The Anaqua Experience Conference (AEC) has always been about bringing clients together. What began as a small gathering of IP professionals in Cambridge in 2007 has grown into a leading industry event where organizations share best practices, explore emerging trends, and help shape the future of IP management. Ahead of AEC 2026 in Orlando, Anaqua Chief Information Officer Erik Bailey, who attended that early conference and every conference since, reflects on how the event has evolved while staying true to the principles that matter most: community, collaboration, and client success.
Tell us about the first AEC you attended. What was happening at Anaqua at that moment?
My first conference was in 2007 in Cambridge, Massachusetts - only the second AEC ever. We are transitioning from our legacy technical architecture to a new software platform. That new platform - introduced as Anaqua 6 in 2007- still forms the foundation for AQX11 today.
The AEC has grown significantly in size. How has it scaled without losing focus?
Our attendance has grown from 30 to 40 in 2007 to 150-200 today. But our core focus on bringing our clients together for collaboration and learning hasn’t changed much. We discovered early on that our clients valued connecting with their peers and our team, so we’ve evolved the program over the years based on their feedback. There is a careful balance: We have Anaqua-led sessions, clients share their experiences, and there is plenty of time for networking. We learned that the time between sessions, when genuine connections are made, is just as valuable as the formal content.
What's been constant on the AEC agenda?
The Product Roadmap: It is one of the most highly anticipated sessions of the entire conference. We present a comprehensive review of everything we've introduced over the year. Our pace of innovation is rapid, and there are features available to clients that they might not know about simply because we innovate so quickly. Everyone wants to know what's coming next. I've presented this session many times, and it's been one of the most rewarding parts of the conference for me. Standing up there, talking about what the new innovation shaping the future of IP management and where we're going—that's energizing.
Tell us how client collaboration adds value to AEC?
The best sessions are the ones led by clients. That client-to-client connection is key. The real magic happens between the sessions. Clients from different industries discover they share challenges when they're introduced to each other. It's in these conversations that people realize a connection could improve their professional lives. While sessions are where you take in information, it's the processing — the conversations between sessions — where the magic happens. We've had attendees come back year after year — some for over 15 conferences — because they continue to find new value.
What’s your advice for getting the most from AEC?
Talk to as many other clients as possible—at breakfast, at dinner, and between sessions. Don't just attend; engage! The sessions are important, but it's during the breaks that you can share IP knowledge and expertise in ways that formal presentations can't capture. You'll meet people from different industries who realize they're facing the same challenges. That's when the real value emerges.
Thinking about your wider experiences at Anaqua, how has IP management changed in your view?
When Anaqua first started, we had a core docketing tool. Today, our focus is on strategy and optimized execution, and our technology has evolved to meet these needs. Looking back 10, 15, or 20 years, you can see the seeds of where we are now, but the pace has accelerated. We're responding to client needs faster than ever, especially now that AI capabilities are embedded across the platform.
You've spoken about Anaqua being in the security business, not just the IP business. What do you mean?
We ask our clients to trust us with their most valuable information and assets. This fundamental truth has driven our evolution. Twenty years ago, organizations weren't fully aware of the value of their intellectual property (IP). Today, that's changed. IP now appears on balance sheets. Security questions dominate conversations with prospects. Whereas we once had to educate organizations about their hidden gold mines, our clients now arrive with extensive security requirements and compliance checklists. Our job is to be careful stewards of their most valuable assets and ensure they know we take that responsibility seriously.
Where do you see IP management heading in the next two to three years?
AI is going to play a huge role. AI will likely be making most of the decisions about whether to file and where to file. Increasingly IP teams are going to have AI making recommendations, and the job of IP professionals will be reviewing and validating those recommendations. For Anaqua, we plan to stay ahead of that curve. When we hear from clients about what they'll need in two years, we aim to get there in one.
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