October 9, 2026 | Legal & Intellectual Property News
SAN JOSE, California — The International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA) has appointed Michael Dryja as its United States Representative, assigning him a central role in coordinating the association’s U.S. conference activities and strengthening its engagement with the legal and intellectual property sectors.
According to information provided by IIPLA, Dryja’s responsibilities will include conference planning and scheduling, program development, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) coordination, sponsorship development, and efforts to expand the association’s activities in the United States.
Azam Ghani, Founder and President of IIPLA, described the appointment as a step toward strengthening the association’s U.S. presence and building relationships across the intellectual property community.
“Michael’s appointment marks an important step in strengthening IIPLA’s presence in the United States. His role will be instrumental in advancing our U.S. conference initiatives, developing meaningful industry relationships and creating new opportunities for collaboration with professionals and organizations across the intellectual property community,” Ghani said.
Appointment Targets Conference Development and Industry Collaboration
The appointment comes as IIPLA seeks to develop its conference activities and expand engagement with attorneys, intellectual property practitioners, potential sponsors, and other industry stakeholders in the U.S. market.
In addition to conference coordination and program development, Dryja is expected to support CLE-related arrangements for U.S. attorneys, including considerations relating to program registration and approval. Such arrangements may vary depending on the applicable jurisdiction and its requirements.
Dryja formally accepted the appointment in a written letter dated October 8, 2026, expressing his willingness to contribute to the association’s development in the United States.
September 2027 Conference Under Preliminary Planning
The acceptance letter also refers to preliminary planning for IIPLA’s next U.S. conference, anticipated for the last week of September 2027. The venue, dates, and other arrangements have yet to be finalized.
Dryja’s appointment establishes a designated point of contact for coordinating the association’s U.S. initiatives, developing conference programming, pursuing sponsorship opportunities, and building connections with organizations and professionals across the legal and intellectual property industries.
Further details concerning the planned conference are expected to depend on the progress of the association’s ongoing arrangements.
About the International Intellectual Property Law Association
The International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA) is an organization focused on bringing together professionals from the intellectual property community through conferences and related initiatives. Its activities provide a platform for professional engagement, knowledge exchange, and discussions on issues affecting the intellectual property and legal sectors.
IIPLA Names Michael Dryja as U.S. Representative Amid Plans to Expand American Conference Activities Michael Dryja will support IIPLA’s U.S. conference planning, CLE coordination, sponsorship development, and professional collaboration. Read the full IIPLA blog post: https://iipla.org/blog/iipla-names-michael-dryja-as-us-representative-amid-plans-to-expand-american-conference-activities