San Diego, California — October 16–18, 2026
Hosted by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Written By Brooke Weldon, LES Education Coordinator

Just before the LES USA & Canada Annual Meeting begins in San Diego, LES Academy will return for its second year, offering licensing professionals an immersive, three-day professional development experience designed to build practical skills, expand professional networks, and support career growth across the licensing ecosystem.

LES Academy will feature interactive education sessions led by expert faculty from industry, academia, legal practice, valuation, and business development. The program offers two tailored learning tracks, with capped attendance to encourage engagement, discussion, and hands-on learning.

Whether participants are building a strong foundation in licensing or looking to sharpen advanced dealmaking expertise, LES Academy is designed to meet licensing professionals where they are in their career. Participants will gain practical tools and perspectives they can apply immediately while connecting with peers, faculty, and LES leadership.

The 2026 program builds on the success of the inaugural LES Academy, which received strong feedback from participants across both tracks. A Track I participant shared, “The program strengthened my understanding of IP licensing, valuation, and post-deal management… Overall, it was an excellent learning experience and a meaningful step in my professional development.” Another noted that the instructors “complemented each other very well and had great stories that helped explain the importance of each topic.”

Participants in Track II also emphasized the value of the program’s structure and interactive format. One attendee described the Academy sessions as “well structured, appropriately sized, and provided opportunity for high level of interaction,” while another shared, “After passing the CLP exam, LES Academy Track II was the right next step. Overall, this is a great course to take wherever you are in your licensing career.”

Business Development — Track I

Track I is designed for early-career professionals looking to strengthen their understanding of intellectual property, valuation, negotiation, and post-deal management. The track begins Friday with an overview of intellectual property and the licensing process, continues Saturday with early-career level modules on valuation and negotiation, and concludes Sunday with a session focused on closing, compliance, and successfully managing IP and licenses after the agreement is signed. A Saturday evening panel discussion will focus on career paths.

This track is intended to help participants build a strong foundation in the business development process, regardless of industry, while expanding their professional network through the LES community.

Dealmaking — Track II

Track II is designed for experienced licensing professionals who want to strengthen the skills needed to evaluate opportunities, negotiate effectively, and create long-term value through intellectual property transactions. The track begins Friday with due diligence, continues Saturday with advanced valuation and negotiation sessions, and concludes Sunday with Licensing as a Business Strategy. A Saturday evening panel discussion will focus on career paths.

This track is intended to sharpen participants’ dealmaking skills through experiential learning, case studies, and hands-on activities while broadening their network through the LES community.

Faculty & Venue

LES Academy faculty includes leaders from industry, academia, legal practice, valuation, and professional services. The 2026 faculty includes Adam Falconer, Gillian Fenton, Lalit Gaur, Jonathon Hance, Bob Held, Efrat Kasznik, Samuel Mercer, Mihaela Bojin, D.C. Toedt, Karthika Perumal, Michele Riley, Paul Stewart, Jennifer Vanderhart, Sam Wiley, and Jayde Wood. LES Education is led by Co-Chairs Gillian Fenton and Arpi Siyahian, with Jennifer Vanderhart serving as Senior Vice President.  Learn more about our award-winning and dedicated LES Education faculty.

LES Academy 2026 is hosted by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, located approximately a 10-minute walk from the LES Annual Meeting venue.

Register for LES Academy 2026

LES Academy 2026 will be held October 16–18, 2026, in San Diego, California, immediately ahead of the LES USA & Canada Annual Meeting. Participants may register for LES Academy only, or select the LES Academy + Annual Meeting combo registration option for maximum learning and networking value.

Seats are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Learn more and register through the LES Academy 2026 event page.

Sponsor

LES Annual Meeting and LES Academy have sponsorship opportunities available. Leverage the power of our network across multiple industries and sectors and connect with global network to increase brand awareness, promote thought leadership, reach key emerging leaders, and stand out among your competitors. Learn more about LES Annual Meeting and LES Academy Sponsorships.

LES Academy attendees with instructors: far left Dell C. “D.C.” Toedt III; front row, 2nd from the left is Karthika Perumal, Ph.D., CLP; and in the back row is Jennifer Vanderhart, Ph.D.

Share this article: