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Elevating in-house IP: HLK hosts inaugural Trade Mark Conference

Last month we hosted HLK’s inaugural Trade Mark Conference at The Brewery in London.

This one day conference was exclusively for in-house teams to gain valuable insights, practical tips, and connect with industry peers. The focus of the conference was trade marks and “soft” IP, addressing the pressing topics that matter most to in-house teams.

Simon Malynicz KC stood at a lectern

We kicked off with a deep dive into recent trade mark law from Simon Malynicz KC. Described by directories as “probably the best counsel in the UK for trade marks”, Simon provided insight into numerous landmark cases including Tesco v Lidl and Sky v SkyKick.

Michael Conway, Roland Weede and Thomas Grimm sat on stage

Next, Thomas Grimm and Roland Weede, EUIPO practitioners from HLK’s Munich office, joined Michael Conway to discuss the key differences, challenges, and opportunities that have emerged as a result of divergence between the UK and EUIPO following Brexit.

Jason Dainty and Jonathan Kirk KC on stage behind a lectern

Joining HLK’s Jason Dainty to cover the little discussed area of comparative advertising, Jonathan Kirk KC shared his extensive knowledge as “the leader in big ticket consumer litigation”, according to directories.

Audience looking at Louise Perkin stood on stage

Wrapping up the morning, HLK’s commercial contracts expert Louise Perkin, delved into strategies for dealing with IP in commercial contracts including ownership, indemnities and the use of AI.

Amanda Mallon, Rosie Darcy, Veronica Shackleton and Alison Wood sat on stage

HLK’s Amanda Mallon welcomed Rosie Darcy (Legal Advisor at Nomad Foods Europe), Veronica Shackleton (Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at Mamas & Papas) and Alison Wood (General Counsel at Ascential) to address how in-house counsel manage trade marks and intellectual property.

Concluding the conference, Detective Sergeant Alan Yau from The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit provided an update on their important work with brand owners in the fight against IP crime and online piracy.

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference, we look forward to welcoming you to more HLK events, both online and in-person in the future!

This is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Should you require advice on this area, then please get in touch with one of our Trade Mark team or your usual HLK advisor.