Ayala Deutsch of NBA Properties, Inc. to Deliver Keynote Speech at INTA’s Upcoming TMAP Meeting in Philadelphia

New York, New York—June 27, 2024—The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce that Ayala Deutsch, Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at NBA Properties, Inc., (USA), will be the keynote speaker for its 2024 Trademark Administrators and Practitioners Meeting (TMAP), taking place on September 22–24, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

TMAP is the premier event for trademark administrators, paralegals, young practitioners, and attorneys who manage global trademark portfolios. The Meeting affords professionals the opportunity to grow skills, develop connections, and emerge with knowledge of the key developments in trademark law, best practices in brand protection, and benchmark themselves and their organizations against others in the intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.

As Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at NBA Properties, Inc., Ms. Deutsch is responsible for managing commercial legal affairs and IP matters for the NBA and its affiliated leagues, including the global acquisition, protection and enforcement of IP rights belonging to the NBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the NBA G League, the NBA 2K League, the Basketball Africa League, and their respective teams.

On top of a long and illustrious career, including more than 25 years at the NBA, Ms. Deutsch has served as INTA’s 2020 President and in many other volunteer roles within the Association. She is currently Secretary of the INTA Foundation and Executive Champion for INTA’s Women’s LeadershIP Initiative. She is an expert in trademark law, copyright law, and technology law and a revered thought leader within the global IP community on a range of related matters, including artificial intelligence; corporate social responsibility; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Among her accolades, Ms. Deutsch was the 2021 recipient of World Trademark Review’s In-house Leader of the Year Award. More recently, she was selected as one of four 2024 WISE (Women in Sports and Events) Women of the Year honorees.

During her keynote address, Ms. Deutsch will share her insights on leadership, resilience, and the power of embracing change in a dynamic world. Among other pertinent topics, she will discuss the technological shifts being ushered in by AI, the challenges of operating in a world with volatile geopolitics, and the impact on brands of societal expectations and transformation—from climate action to social justice and post-pandemic work and life integration.

“Gone are the days when brand professionals—including trademark administrators and others managing global trademark portfolios—could go about their daily work in a vacuum, unaffected by everything going on in the world around us,” said Ms. Deutsch. “Brands increasingly are impacted by major world events and brand professionals are most effective when they understand these issues, seek to expand their knowledge, and hone the skills needed to navigate this complex landscape. TMAP is designed to facilitate professional growth in this way and I’m excited to participate in this year’s program.”

TMAP’s extensive educational program also features more than 30 speakers—including from major brands such as Amazon.com, AstraZeneca, The Chemours Company, NBC Universal Media, Netflix, PwC, QVC, and Worldpay. Speakers will discuss hot button topics, including artificial intelligence; geopolitics; influencers; licensing; and name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.

“TMAP is more than a conference; it’s a platform for professional growth, networking; and staying on top of industry trends,” said TMAP Co-Chair Leyla Harper-Dominique (Ideas Trademarks and Patents, Haiti). “Apart from its educational aspect, the intimate atmosphere of TMAP, with its smaller, more focused attendance, fosters meaningful relationships among individuals who share a common passion for IP.”

The educational program will be complemented by a variety of business development activities that showcase the host city. “Philadelphia is a world-class venue with a dynamic blend of historical landmarks and modern cultures, making it the ideal destination to host this year’s TMAP Meeting,” said TMAP Co-Chair Kathy Merlino (Cozen O’Connor, USA). “The City of Brotherly Love awaits this year’s registrants to inspire creativity and growth, to cultivate collaboration amongst peers, and to build and strengthen long-term professional relationships.”

Learn more and register for the 2024 TMAP Meeting. Early-bird registration is open through Friday, June 28.

About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. Members include nearly 6,400 organizations, representing more than 36,000 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 181 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Amman, Nairobi, and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

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