Banner Witcoff’s next DMV Corporate IP Roundtable will take place on Thursday, June 26. Hosted by Ofinno, the CLE luncheon will feature a discussion on SEP Preparation and Prosecution Strategies, led by Peter Flanagan and Kavon Nasabzadeh of Ofinno and Banner Witcoff’s Christian LaForgia.

The presentation will explore best practices for preparing and prosecuting standard-essential patents (SEPs) with a focus on aligning patent strategy with the evolving landscape of standards-setting organizations (SSOs), such as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and the operational realities of licensing administrators.

Topics will include timing and content of disclosures during participation in SSOs and how early alignment with licensing program criteria can shape drafting and prosecution decisions. The trio will also discuss strategies for claim scope optimization in light of declared standards, cross-jurisdictional prosecution tactics to ensure international enforceability, and practical tips for coordination between R&D, legal, and licensing teams. The goal is to foster a shared understanding of how to build robust, licensable SEP portfolios that can withstand scrutiny while remaining commercially valuable.

Banner Witcoff launched the North Shore Corporate IP Roundtable program in 2017 in the Chicago metropolitan area. Due to its success, the firm expanded the initiative to two additional locations — Chicago’s west suburbs and in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. To be notified about our future programs, email toleary@bannerwitcoff.com.