An Intimate Meeting in the ‘Big Easy’: Interview with the 2024 Leadership Meeting Co-Chairs

Eryck Castillo, Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff S.C. (Mexico)

This year’s 2024 Leadership Meeting is taking place from November 12 to 15 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA—an ever-popular destination for INTA events. The Meeting provides an opportunity for members who serve on committees to deepen their involvement with the Association and participate in critical conversations to help shape the future of the intellectual property (IP) landscape, as well as make meaningful connections and build relationships with fellow registrants through a robust slate of Business Development (BD) opportunities.

Amanda Quinn, Fanatics, Inc. (USA)

Eryck Castillo, a senior partner at Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff S.C. (Mexico), and Amanda Quinn, Director of Trademark and Brand Protection at Fanatics, Inc. (USA), are the 2024 Leadership Meeting co-chairs. In a conversation with the INTA Bulletin, they preview some of the highlights of the Meeting’s educational program, provide their tips for first-time registrants, and share information about some of the culture and cuisine they’re looking forward to experiencing in New Orleans.

What are some of the key issues and hot topics that registrants can look forward to exploring as part of the educational program at the 2024 Leadership Meeting?
Amanda Quinn: We have a great lineup of sessions planned that hit on several relevant and timely topics. This includes a session called Policy Perspectives: Elections and the Impact on the Global Intellectual Property Landscape, which covers how elections can shape and affect IP policies. There are several major elections happening in different jurisdictions this year, so it felt important to discuss how potential political shifts could bring changes to the IP landscape, especially in regard to regulation, cross-border enforcement, international treaties, and harmonization.

Another highlight is Green Gambits: Unfair Competition in the Eco-Friendly Era, which is about sustainability. There are also sessions on hot topics such as trade secrets and the implications of the 2024 U.S. Federal Circuit Court decision in LKQ v. GM. And, of course, several sessions will look at the intersection of AI and IP in different ways. The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative is also hosting an Idea Exchange on how our community can refocus efforts to help young women leaders advance and succeed. There’s a lot more! I’m very excited about this year’s lineup.

The full program is available on the INTA website. I recommend that registrants review the program now, add sessions to their schedules early, and add your meetings around those sessions. This way, you don’t end up with conflicts and having to spend time rescheduling or missing out on this world-class education.

What differentiates the Leadership Meeting from other INTA events, including the Annual Meeting? What makes the Leadership Meeting special?
Eryck Castillo: The Leadership Meeting is much more intimate than the Annual Meeting, which means that while you may have fewer friends or clients attending, you may get to spend more time with the people you do connect with, whether you’re attending sessions or exploring the city together. There’s less rushing around. You can relax and have a cup of coffee with a client without having to worry about getting to your next meeting on time because most of the registrants are in the same hotel. This more intimate, relaxed environment also frees up your mind to focus on the educational sessions, so you retain more information, too.

AI has been a topic of much discussion at recent INTA events. What new perspectives will the 2024 Leadership Meeting provide on AI?
AQ: We have a few sessions planned around AI that delve into different aspects of practice. The first one, A Comparative Review of the Interplay Between Copyright and AI in Various Jurisdictions, will provide international perspectives on how different markets are applying copyright protection to AI.

We’ll follow up that session with Fighting Online Scams in the AI Era, which will look at the topic through the lens of enforcement and ethical considerations.

Then the final session of the program will cover Ethical and Practical Considerations for Incorporating AI Technologies in Your Trademark Practice. We asked ChatGPT to describe this session. It said the following: “This ‘101’ introduction focuses on the ethical issues that arise when new AI technologies are introduced into the legal field. Unlike other sessions that explore the intersection of AI and intellectual property, our program addresses the practical and ethical implications of integrating AI tools into daily legal practice.” Thanks, ChatGPT!

I’m excited for registrants to get a chance to participate in these in-depth discussions. AI is still a developing technology. Jurisdictions around the world are approaching it in different ways and interpreting copyright laws in different fashions. It’s important when we come together as a community to take time to listen to various perspectives so we can all stay on top of this changing landscape.

INTA’s ever-popular Leadership Labs will be back at this year’s Meeting. What are the unique benefits to taking a Leadership Lab halfway through a committee term? Who would benefit from attending a Leadership Lab?
EC: Leadership Labs present a great opportunity to learn about how to be a leader, not only in your committee, but back home at your own firm. The first time I attended one, I went in thinking I already knew a lot about leadership. But, as I listened to other registrants share their experiences, I realized that there were many things I hadn’t thought of before, especially when it came to how to interact with fellow committee members and effectively exchange ideas. These are great tools to learn that will strengthen your committee work as you move into the second half of the term and in your day-to-day work at your firm. They are a great feature of the Leadership Meeting.

The Leadership Meeting provides a rare and important opportunity for committees to gather in person. What are your tips for registrants attending their first in-person committee meeting?
AQ: As Eryck alluded to earlier, the Leadership Meeting is an intimate gathering. My advice is to make the most of that opportunity to learn and to develop deeper connections. Go to the sessions, make a new friend, enjoy the chance to focus on learning and professional development. The Leadership Meeting brings some of our global community’s brightest and most passionate brand professionals together. Lean into the opportunity to immerse yourself in all things IP. The same can be said about the committee meetings too—they’re great opportunities not only to advance your committee’s work but to network, engage, and learn.

Indeed, one of the most important things you can do at the Leadership Meeting is to play an active role at your committee meeting. Raise your hand. Speak up and share your ideas, even if you’re a first-time committee member who feels intimidated by all the knowledgeable veterans in the room. Those veterans who have been serving on the committee for a while will be eager to hear your fresh perspective. They’re counting on you to bring new, creative ideas and keep the discussion going. We need you!

The Meeting’s program will feature Capsule Keynote speakers who are local to New Orleans. What will registrants traveling from around the globe gain from these localized discussions? EC: The Project Team is working hard to confirm speakers from the New Orleans area to share their unique, local perspectives with registrants. We can’t wait to announce some great speakers soon. One Capsule Keynote session we have already announced is From Fire to Flavor: Nurturing and Growing TABASCO’s 150+ Year Legacy, a fireside chat with Hadiya Claxton (Chief Legal Officer & Global General Counsel) and Kate Neuhaus (Director of Global Marketing Communications) of the McIlhenny Company, the makers of TABASCO products. That’s a Louisiana-based brand that is sold worldwide. They’re going to talk to us about their experience in keeping their brand top of mind with consumers all over the world and creating a global legacy for a brand that is so specific to this local culture.

We hope to be able to announce more speakers soon who will speak to different aspects of brands and New Orleans culture.

New Orleans is historically one of the most popular locations for an INTA Meeting. What Business Development (BD) excursions would you recommend to registrants looking to make the most of their time in the host city?
AQ: There are so many good ones. The Garden District & Cemetery Expedition is a great tour, even though it may sound unusual to tour a cemetery. I did it several years ago and it was awesome.

Boo’s Tour: All About Ghosts is also right up my alley. New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in the U.S., so it will be fun to explore those spooky vibes.

New Orleans has so much amazing food that any culinary experience in that city is bound to be a good one. No matter what your interests, there’s something for everyone in terms of BD excursions at this Meeting. Everyone should look at the offerings and try at least one.

EC: In addition to the BD excursions that Amanda pointed out, there’s a lot going on in the city around the Meeting that I’m looking forward to. As a huge football fan, I’m excited that the local NFL team, the New Orleans Saints, will be playing on November 10 and 17. I’m planning to arrive in town early and stay late to catch both games. I encourage everyone to stick around if they can and enjoy everything this amazing city has to offer.

What is one local dish you are looking forward to sampling while in New Orleans?
AQ: Definitely the beignets and chicory coffee!

EC: I would like to try a seafood boil, where they just load up your table with seafood, sausage, corn, and potatoes that you eat with your hands. It looks like a good time.

Learn more and register for the 2024 Leadership Meeting.

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