Schedule

IPO of the Future: Perspective from Europe

Hear from Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) from this region as they reflect upon their roles in the future, based on the IPO of the Future Report.

The Report, published by INTA, represents the independent views of former and current heads of IPOS from Australia, Canada, Chile, EPO, France, India, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States. The Report provides a thought-provoking reflection on the roles IPOs might endorse in the next ten years.

Expect discussions— led by IPOs with IPOs—on upcoming challenges and opportunities that IPOs face in this region, and their evolving roles.

Learn what IPOs have in the pipeline that might impact your portfolio of IP rights and your practice. Get a step up on understanding what’s changing for IPOs and how they plan to adapt to a challenging world.

Moderator:

• Hélène Nicora, Chief Representative Officer Europe, International Trademark Association (Belgium)

Speakers:

• Professor Doctor Habip Asan, President, Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (Turkey)
• Pascal Faure, Director General, French National Institute for Industrial Property (France)
• José Antonio Gil Celedonio, Director, Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office (Spain)
• Kathrine Myhre, General Director, Norwegian Industrial Property Office (Norway)

This regional dialogue is restricted to IPOs and current members of INTA Advocacy Committees.

Committee Meetings

Board of Directors Meeting

Leadership Bootcamp Session 1: Empower Your Team

Respect, trust, and vision are all key components to empowering a team. Guy Masterson, an award-winning British actor, writer, director, producer, and playwright, will share his experiences in the theatrical world in leading teams to produce shows that audiences love. Drawing from his diverse experience, Guy will share practical leadership tips and takeaways that apply well beyond theater. The session will feature an interactive breakout session where each participant will explore scenarios that a leader may encounter, to test approaches for empowering team members to achieve their goals.

This event is invitation only.

Speed Networking Session 1

Speed networking is a great way to expand your network and develop new business relationships. Get to know colleagues from around the world with fun questions to “break the ice” and the great conversations that follow. When the time is up, you will not believe how many connections you have made before the full program has even started.

Committee Meetings

Leadership Bootcamp Session 2: Empower Your Team

Respect, trust, and vision are all key components to empowering a team. Guy Masterson, an award-winning British actor, writer, director, producer, and playwright, will share his experiences in the theatrical world in leading teams to produce shows that audiences love. Drawing from his diverse experience, Guy will share practical leadership tips and takeaways that apply well beyond theater. The session will feature an interactive breakout session where each participant will explore scenarios that a leader may encounter, to test approaches for empowering team members to achieve their goals.

This event is invitation only.

Speed Networking Session 2

Speed networking is a great way to expand your network and develop new business relationships. Get to know colleagues from around the world with fun questions to “break the ice” and the great conversations that follow. When the time is up, you will not believe how many connections you have made before the full program has even started.

Committee Office Hours

Hear firsthand from INTA staff liaisons about committees’ objectives, and where your expertise and skills might align with committee projects. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance on your committee selections for the next committee term.

Welcome Reception: Show Your Spirit

We know all about the famous Mexican tequilas, Scotch whisky, Russian vodkas, and the many different rums of the Caribbean. But are there any spirits from your country we might not know about that are a must-try? Take a seat, have a sip, and show us your best spirits!

If spirits are not your thing, bring your country’s best bottle of beer, wine, or any other beverages you want to show off. Let’s hear about them all!

Committee Meetings

Welcome & Opening Ceremonies

Speakers:

• Laura Ganoza, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP (USA)
• Lisa Ritchie, Senior Counsel (Trademarks, Copyrights & Designs) Philip Morris Products S.A. (Switzerland)
• Etienne Sanz de Acedo, CEO, International Trademark Association (USA)
• Tiki Dare, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Oracle Corporation (USA), 2021 INTA President

General Session 1—LEAD: Leadership Through Disruptive Times

Each business may be faced with disruptive challenges. The automotive industry pivoting to new product lines in a pandemic. The Cryptocurrency Market is shaping the future of how we make and accept payments. Leading effectively through changing times takes strategy, adaptability, and guts. Our speakers are team champions who try new things and aren’t afraid to fail. Join these leaders as they share what they have witnessed and implemented, and the influence change has on how they lead.

Moderator:

Ulrich Kreutzer, Managing Partner, CBDL Patentanwaelte (Germany)

Speakers:

Jim Baumbick, Vice President, Enterprise Product Line Management, Strategy, and Planning, Ford Motor Company (USA)

Kirupa Pushparaj, Deputy Counsel, Head of Intellectual Property and Legal Operations, Square (USA)

This session is planned by the Leadership Development Committee.

Board of Directors Meeting

Committee Meetings

Speed Networking Session 3

Speed networking is a great way to expand your network and develop new business relationships. Get to know colleagues from around the world with fun questions to “break the ice” and great conversations that follow. When the time is up, you will not believe how many connections you have made.

General Session 2—The Brands, They Are a-Changin’: Brand Relevance in Today’s Culturally Shifting Marketplace

Brand relevance is determined by consumer demands and desires. Marketplace changes are de rigueur for the brand legal practitioner; however, the last few years have seen seismic marketplace changes as never before. As brands navigate societal and economic shifts, how can they remain relevant and resilient at the same time?

Hear from legal experts as they strategize to bring consumers on the brand transformation journey. The panel will address a cross-section of issues including:

• Evolving brand protection strategies. How do we to adapt to new filings, cancellations, and trademark maintenance?
• Brand rehabilitation strategies and risk management, especially when the reputational risk is caused by external and unavoidable forces Can goodwill in the original brand travel to today’s brand?
• Rebranding approaches in a scenario where the reputational risk is propelled by social movement or the simple need to modernize. How can we navigate a conversation on whether a brand should be “saved”?

Moderator:

• Barbara Barron Kelly, Vice President of North America Account Management, Corsearch (USA)

Speakers:

• Josh Burke, Senior Trademark and Copyright Counsel, General Mills, Inc. (USA)
• Mary Leheny, Associate General Counsel, Global Head of Trademarks and Domain Names, Verizon Media (USA)
• Stu Seltzer, President, Seltzer Licensing (USA)

Leadership Lab 1

Join this interactive session to have candid conversations with committee and subcommittee leaders, share your best practices on what is working well in your committee, how you identify and support rising stars, and learn more about the leadership opportunities within INTA. This session is open to committee chairs, vice-chairs and subcommittee chairs. Please review the available times and plan to attend a session.

This Lab is only available to committee chairs, vice chairs, and subcommittee chairs.

Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings

Wellness Wednesday

It’s more important than ever these days to dedicate some time to moving your body, clearing your mind, and relaxing. Start, end, or take a mid-day break with us in our Wellness Wednesday session!

Leadership Lab 2

Join this interactive session to have candid conversations with committee and subcommittee leaders, share your best practices on what is working well in your committee, how you identify and support rising stars, and learn more about the leadership opportunities within INTA. This session is open to committee chairs, vice-chairs and subcommittee chairs. Please review the available times and plan to attend a session.

This Lab is only available to committee chairs, vice chairs, and subcommittee chairs.

Co-Chairs Introductions of Program, followed by:

General Session 3—IP Enforcement Strategies: How to Demonstrate Value to the Business

The proliferation and complexity of counterfeits is an ever-growing challenge for brand owners and effective enforcement measures require collaboration and proactivity. Companies need best in class—and evolving—IP enforcement strategies to maintain consumer trust, ensure product safety, and avoid brand value erosion. This is more imperative than ever in a global landscape where concerns over medical supplies and vaccine integrity enhance the need for robust brand protection programs.

With budgets tighter than ever, this session will explore how companies can demonstrate the importance and value of a robust enforcement program to the C-Suite, how key performance indicators necessarily differ between industry sectors, and whether in some sectors it might be appropriate to consider the return on investment or even profit generation to optimize an enforcement strategy. The panel will provide in-house perspectives from two different sectors, plus the view from private practice.

Moderator:

• Jenny Barker, Director, Global Anti-Counterfeiting, GSK (UK)

Speakers:

• Stanislas Barro, Global Head of Anti-Falsified Medicines, Novartis International AG (Switzerland)
• Daniel McKinnon, Head of Global Brand Protection, New Balance Athletics, Inc. (USA)
• Jeremy Newman, Global Head of Rouse Consultancy, Rouse (UK)

Committee Meetings

General Session 4—Financial Literacy: What Every Brand Lawyer Needs to Know

Successful brand legal practitioners have a deep knowledge of the legal issues facing brand owners today but also have excellent communication skills, marketplace knowledge, and financial literacy to translate the power of brands to dollars and cents. We regularly talk about brand valuation and evaluation but translating the economics of brands to the business teams is a challenge to many brand legal practitioners.

This session will provide practical tips and vital information to enhance a brand legal practitioner’s financial literacy but also, provide a roadmap to integrating this information with risk analysis in merger and acquisition analysis, clearance and enforcement advice, tax implications and much more.

Moderator:

•  Marissa Lasso de La Vega, Partner, Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramirez (Panama)

Speakers:

• Gustavo Giay, Partner, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal (Argentina)
• David Haigh, CEO, Brand Finance plc (UK)
• Debra Hughes, Assistant General Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (USA)

Build Your Professional Profile

Take advantage of this session to learn some fundamental skills that could help you reach your business goals: financial literacy, how to leverage LinkedIn to grow your network, and how to showcase your skills and experience effectively on your resume. Walk away with tools and tips to help you build your professional profile.

• Financial Literacy: 1:00 pm–2:00pm EDT
• LinkedIn and Resume Building: 2:00 pm–3:00 pm EDT

Leadership at Your Level: Keep Calm and Carry On

Deadlines, projects, and responsibilities can result in stress for both supervisors and reporting employees. Join this session to learn from leadership expert Amanda Bell as she and the panel explore some demanding workplace scenarios and review how courage and competency can help manage those stressful situations.

Moderator:

• Amanda Bell, Consultant, Vantage Consulting (USA)

Speakers:

• Julie Brown, IP Systems and Docketing Operations Manager, Mars, Inc. (USA)
• John Christopher, Attorney, Christopher & Weisberg P.A. (USA)
• Jill Goldman, Vice President and Senior Counsel II, Intellectual Property & Contracts, American Bankers Association (USA)

This session was developed by the Leadership Development Committee.

IPO of the Future: Perspective from Latin America

Hear from Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) from this region as they reflect upon their roles in the future, based on the IPO of the Future Report.

The Report, published by INTA, represents the independent views of former and current heads of IPOS from Australia, Canada, Chile, EPO, France, India, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States. The Report provides a thought-provoking reflection on the roles IPOs might endorse in the next ten years.

Expect discussions— led by IPOs with IPOs—on upcoming challenges and opportunities that IPOs face in this region, and their evolving roles.

Learn what IPOs have in the pipeline that might impact your portfolio of IP rights and your practice. Get a step up on understanding what’s changing for IPOs and how they plan to adapt to a challenging world.

Moderator:

• Joel Talavera, Director Nacional de la Dirección Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual del Paraguay (Paraguay)
• Fabiola Varela, Directora General del Registro Nacional de la Propiedad Intelectual de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)

This regional dialogue is restricted to IPOs and current members of INTA Advocacy Committees.

Political Action Committee (PAC) Reception

This event is invitation only.

Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings

IPO of the Future: Perspective from Asia-Pacific

Hear from Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) from this region as they reflect upon their roles in the future, based on the IPO of the Future Report.

The Report, published by INTA, represents the independent views of former and current heads of IPOS from Australia, Canada, Chile, EPO, France, India, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States. The Report provides a thought-provoking reflection on the roles IPOs might endorse in the next ten years.

Expect discussions— led by IPOs with IPOs—on upcoming challenges and opportunities that IPOs face in this region, and their evolving roles.

Learn what IPOs have in the pipeline that might impact your portfolio of IP rights and your practice. Get a step up on understanding what’s changing for IPOs and how they plan to adapt to a challenging world.

This regional dialogue is restricted to IPOs and current members of INTA Advocacy Committees.

Moderator:

• Zeeger Vink, Intellectual Property Director, MF BRANDS GROUP (Switzerland)

Speakers:

• Sungho Mok, Director General, Trademark & Design Examination Bureau, Korean Intellectual Property Office (Korea)
• Hrishikesh Desai, General Manager, Trade Marks and Designs Group, IP Australia (Australia)
• Isabelle Tan, Director of Registry of Trade Marks, The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Singapore)

This event is only open to IPOs and current INTA Advocacy Group Committee members. 

Committee Office Hours

Hear firsthand from INTA staff liaisons about committees’ objectives, and where your expertise and skills might align with committee projects. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance on your committee selections for the next committee term.

Co-Chairs, Introduction of Program, followed by:

Fireside Chat with INTA’s Foundation Board of Governors

Join Tiki Dare, President of the International Trademark Association, and members of INTA’s Foundation Board of Governors as they discuss the relaunch and mission of the INTA Foundation. Learn why expanding educational and professional development opportunities in intellectual property for diverse, underrepresented populations around the world is so important.

Moderator:

• Tiki Dare, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Oracle Corporation (USA), 2021 INTA President

Speakers:

• Toe Su Aung, Co-Founder and Director, Elipe Limited (UK)
• Larisa Colton, Trademark Counsel, Yum! Brands (USA)
• Ayala Deutsch, Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, NBA Properties, Inc. (USA)
• Debra Hughes, Assistant General Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (USA)

General Session 5—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How to Level Out a Tilted Playing Field

In 2015, research by the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University found that the hiring decisions at 40 top financial and law firms had more to do with the interviewer’s similarity to the candidate than the candidate’s qualifications. Given that people of color, women, and other diverse groups are often underrepresented at senior levels, this affinity bias risks entrenching opportunity gaps. How far have we pushed the needle in the last six years? Learn from this panel of diversity and inclusion champions from a broad spectrum of roles and backgrounds on what steps corporations and law firms can take to level out this tilted playing field.

Moderator:

• Laura Ganoza, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP (USA)

Speakers

• Joy Monahan, Associate Director, Legal Diversity & Outside Counsel Programs, AbbVie (USA)
• Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Foley & Lardner LLP (USA)

Committee Meetings

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop

We heard from our speakers in the previous session about the different ways corporations and law firms can take action to level the playing field—but now, the floor is yours. Join us as we learn and share with each other our lived experiences, and how we can better promote allyship and accountability in the workplace.

General Session 6—Following, Leading, or Disrupting: Influencers, Creators, and Communities: What’s Now and What’s Next?  

Traditionally, celebrity endorsements were the standard for brands to show their relevance and to grow their reputation (and sales), but as social media has overtaken other more traditional marketing and advertising channels, new voices are being listened to for news, buying decisions, boycotts, and more.

Who is the influencer today? From the organic to the sponsored, a panel of legal and business experts will walk through some recent issues with influencers and content creators. How can you stay ahead of the curve to protect your brand while the world is watching? Some issues to be addressed:

• As different social media platforms have grown in popularity (e.g., TikTok), what actions the legal practitioner needs to take to ensure brand integrity throughout various media.
• When working with an influencer/content creator, key tips and watchouts to creating the relationship—especially having an effective “out” clause that minimizes any reputational harm to brands.
• Effective social media guidelines and enforcement routines to effectively protect brand integrity.
• Advertising law obligations on transparency of paid sponsorship for celebrity influencers.

Moderator:

• Jessica Cardon, Deputy General Counsel, Parlux Holdings, Inc. (USA)

Speakers:

• Jake Feldman, Assistant General Counsel, Johnson & Johnson (USA)
• Michelle Mancino Marsh, Partner, Arent Fox LLP (USA)
• Olaf Wolters, Director Integrity & Compliance, TUI Group AG (Germany)

Leadership Lab 3

Join this interactive session to have candid conversations with committee and subcommittee leaders, share your best practices on what is working well in your committee, how you identify and support rising stars, and learn more about the leadership opportunities within INTA. This session is open to committee chairs and vice-chairs, subcommittee chairs. Please review the available times and plan to attend a session.

This Lab is only available to committee chairs, vice chairs, and subcommittee chairs

General Session 7—Building Our Future: How Brands Accelerate Sustainability

Consumers expect their brands to reflect their values. Brand owners can no longer focus solely on the sale of products and services but need to play a role in shaping a sustainable future for consumers, communities, and our planet. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Labs offer brands the opportunity to cooperate in the quest for practical solutions to the most pressing issues of our times, advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and leave their mark on these impactful projects.

Hear about how collaboration is key to the success of the Accelerator Lab projects and how participating brands benefit. Learn from a real-world partnership between the UNDP Accelerator Lab and a brand owner, and then listen in as leading experts discuss the right questions to ask, the relationships to build, and how to maintain and enhance brand reputation and consumer trust throughout the collaboration between public and private sector. Understand the new business reality: pursuing your passion for sustainability and reflecting the values of your customers helps grow not only your brand reputation but also your business. And walk away with a deeper understanding of the important role that brand legal teams play in supporting these collaboration projects including agreements, partnerships, and protection and enforcement of brand rights.

Moderator:

• Rachna Bakhru, Partner, RNA IP (India)

Speakers:

• Steve Beale, Trade Mark Counsel, Unilever P.L.C. (UK)
• Joseph D’Cruz, Special Advisor for Strategic Planning and Innovation, UN Development Programme (USA)
• Christopher George, Director of Trademarks & Brands, Intel Corporation, (USA)
• Marion Heathcote, Principal, Davies Collison Cave (Australia)
• Sungwon Jee, Vice President of Hyundai Brand Creative Works, Hyundai Motor Company (Korea)

INTA’s Talent Showcase

Join us as members of our global community thrill us with their unique skills and talents!

Committee Meetings

Group/Council Meetings

Leadership Lab 4

Join this interactive session to have candid conversations with committee and subcommittee leaders, share your best practices on what is working well in your committee, how you identify and support rising stars, and learn more about the leadership opportunities within INTA. This session is open to committee chairs and vice-chairs, subcommittee chairs. Please review the available times and plan to attend a session.

This Lab is only available to committee chairs, vice chairs, and subcommittee chairs.

General Session 8—Key Legislative Developments: A Year in Review 

The last year has seen some important developments in the legislative landscape for brands. Join our panelists for an update on the Trademark Modernization Act in the United States, key changes to Canada’s Trademark Act, and the draft Digital Services Act recently released in the EU. This session will explore the details of these major legal developments and their impact on your daily practice.

Moderator:

• Scott Woldow, Partner, Smith Gambrell & Russell (USA)

Speakers:

• Nick Bolter, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP (UK)
• Matt Frisbee, Senior Associate, Leason Ellis LLP (USA)
• Kelly Gill, Partner, Gowling WLG LLP (Canada)

General Session 9—Diving into the Unknown: Pivoting from a Trademark Counsel to a General Counsel

For many trademark in-house practitioners, the path to becoming a general counsel can be paved with challenges. Join three distinguished trademark practitioners who share their journeys, substantive and dynamic skills, and practical tips on successfully making this career transition.

Moderator:

• Jessica Cardon, Deputy General Counsel, Parlux Holdings, Inc. (USA)

Speakers:

• Lisa Keith, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Steve Madden Ltd. (USA)
• Jeremy Roe, General Counsel- US Commercial, Ferrero U.S.A. Inc. (USA)
• Tricia Thompkins, General Counsel, Shoe Show, Inc. (USA)

General Session 10—Ethical Considerations for Advertising in the Wild Wild West of Social Media

The internet of the 1990s was considered the “Wild West” for trademark professionals – it was a new frontier for commerce and one without established law. Social media did not even exist in those olden days, but it is now the latest territory where brands are able to roam. Beyond the bounds of trademark infringement, it raises a host of new ethical issues which affect brands and which should be of concern to trademark professionals like the obligation for truthfulness, the duty to maintain user privacy, and the need to respect consumer values. This session will address these issues and more, so that attendees will emerge with the understanding the ethical considerations necessary to successfully navigate the many lands of social media and protect the goodwill of their brands.

Moderator:

• Peter Sloane, Partner, Leason Ellis (USA)

Speakers:

• Rayna Lopyan, Counsel, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, P.C. (USA)
• Melissa Smith, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel, SmileDirectClub (USA)
• Justina Zhang, Senior Partner, TransAsia Lawyers (Beijing)

Closing Reception

Grab a drink to celebrate a successful meeting and take advantage of one last chance to network and spend time with colleagues!