2019 Leadership Meeting

Attorneys in a Management Role – Idea Exchange

Have you ever wondered how other law firms manage their IP groups? How they recruit talent? How they develop effective marketing tools? You don’t have to ponder these questions in isolation!

This Idea Exchange, organized by The Attorneys in a Management Role Subcommittee, aims to give those in managing roles the opportunity to socialize, foster ideas, share best practices and develop relationships. We all come from different backgrounds, work in different sized firms (whether in large general practice law firms or a small boutique IP firms), and practice in different countries. However, we share many similar issues and challenges in our management roles and this will be a great event to share your knowledge.

Breakfast will be served.

Annual Meeting of Members

Board of Directors Meeting

Registration and Information Desk

Texas A&M University Executive Workshop: Managerial Leadership

SOLD OUT

This sessions aims at helping to clarify distinctions between supervisory and leadership behaviors that impact your ability to be more effective in your role. Leaders of all levels are invited to this session to walk away with practical tools for running meetings that are more effective, implementing continuous feedback with team members and driving your team towards results.

Fee: US $100

Registration fee includes coffee break and access to session materials. Registration is nonrefundable, but substitutions are allowed and space is limited.

Participation in this event is limited to 50 registrants. If you are already registered for the meeting, please log into the Registrant Portal and click Modify Your Order.

Special Networking Event: Street Art Street Food Tour  

SOLD OUT

To experience Austin, you don’t have to look much further than out of a window, in any, really every, area of town. The streets of Austin are lined with some of the most amazing art in the country only to be interrupted by the endless food trucks that dominate our culinary scene. On this fun tour, we’ll weave through the city showcasing the very best and most offbeat street art (not to be called graffiti!) while popping into a few food trucks to sample their delicious specialties. This detour gets you out of downtown and into the real neighborhoods to see and taste authentic Austin. This tour is a great opportunity to explore the lovely city of Austin while networking with other registrants.

Fee: US $115 

Registration is nonrefundable, but substitutions are allowed and space is limited.

This tour includes: Tour Guides, (2) food truck tastings (adds up to one meal), transportation to and from hotel, cooler with bottled water and ice, non-alcoholic beverages.

Texas A&M University Executive Workshop: Leadership and Behavioral Change

SOLD OUT

Substantive behavioral change is difficult to achieve, but critical for those on the leadership track. This session draws on the work of Marshall Goldsmith, widely recognized as one of America’s best executive coaches, to examine the typical “bad” behaviors of successful executives and how to turn those behaviors around. Attendees will gain practical insights on the connections between self-awareness, behavior, leadership and executive presence and how they can use those insights to be a more effective executive leader.

Fee: US $100

Registration fee includes coffee break and access to session materials. Registration is nonrefundable, but substitutions are allowed and space is limited.
Participation in this event is limited to 50 registrants. If you are already registered for the meeting, please log into the Registrant Portal and click Modify Your Order.

Off-site Volunteer Event: Central Texas Food Bank 

INTA remains committed to giving back to the local communities we visit. This year INTA is collaborating with the Central Texas Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas. We ask that you make time in your schedule to join us as we help in preparing food donations for distribution and lending a hand in the kitchen. A leader in the fight against hunger for nearly 35 years, the Central Texas Food Bank’s mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger, brining 45 million meals to local families in need last year.

There is a nominal fee of $40 USD to participate (this fee covers transportation and a donation to the Food Bank) and attendance is limited. Pre-registration for this event is recommended.

Already registered for the Leadership Meeting? To add events, sessions, and guests to your registration, log into the Registrant Portal and click Modify Your Order on the top menu, and then click Add Guest/Session on the right menu.

Can’t attend this event in person? Please make an online donation instead! There are two ways to donate; add a donation to your registration order or donate online directly to the Central Texas Food Bank.

Registration is nonrefundable, but substitutions are allowed and space is limited.

Welcome and Awards Ceremony

Join us as INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo discusses the Association’s accomplishments and road ahead at the half-way point in the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, and as INTA President David Lossignol shares insights from the “Brands for a Better Society” initiative and discusses what it means to volunteer and do good in the world. This will be followed by the presentation of the President’s Award, INTA Service Awards, and Tomorrow’s Leader Awards.

The President’s Award recognizes exceptional INTA participants who, over the course of a career in trademark law, have made an outstanding contribution to trademark law and to the advancement of the Association.

The INTA Service Awards are given to individuals who, in a variety of ways, have provided exemplary volunteer service in advancing the objectives of the Association and the global trademark community during the past year.

Tomorrow’s Leader Awards are given to two outstanding young practitioners for their early leadership merit in the IP industry. The award was established to strengthen the recipients’ professional and personal development and to raise the recipients’ visibility as tomorrow’s leaders within the trademark community.

Featured Speaker
Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank (United States)
View full bio.

Welcome Address
Etienne Sanz de Acedo, International Trademark Association (United States)

President’s Report and Awards Presentation
David Lossignol, Novartis Pharma AG (Switzerland)

Welcome and Awards Reception

Join us in celebrating the INTA award winners and take the opportunity to network with colleagues over a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres before heading out to explore the vibrant city of Austin.

Registration and Informati0n Desk

Continental Breakfast

This breakfast is for registrants not participating in breakfast committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Breakfast will be served at committee meetings.

Co-Chairs’ Introduction of Program

The 2019 Leadership Meeting Co-Chairs welcome all registrants to Austin for the first time and give a brief overview of the programming and what to expect during the Meeting.

Co-Chairs:
Maria Laura Perna, Cervieri Monsuarez & Associates (Uruguay)
William D. Raman, Fleckman & McGlynn, PLLC (United States)

General Session 1
Free Trade Zones: A Potential Enabler for Illicit Trade?

Free trade zones (FTZs) are designated geographic areas within jurisdictions, in which incentives are offered to promote trade, foreign investment, and local employment. These incentives include exceptions on taxes and other duties on certain products and services; simplified administrative procedures; and the duty-free importation of raw materials, parts, equipment, and machinery.

However, while these incentives represent an opportunity for legitimate business, they also represent a unique opportunity for bad actors to perpetrate illegal activities such as contraband, counterfeiting, money laundering, and organized crime; all of which are possible due to the relaxed oversight and lack of transparency within the FTZs. In this session the speakers will cover the following:

• Identify main vulnerabilities at FTZs.
• Discuss recommendations on managing FTZs.
• Foster public-private partnership and collaboration.
• Advocate for more stringent regulations.

Moderator: 
Hernan Albamonte, Philip Morris International (United States)

Speakers:
Heike Bhonsle, Crocs, Inc. (United States)
Jeffrey P. Hardy, Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) (France)
David Luna, Luna Global Networks & Convergence Strategies LLC and Chair of the USCIB Anti-Illicit Trade (AIT) Committee (United States)

Concurrent Session 2
Effective Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Intellectual Property Departments

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are impacting trademark teams both in-house and within law firms. Speakers from both areas will dispel some of the myths surrounding AI while presenting a range of digital and AI innovations that are currently being developed and deployed in offices around the world. Speakers will look into the future and explore what skills trademark teams will be required to develop as we move into 2020 and beyond. The speakers will discuss the following and more:

• What AI tools are being developed and why?
• What specific problems will these new AI innovations solve?
• How do you identify which AI tools will work for your organization and clients?
• What AI toolkit is necessary for trademark practitioners when planning for the future.

Moderator:
Jayne McClelland, Syngenta Crop Protection AG (Switzerland)

Speakers: 
Christophe Mazenc, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (Switzerland)
David James Kappos, Cravath, Swaine & Moore (United States)

Concurrent Session 3
Iancu v. Brunetti: What the FUCT Comes Next? 

This session will examine the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Brunetti, which invalidated the Lanham Act Section 2(a) bar to registration of trademarks deemed scandalous and immoral. Speakers will discuss the parameters and consequences of the decision, and what the implications are for other provisions of the Lanham Act. Regulating trademarks based on morality is an issue not only in the U.S,. but also around the world. Accordingly, there will also be discussion of comparative provisions in various countries.

Speakers:
Megan Carpenter, University of New Hampshire (United States)
John R. Sommer, Stussy, Inc. (United States)

General Lunch 

This lunch is for registrants not participating in lunch committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Lunch will be served. See schedule for exact meeting times.

Concurrent Session 4
BREXIT Update

BREXIT has been top of mind and in the news for more than three years now, and the uncertainty around it has caused angst and a lot of confusion. As of October 31, 2019, the United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union, subject to the ongoing politics, and everyone is waiting to see how things will actually turn out. Speakers from around the world will discuss the what-ifs, the “what do we know?,” and even the “what do we do now?” of this timely topic.

Moderator:
Kate O’Rourke, Mewburn Ellis LLP (United Kingdom)

Speakers:
Laura Ganoza, Foley & Lardner LLP (United States)
Marion Heathcote, Davies Collison Cave (Australia)
Barry Gerber, Philip Morris Products S.A. (Switzerland)

Concurrent Session 5 
Sound and Motion Mark Examination at the USPTO—A Behind-the-Scenes Perspective from a Former Examining Attorney

Trademarks involving sound and motion were a “niche” market, largely inhibited by technological limitations at governmental IP agencies and characterized by a complete lack of regulatory guidance. Hear from the former USPTO Examining Attorney who spearheaded efforts to create clear and consistent policies and remove the technological restrictions at the USPTO and worldwide, allowing the number of filings of sound and motion marks to explode over the past decade. Questions will be taken from the audience about policy concerns and the technical limitation of sound and motion marks. This behind-the-scenes talk will include the following:

• A bit of history about the issues and concerns that emerged while developing USPTO policies for sound and motion marks
• A look at some of the more unique sound and motion mark applications over the past few years
• Insight into the USPTO decision-making process and how examination decisions of first impression can influence precedent going forward

Speaker:
Jason Blair, Fleckman & McGlynn, PLLC (United States)

Committee Meetings

Networking Reception

Join us for cocktails and a great opportunity to network with other volunteers.

Registration and Information Desk

Continental Breakfast

This breakfast is for registrants not participating in breakfast committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Breakfast will be served at committee meetings.

General Session 6
Leadership Lessons From The Emergence of South By Southwest: Austin’s Technology and Creative Arts Powerhouse

Few industries attract more visionary leaders or demand stronger leadership through volatile growth than the technology and creative arts fields.  Leadership lessons abound from the wild successes and spectacular failures from these industries.

Founded in 1987, Austin’s own South by Southwest (SXSW)has relied on visionary leadership to become a preeminent brand and platform of influence in the technology and creative arts industries. Over the years, it has earned a renowned reputation for its conferences and festivals that celebrate the convergence of leading minds in technology, interactive and digital media, film, and music—featuring such creative giants as Johnny Cash, Quentin Tarantino, and Mark Zuckerberg. Even President Barack Obama crashed the party in 2016.

Over the past 30 years, Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer (and second-ever employee) of SXSW has enjoyed a front-row seat to the explosion in popularity and influence of SXSW, as well as the city of Austin’s emergence as an arts and tech hub.  Hugh will share behind-the-scenes insights about the past, present, and future of SXSW and the city of Austin’s vibrant tech and arts scene, as well as war stories and leadership lessons learned from helping to build SXSW from the ground up.

General Session 7
Featured Speaker: Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy

Join us for a fireside chat with the esteemed Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus of Ogilvy—and Etienne Sanz de Acedo, CEO of INTA—as they explore Shelly’s many successes during her career, as well as her thoughts on building a powerful brand.

View full bio.

General Lunch

This lunch is for registrants not participating in lunch committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Lunch will be served. See schedule for exact meeting times.

Concurrent Session 8
Cannabis & Intellectual Property

The cannabis industry (marijuana and hemp) is quickly evolving and on the verge of becoming one of the major legal industries. Join our panel, consisting of an industry executive and experienced Canadian and U.S. attorneys, for an enlightening overview of the industry and its products, the legal landscape, and considerations and strategies for protecting intellectual property as the laws and industry evolve.

Moderator:
David W. Grace, Loeb & Loeb LLP (United States)

Speakers:
Roy McFarland, Flor Americas (United States)
Alison Hayman, Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP (Canada)

Concurrent Session 9
Global Perspectives from Women in the Law

INTA’s global membership comprises women from over 190 countries. As such, INTA is uniquely situated to be a thought leader on the myriad of diverse issues which continue to challenge women working in the law. These challenges present themselves regardless of whether that woman is working in an In-House role, in Big Law, Boutique, Academic, Judicial, Governmental, NGO or other legal environment. Please join us for a provocative panel discussion between leaders in the industry from different walks of life including an INTA past president, a sole practitioner and a former lawyer and now legal writer.

Moderator:
Keri Johnston, Johnston Law (Canada)

Speakers:
Vivia Chen, The American Lawyer (United States)
Toe Su Aung, Elipe Limited (United Kingdom)
Ronit Barzik-Soffer, Reinhold Cohn Group (Israel)

Committee Meetings

See schedule for exact meeting times.

Political Action Committee (PAC) Reception
(Open only to non-corporate registrants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.)    

Show your support for the International Trademark Association Political Action Committee (PAC) by attending this reception. A contribution for this event will be used to support the campaigns of U.S. federal candidates identified by the INTA PAC Board as having shared interests with the trademark community. INTA accepts both personal checks and those drafted from non-corporate INTA member firm accounts, as well as all major credit cards. Donations can also be made online before the reception.

Only non-corporate, non-reimbursed contributions to INTA PAC will be accepted. Contributions to INTA PAC are not deductible for income tax purposes.

Special Networking Event: Austin By Night 

SOLD OUT

Discover the best of Austin in just one evening with your colleagues from around the world. This customized tour is great for getting exactly what you want from a night out and we will experience the top three things the city is most known for :

• Craft beer tasting at a local brewery.
• BBQ dinner at a local restaurant.
• Live music show

PRICING

$145 USD per person. Registration is nonrefundable, but substitutions are allowed and space is limited.
This tour includes: Tour guides, transportation to and from hotel, BBQ dinner, (1) beer tasting per person, and music cover charge.

Registration and Information Desk

Continental Breakfast

This breakfast is for registrants not participating in breakfast committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Breakfast will be served at committee meetings.

Co-Chairs’ Overview of the Day

Co-Chairs:
Maria Laura Perna, Cervieri Monsuarez & Associates (Uruguay)
William D. Raman, Fleckman & McGlynn, PLLC (United States)

Concurrent Session 10
Online Counterfeiting: Connecting the Online World with the Offline World

In the global environment, the sale of counterfeit goods remains a significant issue plaguing oblivious consumers and brand owners in all industries. By 2022, the total estimated value of counterfeit and pirated goods including digital piracy is projected to reach an astounding $1.90 trillion–2.81 trillion. So even though we may all still live in the real world, there is no shortage of online crime. Speakers will share their experiences with this pervasive topic and ways to mitigate risk, including:

• The importance of sharing knowledge and data
• Alignment of online strategies with offline implementation
• Bringing together people from different backgrounds to develop your strategy (investigator, lawyer/litigator, data analyst)
• The importance of technology vs. manual efforts; online vs. offline

Moderator:
Jana Miles Paskova, Pointer Brand Protection & Research (Netherlands)

Speakers:
Marianne Hoekstra, Secrid BV (Netherlands)
Kaleigh Miller, Amazon.com, Inc. (United States)
Eric Hawk, JT International (United States)     

Concurrent Session 11
INTA Influencers

Hear from some of INTA’s experienced leaders as they share personal stories about their careers, experiences, and interests beyond trademarks. These concise and compelling talks on topics that are meaningful to them will motivate and inspire your own personal and professional growth.

Growing a Brand as a Law Firm

Peter Dernbach, Winkler Partners (Taiwan) is Coordinating Partner at the first law firm in Taiwan approved to operate as a partnership between Taiwanese and foreign attorneys, where he heads the IP practice. Having spent 20 years living in Taiwan, Peter speaks fluent Mandarin and has been active in numerous committees at INTA, currently leading the Programming Advisory Council and serving on the Brands and Innovation Committee. Over his 20 years as a member, he has also served on the Board of Directors between 2015 and 2017 and co-chaired the Annual Meeting held in Orlando, Florida. Peter will share his experience with developing a brand specifically at a law firm, sharing the importance of creating a mission your colleagues can believe in and the various elements needed to then incorporate that mission and culture into the way you work every day.

The Importance of Brands: From Your Favorite Brand to Your Personal Brand

J. Scott Evans, ADOBE INC. (United States), past INTA President and seasoned, dedicated volunteer who has supported INTA since his first Annual Meeting in Seattle in 1994. J. Scott is passionate about his work, life and brands and is excited to share that passion with the audience as he explores the importance of brands and what they mean to him.

The Personal and Professional Transformation that INTA Makes Possible

Shwetasree Majumder, Fidus Law Chambers (India) is a long-term, active INTA member, beginning on her volunteer path as a committee member in 2005. She has held several leadership roles in committees, and has also led Project Teams, the Global Advisory Council for India, and most recently a Presidential Task Force. Shwe became the first woman from her country to serve on the INTA Board of Directors. Shwe will share her personal and professional transformation that INTA has made possible as she has built in her career inside and outside of INTA.

General Session 12
Clearing Conflicts in a Globalized World: Why Can’t We Be Friends?

A seasoned panel of outside and in-house counsel will discuss the complex situation of conflicts of interest and will share their experience in dealing with conflicts from different perspectives and the resulting ethical considerations.

Speakers will address the following topics:

• Different type of conflicts
• What the rules say and how law firms handle it
• How law firms keep track and manage conflicts
• The issue in full-service law firms and IP boutiques
• The in-house approach
• Best practices and ethical considerations

Moderator: 
Martin Chajchir, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal (Argentina)

Speakers:
Huib Berendschot, AKD (Netherlands)
Ian Drew, Davies Collison Cave (Australia)
Sharon C. Sorkin, Ford Motor Company (United States)

General Lunch

This lunch is for registrants not participating in lunch committee meetings.

Committee Meetings

Lunch will be served. See schedule for exact meeting times.

Concurrent Session 13
Hot Topics and Current Issues in Copyright Law in the United States, the European Union, and Canada

Comprehensive brand protection requires at least a working knowledge of areas of law beyond trademark, especially copyright law. This session will provide an overview of hot topics and current issues in copyright law in the United States, Canada and the European Union, including:

• The EU copyright directive
• Implications of recent U.S. Supreme Court copyright decisions
• Content protection and enforcement

Moderator:
Noel Cook, Hanson Bridgett LLP (United States)

Speakers:
Casey Chisick, Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP (Canada)
Carrie Hefte, Wells Fargo Law Department (United States)
Axel Nordemann, Boehmert & Boehmert (Germany)

Concurrent Session 14
Avoiding Design Patent Procurement and Enforcement Errors

Protection of design patents and design registrations is relatively easy. However, mistakes are routinely made impacting the design right or the ability to enforce it. Mistakes are also made in design enforcement efforts. The session will focus on highlighting the errors and providing tips on how to avoid them.

Moderator:
Robert Katz, Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. (United States)

Speakers:
Toyotaka Abe, TMI Associates (Japan)
David Stone, Allen & Overy LLP (United Kingdom)
Tracy-Gene G. Durkin, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.  (United States)

Closing Cocktails

Take advantage of one last chance to network and spend time with colleagues while having a cocktail and enjoying hors d’oeuvres before heading off to enjoy the nightlife of Austin.