OCIPLA

OCIPLA Holiday Celebration 2025
2025-12-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Courtyard at The Boardwalk, 18565 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA, 92612
You’re Invited!
We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the OCIPLA 2025 Holiday Celebration on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Join us in the courtyard at The Boardwalk for an evening of holiday cheer. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a brief program at 7 p.m. (thanking our sponsors, welcoming our new Board members, and handing off the epic President’s sombrero).
Drinks and Soho Tacos dinner (tacos, beans, rice, & chips) will be served.The event will be held outdoors, so please dress accordingly; in case of rain, we will share indoor arrangements.
Member tickets are $15.
Non-member and guest tickets are $25.
We look forward to seeing everyone there. Whether or not you’re able to join, please share your thoughts with us using this short survey: OCIPLA 2026 Member Interest Survey
OCIPLA Board of Directors
Event Details
DATE: Thursday, December 18, 2025
TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION: The Boardwalk – Courtyard: 18575 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92612
REGISTRATION:
Member: $15.00
Non-Member: $25.00
Guest: $25.00

OCIPLA January 2026 Luncheon
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Sol Irvine, 1910 Main Street, Irvine, CA, 92614, United States
TOPIC: Tips and tricks for successfully filing or defending domain name complaints under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
DESCRIPTION: Have a problem with cybersquatters infringing your brand in a domain name? Interested to learn the ins and outs of filing or defending a UDRP case with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)?
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: SOL Mexican Cocina
1910 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614
Registration:Member: $35.00Non-Member: $60.00Student Member: $20.00
In-House Counsel: FREE

SPEAKER
Willem Leppink, European intellectual property & marketing lawyer, Ploum (Netherlands)

Willem Leppink is a European intellectual property & marketing lawyer at the Dutch law firm of Ploum. He litigates and advises especially on trademark, design and copyright issues, domain names and unfair commercial practices, including comparative and misleading advertising. For 20 years, Willem has been a domain name panelist with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Czech Arbitration Court. He is also a Legal Rights Objections (LRO) expert and a panelist for the Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure (Trademark PDDRP) with WIPO. He has been a panelist in over 400 domain name decisions. Willem is also a part-time lecturer in trademark law with the Leiden Law School in the Netherlands. He is a member of the executive committee of MARQUES, the European Association of Trade Mark Owners. He has been a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice (Oxford University Press) since its inception. Willem is a member of the advisory committee on trademarks and designs of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

OCIPLA February 2026 Luncheon
2026-02-18 11:30 - 13:00 | 2040 Main Street, Irvine, CA, 92614, 2040 Main Street, Irvine, 92614, United States
TOPIC: Navigating Ethical Minefields in IP Practice: Conflicts, Candor, and Compliance for Patent and Trademark Attorneys
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: registration, lunch, networking
12:00 – 1:00 PM: program
Location: Aptus Court Reporting
2040 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614
This ethics CLE, delivered by Emil J. Ali of McCabe & Ali LLP, provides a comprehensive overview of key ethical issues facing intellectual property lawyers, both in private practice and in-house. Attendees will explore the regulatory authority of the USPTO, dissect the complexities of IP conflicts—including subject-matter conflicts and in-house ethical dilemmas—and examine candor obligations in patent and trademark prosecution and litigation.
The session also addresses the USPTO’s continued focus on candor and signature requirements, as well as tips for California practitioners dealing with CTAPP. Join Emil as he takes you through practical examples, and best practices to uphold ethical standards, avoid malpractice, and navigate the evolving ethics landscape of IP law with confidence.
Registration:Member: $15.00Non-Member: $30.00Student Non-Member: $20.00
In-House Counsel: Register for a free membership and enjoy member pricing!
Registration fee includes parking validation.

SPEAKER
Emil J. Ali, Partner, McCabe Ali LLP

Emil J. Ali is a partner at McCabe & Ali, LLP where he focuses his practice on helping lawyers
understand their obligations under state and federal law. As a registered patent attorney, a
significant focus of his practice involves advising lawyers and law firms on all aspects of the
intersection of IP and ethics matters. Emil’s work includes counseling clients on lateral
transitions, malpractice avoidance, expert opinion and testimony, and respondent’s defense
work before various bars and courts. You can view his musings on IP ethics issues at
www.ipethicslaw.com.

OCIPLA March 2026 Luncheon
2026-03-24 11:30 - 13:00 | Rutan, LLP, 18575 Jamboree Road, 9th Floor, Irvine, California, 92614, United States
TOPIC: AI Tools for IP Practitioners
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: registration, lunch, networking
12:00 – 1:00 PM: program
1.0 hour CLE credit for Technology
Location: Rutan, LLP, 18565 (not the main building) Jamboree Road 1st Floor (Conference room Newport/Laguna), Irvine, CA, 92612
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a core competency in legal practice. In 2026, AI tools are available to enhance practitioners’ capabilities for every aspect of litigation, as well as IP clearance and prosecution programs (for copyright, patent, trademarks, etc.).
While these AI tools open up new opportunities, the sheer volume and variety of options present attorneys in law firms and in-house teams alike with a difficult balancing act, weighing cost effectiveness, risk management, and attorney productivity. In short: what are the best tools out there, and how can they improve the value of legal work without generating liability?
In this session, Kyre Stucklin and Allen Kim, along with moderator Meredith Williams, will share practical insights on how AI is being used in real-world litigation and IP practices today. Drawing from hands-on experience, they will explore how all attorneys—and especially IP practitioners—can approach AI adoption with confidence, selecting tools that deliver real value and reliable results.
Registration:
Member: $15.00
Non-Member: $30.00
Student Non-Member: $20.00
In-House Counsel: Register for a free membership and enjoy member pricing!
Lunch will be provided.
