working groups, participants will compare real use cases, confront practical challenges, and help shape the next phase of AI-driven IP strategy.

What’s working, what’s failing, and what comes next across the patent lifecycle 

Some IP teams are already using AI to make better decisions, move faster and extract more value across the patent lifecycle. Others are experimenting — or standing still. This session pulls back the curtain on what’s actually working today, where the gaps remain, and how leading organisations are positioning themselves for the next phase of AI-driven IP strategy.

Speakers:

  • Charles Eldering, Founder, CAsE Analysis (moderator)
  • Alexis Cheynel, IP Business Intelligence and Portfolio Manager, Orange
  • Yann Dietrich, Group Head of IP, AI and Tech Regulations, Atos Group
  • Alexandre Ribeil, Senior Manager, IP, Amadeus
  • Claudia Ritter, VP, Digital IP and IP Operations, BASF
  •  

These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups examine how AI is actually being deployed across the patent lifecycle — where it is delivering real value, where it falls short, and how teams are addressing capability gaps, governance challenges and barriers to adoption. 

Participants will break into small discussion groups organised by areas of use across the patent lifecycle: invention and ideation; search, prior art and analytics; drafting and prosecution; portfolio management and strategy; monetisation, licensing and enforcement. 

Each group will focus discussion around three shared questions:

    • Where are you using AI today — and why?
    • What breaks, disappoints or creates risk?
    • What has changed when you’ve tried to scale it?

These forward-looking, peer-to-peer roundtables focus on the gaps that matter most: where AI consistently fails to meet real IP needs today, what capabilities are missing across the patent lifecycle, and what users actually expect next. 

Designed as a rare feedback loop between users and builders, the session captures concrete priorities that will shape the next generation of AI-driven IP tools and strategies. 

Discussion will focus on:

    • Where AI consistently falls short across real IP workflows
    • What users actually need next — not what tools currently offer
    • What would materially change decisions, outcomes or adoption if it existed

DAY one: TUESDAY, May 12, 2026 - IP DEALMAKING

  • The economics of complex disputes: funding, cost exposure and proportionality
  • AI, technology and evidential complexity in modern litigation
  • Expectations in high-stake litigation

Speakers:

  • James Dobias, Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte (moderator)
  • Rt Hon Lord Justice Colin Birss, Chancellor, High Court (UK)
  • Judge Kai Härmand, Nordic-Baltic Regional Division, Unified Patent Court (Sweden)
  • Judge Alexandre Au-Yong Oliveira, Judge, Court of Appeals of Lisbon (Portugal)
  • Judge Fabian Richter Reuschle, Deputy Presiding Judge, Stuttgart Regional Court (Germany)
  •  
  • The new rate-setting reality
  • The global FRAND chessboard
  • FRAND beyond telecoms

Speakers:

  • Luke McLeroy, Managing Member, LFM Firm (moderator)
  • Harold Barrault, VP, Head of Patent Licensing, Orange
  • Nina Belbl, Legal Officer, WIPO
  • Scott Hayden, VP, IP & Chief IP Officer, Amazon
  • Jack McKinney, Director, IP, HP

Interested in joining? Request an invite email Aaron Rawcliffe

  • Why investors and lenders are underwriting IP as a core asset class
  • Using capital strategically: licensing, monetisation, divestiture and litigation funding
  • Where deals break down – and how to make IP “finance-ready”

Speakers:

  • Max Bernstein, VP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty (moderator)
  • Eli Gilsohn, VP, IP, Resolution Therapeutics
  • Emily O’Neill, Head of Patents, BAT
  • Francis Rushford, Head of IP Finance, Pretium
  • How the UPC changes cost, speed and settlement dynamics in Europe
  • Why China, India and Brazil are no longer “secondary” venues
  • Stitching Global markets into one enforcement framework

Speakers:

  • Sean Alexander, Head of IP, Umicore Group
  • Cassandra Derham, Head of IP, Amadeus
  • Judge Kai Härmand, Nordic-Baltic Regional Division, Unified Patent Court
  • Anup Misra, Founder, Misra IP Litigation

Interested in joining? Request an invite email Aaron Rawcliffe

  • Breaking into jurisdiction-specific tables across Europe, China, Brazil, India and the US, attendees will examine how IP enforcement and monetisation actually work on the ground, focusing on leverage, economics and real-world execution rather than theory. Discussions will be focused around:

    • Where is the real leverage?
    • What changes the economics?
    • What catches foreign parties out?
    • Who wins here – and who struggles?

9:30 AM – 5:30 PM:
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS

Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilising our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.

  • What works – and what doesn’t
  • Choosing the right partner: licensors, NPEs, aggregators, funds and hybrids
  • Packaging patents to maximise appeal, price and execution

Speakers:

  • Fred Fabricant, Partner, Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos (moderator)
  • Joachim Herrn, CLO & GC, Norwegian Green Solutions
  • Rachel Kelly, Group IP Director, Johnson Matthey
  • Andy Spurr, Head of IP, Ceres Power
  • Making IP intelligible
  • Aligning CFOs, Boards and R&D
  • Using valuation to act

Speakers:

  • Mollie Stoker, Group GC and Company Secretary, Ocado
  • Lucy Wojcik, Chief IP Counsel, Ocado
  • Who owns the decisions – and who doesn’t
  • Designing and aligning IP teams for impact
  • Measuring what matters

Speakers:

  • Sonja London, Founder, Fearless IP (moderator)
  • Ceyda Maisami, Chief IP Counsel, HP
  • Mitsuaki Matsumura, Head of IP Licensing, AP and EMEA, IBM
  • Claudia Ritter, VP, Digital IP and IP Operations, BASF
  • Toni Santamaria, Chief IP Officer, Adalvo
  • How value is created
  • What drives behaviour
  • What transfers – and what doesn’t

Speakers:

  • Charles Clark, Founder, IP ARKITEK (moderator)
  • James Clulow, Head of Technology and IP, Eakin Healthcare
  • Anne McAleer, Head of IP, Paragraf
  • David Taylor, Director, IP, Cambridge Mechatronics
  • Helen Waugh, Senior Commercialisation Manager and Licensing Lead, Ploughshare

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM:
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS

Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilising our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.

2026 SPEAKERs

The 2026 program is in development. Get updates and Enquire about speaking in 2026 below.

2026 FEATURED SPEAKERs

JUDGE KAI Härmand

Nordic-Baltic Regional Division
Unified Patent Court

 

Mollie Stoker

Group GC and Company Secretary
Ocado

Sir Colin Birss

Chancellor
UK High Court

UK

2026 SPEAKERs

SEAN ALEXANDER

Sean Alexander

Head of IP

Umicore Group

 

Judge Alexandre Au-Yong Oliveira

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

 

Harold Barrault

VP, Head of Patent Licensing

Orange

 

Nina Belbl

Nina Belbl

Legal Officer

WIPO

 

Max Bernstein

VP, Contingent Risk

CAC Specialty

 

Charles Clark

Founder

IP ARKITEK

 

James Clulow

Head of Technology and IP

Eakin Healthcare

 

Cassandra Derham

Head of IP

Amadeus


James Dobias

Partner

McDermott Will & Schulte

Fred Fabricant

Fred Fabricant 

Partner

Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

Eli Gilsohn

VP, IP

Resolution Therapeutics

Scott Hayden

Vice President, Intellectual Property

Amazon

Joachim Herrn

CLO & GC

Norwegian Green Solutions

Rachel Kelly

Group IP Director

Johnson Matthey

Sonja London

Founder

Fearless IP

Ceyda_Maisami

Ceyda Maisami

Chief IP Counsel

HP

MITSUAKI MATSUMURA

Mitsuaki Matsumura

Head of IP Licensing, AP and EMEA

IBM

Anne McAleer

Head of IP

Paragraf

Jack McKinney

Director, IP

HP

Luke McLeroy

Managing Member

LFM Firm

Anup_Misra

Anup Misra 

Founder

Misra IP Litigation

 

Emily O’Neill

Head of Patents

BAT

 

Judge Fabian Ritcher Reuschle

Deputy Presiding Judge

Stuttgart Regional Court

Claudia Ritter

VP, Digital IP and IP Operations

BASF

 

Francis Rushford

Francis Rushford

MD & Head of IP Finance

Pretium

 

Toni Santamaria

Chief IP Officer

Adalvo

 

Andy Spurr

Andy Spurr

Head of IP

Ceres Power

 

David Taylor

Director IP

Cambridge Mechatronics

Helen Waugh

Senior Commercialisation Manager and Licensing Lead

Ploughshare

Lucy Wojcik

Chief IP Counsel

Ocado

2026 WORKSHOP SPEAKERS AI ACROSS THE PATENT LIFECYCLE: FROM TOOLS TO STRATEGY

AlexisCheynel_Orange

Alexis Cheynel

IP Business Intelligence and Portfolio Manager

Orange

Yann Dietrich

Group Head of IP, AI and Tech Regulations

Atos Group

Charles Eldering

Charles Eldering

Founder

CAsE Analysis

 

Alexandre Ribeil

Senior Manager, IP

Amadeus

 

Claudia Ritter

VP, Digital IP and IP Operations

BASF

 

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

The 2026 program is in development. Get updates and Enquire about sponsoring in 2026 below.

gold sponsor

silver sponsors

bronze sponsors

MEDIA PARTNERS

more about our

2026 SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

FRL is a premier IP litigation boutique with unrivaled success representing innovators and patent owners in high-stakes disputes. Our trial-ready lawyers have decades of experience litigating cutting-edge technology cases in federal courts, the ITC, and before the PTAB, often against the world’s largest companies. We use our technical acumen and industry experience to help clients locate, vet, and acquire patent portfolios for monetization. Founded by former Big Law partners, FRL delivers top-tier litigation talent on fair, flexible terms through creative fee structures and litigation finance. Learn more at frlip.com.

SILVER SPONSORS

CAC Specialty’s Contingent & Litigation Risk Solutions Group is an integrated team of seasoned corporate litigators and senior investment bankers. Whether you are a litigation finance group, law firm, or corporate litigant, CAC’s industry-leading team can help you protect against downside litigation risk, lock in a core value to a legal asset, secure non-recourse financing to bring forward litigation proceeds, and decrease your cost of capital. CAC Specialty brings an innovative, proactive approach to insurance broking and structured solutions to solve your risk challenges – from the simple to the previously unsolvable.

Pretium is an alternative investment management firm with over $50 billion in assets under management focused on innovating in single-family real estate, residential credit and structured and corporate credit markets. Pretium’s investment strategy seeks to capitalize on disruptions in traditional markets and drive superior returns through a unique platform-oriented approach.

BRONZE SPONSORS

Liston Abramson is a U.S.-based litigation boutique with a focus on patent litigation. We have a winning record and a deep bench of technical and trial experience. We work extensively with litigation funding and funders. We also handle complex business disputes, white collar criminal matters, internal investigations, and criminal referrals.

​​Lumenci is a full-service IP consulting firm focused on extracting maximum value from IP assets, providing technical, valuation, and strategic advice to patent owners and law firms. With a global presence across Austin, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and New Delhi, Lumenci brings experts together, delivering over $3.5B in verdicts, settlements, and cost savings.

WiLAN acquires and manages innovative patented technologies. WiLAN uses it patent, technology, and legal expertise to unlock the value of companies’ patent portfolios and has signed over 500 licenses and generated more than $1B in IP revenue. WiLAN operates in a variety of markets, including automotive, digital television, internet, medical, semiconductor, and wireless communication technologies.

sponsorship opportunities

Become a sponsor

Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

IP Dealmakers Europe is the definitive forum for those actively shaping the IP market, from strategy and enforcement to capital and execution. We move beyond passive attendance to deliver a structured, deal-driven environment.

Our true value lies in bringing together the full market ecosystem – think IP owners, law firms, investors, and advisors – in a single room. By connecting strategy, execution, and capital, we create the unique conversations and high-value opportunities that only happen when the entire market intersects.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

Vetted senior attendees from across the IP ecosystem

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

15+ focused sessions on industry challenges and opportunities

Why Should you Attend as:

IP Owners & Originators

Strengthen your IP strategy, unlock value, and access the partners needed to execute effectively.

    • Understand how leading companies are enforcing and monetising IP
    • Benchmark your strategy against peers across industries and jurisdictions
    • Access law firms, funders and advisors to support execution
    • Explore how capital can unlock or accelerate IP value
    • Stay ahead of how IP is shaping competitive advantage

Originate higher-value cases, access capital, and strengthen your position in an increasingly competitive disputes market.

    • Win new clients, cases and strategic partnerships
    • Access capital to originate and execute high-value disputes
    • Understand the latest industry developments and trends
    • Hear leading Judicial perspectives on complex litigation
    • Build relationships with funders, corporates and co-counsel across jurisdictions
    • Stay ahead of competitors in a rapidly evolving market

Access high-quality opportunities, build relationships with originators, and stay ahead of capital flows in the IP market

    • Source high-quality deployment and co-investment opportunities
    • Access law firms and corporates originating complex disputes
    • Build relationships with investors allocating to legal strategies
    • Understand where capital is flowing across cases, sectors and jurisdictions
    • Position your platform within an increasingly competitive funding market

Connect with key market participants, position your services, and access opportunities across high-value IP disputes and transactions

    • Build relationships with law firms, corporates and funders active in the IP market
    • Position your services within high-value disputes and transactions
    • Access a curated pipeline of potential clients and partners
    • Understand where demand is growing across IP strategy and litigation
    • Stay visible in an increasingly competitive advisory landscape

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

Companies Attending Include:

Secure Your Seat

VENUE & Accommodations

Royal GARDEN HOTEL

The 3rd IP Dealmakers Europe will be hosted at the Royal Garden Hotel, a five-star landmark set directly on Kensington Gardens in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. With its sweeping views, refined interiors, and unbeatable access to Kensington’s cultural hubs, the Royal Garden Hotel provides the perfect backdrop for high-level discussions, strategic connections, and dealmaking.

To enhance the attendee experience, Dealmakers has secured a limited block of discounted rooms at an exclusive rate of £295 (Inclusive of VAT) per night. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are expected to sell out quickly. Reservation details will be shared with confirmed registrants.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

The 3rd Annual IP Dealmakers Europe will be held on May 11 – 13, 2026 at The Royal Garden Hotel. It will be co-located with the 3rd Annual LF Dealmakers Europe. You may find additional information regarding the venue and accomodations on our venue page.

You may register for the event using our online registration system.  Please note that all registrations need to be approved.

All registered attendees will have access to the following:

  • Admission to main conference 
  • Networking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptions
  • Online event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messaging
  • Recorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

The IP Dealmakers Forum brings together a select group of leaders in the business community to address critical issues impacting the IP industry and broader innovation landscape. In order to ensure the event has balanced representation from market leaders and to maintain an optimal networking dynamic, we have instituted an approval process for all registrations. 

We actively seek thought leaders and senior executives with experience and decision-making power within their respective organizations. We review individual registrations based on organizational profile, level of seniority as represented by job title, biographical information, and referral source.

We consider the type of organization, aiming to achieve a balanced representation of corporate IP owners, licensing company executives, law firm executives, investors, advisors, and other key stakeholders.

Additionally, we look to include perspectives from those that have not previously attended the event, as well as historically underrepresented groups.

Once you have completed your online registration, you will receive an email notification regarding the status of your application within 48 business hours.

Due to capacity limits at our event venue, along with our aim to achieve optimal dynamics for discussion and networking, we must be selective with registration approvals. If your registration was declined, we may have reached venue capacity, or it’s possible that you did not meet the criteria for attendance. We encourage you to reapply the following year.

Alternatively, you may be offered a place on the waiting list if we’ve reached our maximum capacity for your organization type (e.g., law firm, advisor, licensing company, etc.) Additionally, we limit the number of attendees per non-sponsoring organization to two individuals, so you may be offered a place on the waiting list if your organization has already registered two individuals.

Once you submit your registration, a hold will be placed on your card provided during registration. If your registration is approved, your payment will be processed using the credit card information you provide below.

If your registration is declined or you are waitlisted, your credit card will not be charged.

We welcome sponsorship inquiries and discussions regarding how to get involved in the event. Please contact us directly at info(at)dealmakersforums.com to request our prospectus which includes detailed information regarding sponsorship packages and opportunities to get involved in the event. We look forward to hearing from you.

We welcome speaking proposals from industry thought leaders and senior executives. Feel free to submit your proposal via this form. Please include as much detail as possible regarding your interest and relevant experience. Please note that we do not accept sales pitches or allow them at our events. 

Leveraging our experience examining complex markets, we engage in a rigorous market-based research process to develop our program content, including identification of session topics, discussion points, and speakers. We rely on the expertise and valuable insights of our community, including industry advisors, sponsors, and partners in this process.  

Registered participants will be invited to the 1:1 meetings platform via email approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the event start date, at which time all participants may begin scheduling their meetings.

Our 1-to-1 meetings feature is available to all registered attendees. You may request meetings with anyone attending the event, however, meetings are only confirmed and assigned a meeting location once the invited party accepts the request.

Cancellations received before 30 days prior to the event start date will receive a full refund minus processing fees. Cancellations received after this time will receive a credit with Dealmakers Forums that can be used toward a future event. No-shows will not be issued a refund or a credit.

To cancel your registration, contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your request.

Substitutions are allowed at any time prior to the start of the event, but the substituting individual must be approved for attendance. If the individual is not approved, the registration will be considered a cancellation subject to the cancellation policy above.

Contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your substitution request.

You may reach out to us at info(at)dealmakersforums.com or +1.914.365.7732. We look forward to hearing from you!