​​CLE Meetings
Noon CLE meetings are typically held at the Belo Mansion on the fourth Thursday of every month (with some exceptions).
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We also host periodic breakfast CLE roundtable discussions at a North Dallas location on important IP topics.
Dec. 4, 2025 (Hybrid, Noon)
IP Section Annual Meeting/CLE Presentation
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​"Ethics, Conflicts, and Candor: Essential Lessons for IP Practitioners"
CLE Credit: 1.00 hr
Speaker: Emil J. Ali, Partner, McCabe//Ali
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Description: The program will cover the specialized duties that apply to attorneys and agents who practice before the USPTO with an emphasis on conflicts of interest, duty of candor to the USPTO, and the consequences of inequitable conduct. The presentation will discuss the relevance of the USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as the interplay with various state professional conduct rules. The program will also address how these issues may implicate trademark and litigation attorneys. ​​​
IP Section
Slate of 2026
Officers and Directors
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Officers:
Chair – John Tower
Vice Chair – Kirby Drake
Secretary – Matt Acosta
Treasurer - Stephanie Sivinski
Imm. Past Chair – Justin Cohen
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Directors:
Craig C. Carpenter
Jeff Becker
Ozz Siddiq
Srini Chakravarthi
Bill McSpadden
Sarah Foley
Tiffany Johnson
Bethany Salpietra
David Diamond
Matt Cornelia
By Xato (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Sheet music: "Beauiful Dreamer" by Stephen Foster
January 22, 2026
​IP Section CLE Lunch (Hybrid, Noon)
Arts District Mansion (1 CLE Hr.)
"Legal Considerations for Sneakerheads"
​Speakers: Matt Cornelia (Winstead) and Daniel Withers (McGuireWoods)
This presentation will address key considerations for the enforcement of intellectual property for sneaker designs, including recent updates to caselaw relevant to the fashion sphere, strategies for litigation, and how companies can build their IP portfolio to strengthen their claims in enforcement matters. ​​​​​​​