Contributors

Jump to   -- select jurisdiction -- Australia Austria Benelux Bosnia-Herzegovina Canada Chile China Colombia Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador El Salvador European Union European Union/France Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Iran Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Malaysia Mexico Netherlands Antilles Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom United States Venezuela  
 

Australia

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Sean McManis

Since joining the firm in 1988, Sean McManis has practised in the United Kingdom and Australia in the field of intellectual property. He now heads the Trademarks and Branding team. He holds degrees in law and science (chemistry major), and has extensive experience in all areas of trademark and branding matters, including infringements, oppositions, removal actions, searching, licensing and portfolio management, as well as domain name management, dispute resolution and protection. The majority of his work involves the resolution of trademark disputes and the enforcement of IP rights.

Andrew Lockhart

Andrew Lockhart has been a trademark specialist with Shelston IP since 1998 and a partner since 2000. He holds degrees in law and science (biochemistry major), and is a registered Australian trademark attorney. He provides advice to clients in the areas of trademark protection, trademark searching, strategic trademark portfolio management, brand architecture and licensing. He is an experienced advocate in trademark oppositions, infringement and other actions. He has also completed a number of branding courses with the Australian Graduate School of Management and the University of Sydney.

 

Austria

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Alexander Cizek

Alexander Cizek was admitted to the New York Bar in 1996 and to the Austrian Bar in 2000. He has been a partner with DLA Weiss-Tessbach since 2001. He heads the IP team of DLA Weiss-Tessbach’s Vienna office and is also responsible for the IP practice in the firm’s Central and Eastern European offices. He specializes in all areas of IP law including trademarks, designs, patents, copyrights and unfair competition. His practice comprises prosecutions in the Austrian Patent Office and IP rights enforcement litigation in court, as well as licensing work.

 

Benelux

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Paul Steinhauser

Paul Steinhauser studied law at Nijmegen University and has been a member of the Bar since 1968. He is a former chairman and remains an honorary member of the Benelux Trademark and Design Law Association. He is currently a council member of MARQUES, the association of European trademark proprietors. He publishes articles regularly and gives lectures and courses on trademark and patent law. His services to the trademarks profession were recognized when he became a member of the ‘Committee of Eight’, the standing committee that advises the Dutch government on trademark law

Carja Mastenbroek

Carja Mastenbroek studied law at the University of Amsterdam. She has been a lawyer since 1999 and has been working at Steinhauser Hoogenraad Advocaten since 2002. She specializes in classic IP law, with an emphasis on trademark law, copyright and advertising. She also advises regularly on marketing and labelling of foods and health products. She is active in various national and international professional associations. She is a member of the Legislation Committee of the Benelux Trademark and Design Law Association and is secretary of the Unfair Competition Team of MARQUES.

 

Bosnia-Herzegovina

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Nedzida Salihovic

Nedzida Salihovic is an attorney at law admitted to practise in Bosnia- Herzegovina. She holds a master of law degree from UCONN School of Law, Hartford, United States. With more than 19 years of experience as a corporate lawyer, she specializes in international corporate law and mergers and acquisitions (including related fields such as due diligence). Ms Salihovic also regularly advises national and international clients on trademark law issues and represents them in proceedings before official authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She speaks Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and English.

 

Canada

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Colleen Spring Zimmerman

Colleen Spring Zimmerman is also a senior partner in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s IP and Technology group in Toronto. Her expertise includes advising on the IP aspects of transactions and due diligence, IP audits and the development of IP policies and strategies for protection and exploitation of IP assets. She handles many trademark prosecution and opposition matters. She has extensive IP litigation experience and has appeared in IP cases before the Federal Court of Canada, the Ontario courts and the Supreme Court of Canada.

 

Gordon J Zimmerman

Gordon J Zimmerman is a senior partner in the IP and Technology group in Toronto at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He graduated from the University of Waterloo in chemistry (Gold Medal for Science) and from the University of Toronto with an LLB. He is a registered patent and trademark agent and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in intellectual property. His areas of expertise include patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, licensing and related litigation. He has acted as counsel in IP cases in the Ontario and Federal Courts up to the Supreme Court of Canada.

 

Chile

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Sergio Amenábar V

Sergio Amenábar is senior partner in Estudio Federico Villaseca. He graduated from the Chilean Catholic University and was granted the title of lawyer by the Chilean Supreme Court. Mr Amenábar was president of the Inter-American Association of Industrial Property (ASIPI) from 1994 to 1997 and of the Chilean Association of Industrial Property (Chilean Group for AIPPI) from 1990 to 2003. As counsellor, he leads the administrative, contractual and litigation practice of the firm.

 

China

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Zhongqi Zhou

Zhongqi Zhou is a patent attorney and vice president of CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office. He graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering from Tianjin University in 1984 and a masters degree in law from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing in 1993. His practice focuses primarily on prosecution, enforcement and licensing of patents, trademarks and other IP rights. He has successfully represented many major corporations in patent prosecution and litigation. His responsibilities as vice president of the firm include the coordination of the firm’s trademark practice. He is also vice president of the China Trademark Association.

 

Colombia

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Carlos Humberto Palacio

Carlos Palacio is a partner at Brigard & Castro. He received his law degree from Universidad del Externado (Bogota), where he also obtained a postgraduate degree in intellectual property, copyright and new technologies. He was admitted to practise law in Colombia in 1992. His particular areas of expertise are commercial law, industrial property, copyrights and domain names. Mr Palacio is professor of business rights and commercial law at Universidad del Externado. He is a member of the Inter- American Association of Intellectual Property and the Colombian Association of Industrial Property. He is the author of El Fraude Informático and Software and Legal Protection. He is fluent in Spanish and English.

Maria Fernanda Castellanos

Maria Fernanda Castellanos is a senior associate with Brigard & Castro. She studied law at Colegio Mayor del Rosario where she obtained her JD and was admitted to practise law in Colombia in 1995. She also attended New York University where she obtained an LLM in general studies with a focus on intellectual property and antitrust. Ms Castellanos joined Brigard & Urrutia in 1996. She initially specialized in commercial and communications law and in 2000 she became the associate in charge of the IP Department. She became senior associate following the merger of Brigard & Castro and Brigard & Urrutia. She is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Laura Urrutia

Laura Urrutia is a junior associate in the litigation department of Brigard & Castro, where she deals with IP and unfair competition matters. She studied law at Los Andes University and is currently working on her thesis. Ms Urrutia clerked with Brigard & Urrutia and in 2003 she attended art history, French and literature courses at Parsons School of Design and New York University. Before joining Brigard & Castro, Ms Urrutia worked at a strategic communications firm where she dealt with crisis management, corporate communication strategies and M&A processes. She is fluent in Spanish, French and English.

 

Croatia

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Beata Glinska Kovac

Beata Glinska Kovac is a qualified Croatian solicitor with more than six years’ experience in project finance, real estate and general commercial law. Ms Glinska Kovac is also qualified and authorized to represent clients in IP matters, including trademark issues, with the competent Croatian authorities. Her practice includes both litigation and commercial advice in these areas.

 

Czech Republic

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Magdalena Hrdlickova

Magdalena Hrdlickova obtained her law degree from Charles University, Prague, in 1995; she did a postgraduate course in EU law at Europe College, University of Hamburg (1996), a postgraduate law course at Charles University (1995 to 1998) and a German law course at the University of Vienna and the University of Graz, Austria. Ms Hrdlickova is a qualified Czech solicitor. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, transport law and intellectual property. With almost 10 years’ legal experience, Ms Hrdlickova has been involved in a number of M&A and transport projects, and issues concerning IP protection in the Czech Republic. She represents both national and international clients.

 

Denmark

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Jeppe Brogaard Clausen

Jeppe Brogaard Clausen is the IP partner in MAQS Law Firm’s Copenhagen practice. He graduated from the University of Aarhus and obtained an LLM from the Katholische University Leuven in Belgium. He is the head of the MAQS international IP division covering offices in Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Estonia. MAQS IP has over the last few years increased its activities substantially to become a high-profile practice in anti-counterfeiting, custom and civil seizures work, assisting the world’s most wellknown brands. MAQS IP in Copenhagen assists in the largest number of customs seizures and civil seizures enforcing trademark rights in the region.

Hanne Weywardt

Hanne Weywardt is an attorney at MAQS Law Firm. She graduated from the University of Copenhagen. She deals with IP and commercial matters. Before joining MAQS, Ms Weywardt was employed as inhouse IP counsel and head of the trademark department of the internationally focused Scandinavian Tobacco Company A/S in Denmark. Ms Weywardt is a member of the MARQUES Council, chairman of the MARQUES publication and website team and a member of the council for the Danish Anticounterfeiting Group.

 

Ecuador

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Bruce Horowitz

Bruce Horowitz, a founding partner of PAZ HOROWITZ, manages the firm’s IP department and works on international franchising, international agency and distributorship, and anticorruption compliance matters. Mr Horowitz was born and raised in Ohio, United States, and is a graduate of Brandeis University (1970) and the New York University Law School (JD 1976). He was admitted to the Bar in Alaska (retired 1991) and Ohio in 1985. He is recognized by Who’s Who Legal, among other publications, as an expert in international trademark law. He is a former co-chair of the American Bar Association International Section IP Committee.

Esteban Riofrio

Esteban Riofrio is chief counsel of PAZ HOROWITZ’s IP department. Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, Mr Riofrio graduated from the Catholic University, Quito and was called to the Bar in 1997. He obtained an LLM in international law from the Universidad Andina in 1998. Mr Riofrio advises clients on piracy, unlawful use and unfair competition issues. He is recognized for his work in relation to Ecuadorian geographical indications and denominations of origin.

Monica Cortez

Monica Cortez has administered IP work for national and foreign clients at PAZ HOROWITZ for the past seven years. Prior to that, she worked for the US and UK embassies in Ecuador. Ms Cortez will be graduating from the University of Loja Law School within the next few months.

Wilson Moya

Wilson Moya is the dean of IP paralegals in Ecuador, and has worked in this area for the last 35 years. He is the creator of what may be the largest and most reliable database of Ecuadorian trademark registrations and applications. Mr Moya will be graduating from the University of Loja Law School within the next few months.

 

El Salvador

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Jose Roberto Romero

José Roberto Romero has been managing partner of Romero Pineda & Asociados since 1995. He graduated from Universidad Dr José Matías Delgado in 1990 and in 1993 obtained a masters in IP law from Franklin Pierce Law Center. He focuses on the protection, enforcement and licensing of IP rights, and is very active in franchising, assisting over 30 franchise operations set up in El Salvador. His abilities include negotiation and mediation skills. In the last three years Mr Romero has been involved in several large acquisitions by multinational clients and has advised on related financing issues.

Marcela Mancía Dada

Marcela Mancía Dada is the head of the trademark department at Romero Pineda & Asociados. She graduated from the University Dr José Matías Delgado and completed a legal English diploma programme by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, in San Salvador. She deals with all trademark matters, such as registrations, transfers, assignments, changes of name and/or domicile, renewals and licences. Her areas of particular expertise include IP registration and enforcement, licensing, trust, business law, banking and corporate law.

 

European Union

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Cristina Bercial-Chaumier

Cristina Bercial-Chaumier

Karina Dimidjian-Lecomte

Karina Dimidjian-Lecomte received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and her JD from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1996. She was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2005 and the New York Bar in 1996. Her practice includes managing trademark and design portfolios for Englishspeaking clients, including counselling, licensing, infringement actions, opposition and cancellation proceedings, and due diligence reviews in connection with cross-border company and trademark acquisitions. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the International Trademark Association.

 

European Union/France

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Caroline Casalonga

Caroline Casalonga is a partner with the law firm Casalonga Avocats, created in 2005 by the merger of the team of trademark attorneys of Bureau Casalonga & Josse and the IP litigation team of Courtois- Lebel. Ms Casalonga received her law degree from the University of Paris in 1992 and an LLM from Cornell University in 1996. She was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1993 and has been a representative before the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market since 1999. Her practice includes trademark, copyright, design and domain name litigation, trademark prosecution and counselling. She is a member of various professional trademark assocations.

 

Finland

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Ben Rapinoja

Ben Rapinoja is a partner at Borenius & Kemppinen working in the firm’s IP and Technology Department. Ben specializes in all areas of IP law, where his practice concentrates particularly on commercial contracts and transactions, and the life sciences and pharmaceuticals sectors. He is particularly experienced in the field of patent and trademark litigation. He is also the head of the firm’s Industrial Property Rights Litigation Practice Group.

Lasse Laaksonen

Lasse Laaksonen advises clients in the fields of intellectual property and information technology, with a particular emphasis on trademark law. He has acted for clients in numerous trademark-specific cases, including day-to-day management of client trademark portfolios, litigation and wide-ranging licence arrangements involving wellknown trademarks.

 

France

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Catherine De Place

Catherine de Place heads the Trademark Department of Bureau Casalonga & Josse, a firm of French and European patent and trademark attorneys. She obtained her law degree from the University of Paris in 1964 and a masters degree in public law from the University of Paris in 1966. She became a registered French trademark attorney in 1992 and a European trademark attorney in 1996. Her practice covers diverse IP matters including trademark, design and domain name prosecution, counselling, litigation and licensing. She is a member of the Association des Praticiens du Droit des Marques et des Modèles, the International Trademark Association and the European Communities Trademark Association.

 

Germany

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Stephan N Schneller

Stephan N Schneller heads Maiwald’s Trademark Department. He studied law at the University of Konstanz and was called to the Bar in 1996. After completing his LLM studies at the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town, South Africa, he joined Maiwald in 1998. His primary areas of practice are litigation and counselling in all areas of intellectual property, in particular trademarks, designs, copyright, IP-related contracts and unfair competition.

Stefan Michalski

Stefan Michalski studied chemistry and biochemistry in Hamburg, Göttingen, Paris and Berkeley, California. He took his Patent Bar examination in 1995 and is admitted to practice as a European trademark attorney and a European patent attorney. He became partner of Maiwald Patentanwalts GmbH in 1998 and has been managing director of the Düsseldorf office since it was founded. His main practice areas include German and international IP law, pharmaceutical sciences and engineering, chemicals and chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology.

Aloys Hüttermann

Aloys Hüttermann studied chemistry in Freiburg, obtained his PhD in Bochum and began working in the patent field in 2002. He joined Maiwald’s Düsseldorf office as a patent attorney in 2005. He is the coauthor of the well-known German chemistry textbook Das Basiswissen der Organischen Chemie.

 

Greece

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George Minoudis

George Minoudis is a partner at Karatzas & Partners Law Firm. He graduated with an LLB from the University of Essex and an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He heads the IP department of Karatzas & Partners, which has grown rapidly in the last few years and which counts among its clients some of Greece’s leading industrial, consumer and media undertakings. His practice involves all aspects of intellectual property, with an emphasis on trademark law, as well as media law and corporate law. He is a member of the Greek group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and of the European Communities Trademark Association.

 

Hungary

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Rita Hoffmann

Rita Hoffmann LLM (London) is a partner of the project and finance practice group in Budapest. She is a qualified Hungarian solicitor with more than eight years’ experience and a qualification in international business law from the University of London. Rita is also a specialist in IP matters, including patent, copyright and trademark law. Her areas of particular experience are trademark infringement, anticounterfeiting, copyright and unfair competition cases.

Zoltan Kozma

Zoltán Kozma is a senior associate and qualified Hungarian solicitor in Horváth and Partners’ general commercial and IP department. He graduated with an LLB from ELTE University of Gy_r, Hungary. He deals with IP law, labour law, general commercial law and administrative law. His areas of particular experience include trademark infringement, anticounterfeiting, copyright and unfair competition cases. His practice includes both litigation and commercial advice in these areas.

 

India

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Neha Agrawal

Neha Agrawal is an associate in Anand And Anand’s trademark department. She graduated with a BA LLB from Indraprastha University, New Delhi. Her main areas of practice are trademark, copyright, licensing, franchising and IT law.

Munish Mehra

Munish Mehra is an associate in Anand And Anand’s IP litigation department. He graduated with a BA LLB from National Law Institute University, Bhopal, in 2003. His primary area of practice is IP litigation, with a particular emphasis on software piracy and counterfeiting actions. His practice includes both litigation and general trademark and copyright law advice.

 

Iran

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Mohammad Badamchi

Mohammad Badamchi is a partner of HAMI Legal Services. Within his IP law practice, he focuses on trademark counselling and prosecution, unfair competition, anticounterfeiting, trade dress, false advertising and patent law. He is also involved in internet-related litigation and counselling for domain names in the ‘.ir’ top-level domain. His particular areas of expertise include anti-counterfeiting actions and enforcement of IP rights and trademark court cases. He has represented a wide variety of worldwide clients in many industries.

 

Ireland

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Gavan Ferguson

Gavan Ferguson specializes in all areas of Irish, Community and international trademark matters, from clearance to registration and enforcement. He manages the worldwide portfolios of several Irish clients, notably in the entertainment field. He is the acting chairman of the Trademark Law and Practice Committee of the Irish Association of Patent and Trademark Agents. He is an overseas member of the UK Institute of Trademark Attorneys and is a regular attendee of the International Trademark Association annual meeting

 

Israel

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David Gilat

David Gilat is an advocate and patent attorney. He graduated in chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received his LLB from Tel Aviv University. He was admitted to practice before the Israel Patent Office in 1989 and admitted to the Israel Bar in 1992. He is a past research fellow of the Max Planck Institute for International and Foreign Patent, Copyright and Competition Law, Munich. He is the author of Experimental Use and Patents IIC Studies (Volume 16, 1995). He is a lecturer in patent law at Tel Aviv University. Mr Gilat speaks Hebrew, English and French.

Ronit Barzik-Soffer

Ronit Barzik-Soffer obtained her LLB from Tel Aviv University and was admitted to the Israel Bar in 1994. She has also been a certified mediator by the National Centre for Mediation, Israel, since 2004. She is a member of various professional associations, including the Israel Bar Association. Ms Barzik-Soffer is responsible for both the department's team of lawyers and the administrative staff, and she personally provides legal consultation and manages client portfolios in the field of trademarks. Her practice specializes in trademark and related laws. She speaks Hebrew and English.

Roy Kornick

Roy Kornick obtained his LLB from Administrative College, Israel, in 1995 and was admitted to the Israel Bar in 1996. He is a member of the Israel Bar Association and the Anti-counterfeiting and Enforcement Committee of the International Trademark Association. His practice includes enforcement of IP rights, protection against unfair competition (including the wrongs of passing off and unjust infringement), managing and initiating civil and criminal proceedings with respect to infringement of IP rights before the Israeli courts and authorities, and litigation before the trademarks registrar. Mr Kornick speaks Hebrew, English and French.

 

Italy

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Margherita Barié

Margherita Barié is a partner with Studio Legale Carnelutti, based in the firm's Milan office. She is a member of the trial and IP departments, where her practice focuses on IP and civil dispute resolution, including patent and trademark infringement, unfair competition, copyright, commercial law and related issues. She conducts litigation and arbitration for Italian and multinational clients.

Pietro Pouchè

Pietro Pouchè is an associate at Studio Legale Carnelutti. He works in the IP and litigation fields, particularly in relation to trademarks, design and patent litigation. Further to his admission to the Italian Bar, he successfully completed his LLM graduate master programme focused on the main areas of IP laws at Duke University School of Law in 2005. He is often involved in IPrelated research projects and is a regular contributor to the World Trademark Law Report.

 

Jamaica

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Joanne E Wood

Joanne Wood is a partner in DunnCox specializing in intellectual property. Her experience covers all aspects of trademark acquisition and protection, including licensing and distribution agreements and portfolio management. Her legal experience extends to other areas of intellectual property, including patents and industrial designs, software licensing and protection. She is an affiliate of the American Intellectual Property Association and IS DunnCox’s designee to the International Trademark Association. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School.

Julianne E Mais-Cox

Julianne Mais-Cox is a partner in DunnCox specializing in the area of corporate and commercial litigation. She has handled numerous cases concerning issues of trademarks rights, including questions relating to unregistered rights. This is in addition to her extensive experience in commercial litigation arising from areas such as banking, insurance, defamation and insolvency. She is a graduate of the York University in Canada, the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School.

 

Japan

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Miwako Kumagai

Miwako Kumagai first joined Nishimura & Partners in 1990 as a paralegal and now assists the firm’s IP team. She obtained her BA from Tsuda College in 1978 and qualified as a patent attorney in 2002. Ms Kumagai prepares and drafts documentation in connection with applications made to the Japan Patent Office and provides assistance to clients with regard to major trademark and IP transactions.

Kenya Tanaka

Kenya Tanaka was admitted to practise law in Japan in 2002 and obtained an LLB from Waseda University in 1997. He is also a graduate of the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan. Mr Tanaka handles general corporate transactions with a special emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and turnaround transactions.

 

Malaysia

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Teo Bong Kwang

Bong Kwang Teo is a partner in Wong Jin Nee & Teo. He graduated with an LLB and an LLM from the University of Malaya. He handles a wide range of IP matters, including copyright, patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, passing off, confidential information, information technology, and laws relating to food and pharmaceuticals. He presently heads the IP litigation team within the firm. Besides handling contentious matters, he also provides opinions and advisory services on a wide spectrum of issues relating to the creation, maintenance, protection and enforcement of IP rights. He is a registered trademark, patent and industrial design agent.

Liew Shie Ying

Shie Ying Liew is a senior associate in Wong Jin Nee & Teo. She graduated with an LLB from Queen Mary College, University of London and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Skill from Inns of Court School of Law, United Kingdom. She handles many aspects of protection and enforcement of IP rights as well as the commercial exploitation of these rights, including franchising. She has also assisted Bong Kwang in IP litigation. She is a registered trademark and industrial design agent.

 

Mexico

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Sergio L Olivares Jr

Sergio Luis Olivares Lobato qualified as a lawyer in 1991 and obtained a masters degree in IP law from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1993. He has participated in several IP seminars and conventions, including Inter-American Association of Industrial Property (ASIPI) conferences, the 2001 Congress of Mexican/Texan Lawyers in Chihuahua and the 2005 congress of the International Law Section of the State Bar of California. He is international vice president of the Mexican Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property for the term 2005 to 2007, and a member of the Mexican Bar Association and the International Trademark Association. He is the current Mexican delegate at the ASIPI.

 

Netherlands Antilles

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Carine AD Jänsch

Carine Jänsch obtained her law degree from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1995. She is head of the IP department at Promes Van Doorne, specializing in copyright law and trademark law, including, among other things, litigation and prosecution in these areas. She is the author of numerous articles in national and international publications and is a regular speaker on IP-related issues. She is a member of the International Trademark Association and the Inter- American Association of Industrial Property. Currently, she is chairperson of the Netherlands Antilles Association of Trademark Attorneys.

 

Poland

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Slawomira Piotrowska

Slawomira Piotrowska is a patent and trademark attorney, and has been a partner at Patpol since 1992. In 1965 she graduated as a chemical engineer from the University of Technology in Warsaw. Before joining Patpol’s team, she worked for many years in the Polish Patent Office, first in the Department of Patent Examination, then in the Trademarks Department. Between 1993 and 1997 she was the first president of the Warsaw District Board of the Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys. She also participates in the works of many international organizations, such as MARQUES, AIPPI, ECTA (Harmonization Committee) and INTA (Parallel Imports Committee). In 2004 he became a European patent attorney and he is an official representative before the European Patent Office and the OHIM.

Piotr Wydrzynski

Piotr Wydrzyn´ ski graduated from W`arsaw University of Technology where he obtained his MSc degree in environmental engineering. He joined Patpol in 2002 becoming a patent attorney after completion of postgraduate IP studies at the Jagellonian University in Krakow. While at Patpol he has furthered his technical education with legal training at the Higher School of Law and Commerce in Warsaw. He is a member of Patpol’s Legal Department and specializes in administration and court proceedings, focusing especially on combating unfair competition. In 2004 he became a European patent attorney and is an official representative before the European Patent Office and the OHIM.

 

Tomasz Mielke

Tomasz Mielke is a lawyer employed in the Legal Department of Patpol. He graduated from Warsaw University, Faculty of Law and Administration (master of law, 2002) and also completed postgraduate studies in intellectual property at Warsaw University and the Centre for American Law Studies at Warsaw University. He was admitted for Legal Counsel Training in 2004. He handles trademark matters and unfair competition disputes, including cases related to customs seizures of counterfeit goods on the border.

 

Portugal

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Gonçalo Moreira Rato

Gonçalo Moreira Rato qualified as a lawyer in 1987 and obtained a Diplôme d'étude supérieures spécialisées in industrial property law in 1988. He is a qualified Portuguese industrial property agent (1995), European patent attorney (1992) and European trademark attorney (1996). His practice is focused on IP and industrial property law, and involves the acquisition and protection of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights, software, domain names and other rights. He has written several works on intellectual property and has lectured at both national and international IP conferences.

 

Romania

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Radu Culic

Radu Culic is an associate with Nestor Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen and specializes in IP matters, with an emphasis on trademarks. A graduate of the University of Bucharest Law School, he is an attorney at law and a member of the Bucharest Bar Association and the National Chamber of Industrial Property Counsellors.

Alexandru Harsany

Alexandru Harsany is a senior associate and the head of the firm’s IP division. A graduate of the University of Bucharest Law School, he is an attorney at law and a member of the Bucharest Bar Association, the National Chamber of Industrial Property Counsellors, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and the International Trademark Association. He also serves as general legal counsel to the Romanian Advertising Council. Mr Harsany has written over 30 articles in Romanian and foreign publications, and has lectured at various seminars and conferences on IP and IT matters.

 

Serbia

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Dejan P Bogdanovic

Dejan P Bogdanovic´ obtained his LLB from the University of Belgrade in 1991 and qualified as a patent and trademark agent in 1992. He is a member of the Belgrade Bar Association and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), serving as AIPPI vice president for Serbia and Montenegro. Mr Bogdanovic’s practice areas include company formations, real estate law and trademark infringement. He speaks Serbian and English.

 

Serbia and Montenegro

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Dusan M Stojkovic

Dusan M Stojkovic´ obtained his LLB from the University of Belgrade in 1997. He is a member of the Belgrade Bar Association. His practice areas include media law, advertising law and labour law. He speaks Serbian and English.

 

Slovakia

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Eva Skottke

Eva Skottke studied law in Bratislava and has been with the DLA Weiss Tessbach Bratislava office since 1998. In 2001 she passed the Bar exams cum laude and was promoted to senior associate. As a member of the firm’s project and finance practice group, she regularly advises various national and international clients on various financial transactions, including loans, project financing and various regulatory issues. She also regularly advises national and international clients on trademark law issues and has represented them in prosecution and enforcement proceedings before the Slovak official authorities.

 

South Africa

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Owen Dean

Owen Dean is the chairman of the partnership at leading IP firm Spoor & Fisher and has 33 years of IP-related experience. He is an expert trademark attorney who specializes in trademark litigation, copyright law, competition law and entertainment and media law. He is also an expert in the field of anti-counterfeiting and was instrumental in drafting the Counterfeit Act. Dr Dean holds a BA, LLB and LLD, and is an attorney of the High Court of South Africa and notary public. He is also an admitted attorney in Namibia and Botswana. He is the author of numerous publications, including the Handbook of South African Copyright Law, and lectures frequently at seminars and universities.

Duncan Maguire

Duncan Maguire graduated from the University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) with an LLB and specializes in the field of trademark and copyright law, with specific emphasis on litigation matters. He is an attorney of the High Court of South Africa and has five years’ legal experience. He is the representative of Spoor & Fisher at the Intellectual Property Action Group Against Copyright Theft (IPACT) meetings. He is the author of several articles which have been published in legal journals and has appeared as a speaker on trademark and copyright matters at seminars.

 

South Korea

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In H Kim

In Hwan Kim is a foreign legal counsel in Kim & Chang's IP group. He received his BA from the University of California, Irvine and his JD from Chapman University School of Law. Before joining Kim & Chang, Mr Kim was an associate for the IP group at Stetina, Brunda, Garred & Brucker in California. Mr Kim's practice covers a full range of IP matters, with a focus on patent prosecution and litigation, and strategic IP counselling. His expertise is in the field of biotechnology. He has also written a number of articles on patent law for various publications. Mr Kim speaks English and Korean.

Gene Kim

Gene Kim is a senior partner at Kim & Chang. He has extensive experience in litigation, enforcement and dispute resolution involving IP issues, specializing in trademark matters. He received his BA from Youngnam University in 1971 and his MA from American University's Graduate School of Business Administration in 1984. Before joining Kim & Chang, Mr Kim served as chief administrative trademark judge and director general of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Intellectual Property Tribunal. He also served as deputy director general of KIPO and as commercial attaché for the Korean embassy in Indonesia. He is fluent in Korean and English.

 

Spain

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Sonia Santos

Sonia Santos Olamendi graduated in economic law from Deusto University, Bilbao, and has been a member of the Barcelona Bar Association since 2002. She obtained an LLM in intellectual property from Queen Mary, University of London. She joined Grau, Baylos & Angulo in 2003. Ms Santos specializes in trademark and design law, copyright and information technology law. She speaks Spanish and English.

Jesús Arribas García

Jesús Arribas García graduated in law from the Autonomous University of Madrid and has been a member of the Madrid Bar Association since 2002. He obtained a masters in intellectual property and the information society from Alicante University in 2001 and subsequently trained at the European Patents Office. He joined Grau, Baylos & Angulo in 2003 and currently works in the Patents Department. He speaks Spanish and English.

 

Sweden

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Christina Berggren

Christina Berggren is partner in MAQS Law Firm. She graduated with an LLM from the University of Lund. She deals with all aspects of IP and marketing practices law. She has worked within the court system and as a consultant within intellectual property for over 10 years. She is a correspondent for MARQUES and a member of the local organizing committee for the 40th International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property congress.

 

Pär Leander

Pär Leander is a partner and the head of the technology and media group in MAQS’s Stockholm office. He specializes in all aspects of international IP rights and advertising law. He acts on IP and advertising matters internationally for a wide range of industries, including information technology and telecommunications. He has written several articles on trademarks and is listed in European Legal Experts, Intellectual Property, 2001 to 2005. He is a member of the Swedish Anti-counterfeiting Group, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and the International Trademark Association, where he is also a regular committee member.

 

Switzerland

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David J Meisser

Dr J David Meisser is a founder of Meisser & Partners, a fullservice law firm that has specialized in international trademark protection and litigation since 1979. He graduated from the University of Zürich as a doctor of law and was admitted to the Bar in 1976. He is a member of honour of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (as former editor-in-chief) and has written many publications on IP issues, including a comprehensive commentary on the Swiss and international law of geographical indications and regular contributions to World Trademark Law Report.

 

Thailand

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Edward A Madden

Edward Madden is director of Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd’s IP department. A graduate of the National University of Ireland and Trinity College, University of Dublin, Mr Madden holds a BCL and an LLM degree. He also completed postgraduate specialization training in intellectual property at the University of Turin, Italy and the Word Intellectual Property Worldwide Academy. Qualified as a solicitor in Ireland, England and Wales, he has gained experience in the firm’s IP practice in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. He specializes in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, representing many leading blue-chip international clients in the protection of their IP portfolios in Thailand.

Alexandra Gattino

Alexandra Gattino is a visiting researcher in IP laws to Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd’s IP department, assisting the team with comparative law issues. Currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Orléans, France, she holds an LLM in international commercial law from Northumbria University, United Kingdom, a masters in communication law and information technologies from the University of Orléans, and a French law degree with specialization in private and business law from the University of Paris XI.

 

Turkey

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Mert Yalcin

Mert Yalcin received his LLB in 2001 from Dokuz Eylul University of Izmir and graduated with an LLM from Istanbul Bilgi University in 2004. In 2002 he visited the University of California, Riverside, for a research project on dispute resolution. He received the European Patent Office certificate on effective enforcement of IP rights in Turkey in 2004. He has been an attorney at law at Akinci Law Office since 2000. He mostly deals with international commercial law, commercial transactions and various IP issues, including both patent and trademark matters.

Serkan Onukar

Serkan Onukar received his LLB in 2000 from Dokuz Eylul University of Izmir and graduated with an LLM from Dokuz Eylul University in 2006. He is a patent agent before the Turkish Patent Institute and also a European Patent Attorney. He received the European Patent Office certificate on effective enforcement of IP rights in Turkey in 2004. He has been an attorney at law at Akinci Law Office since 2000. He mostly deals with international commercial law, commercial transactions and various IP issues, including both patent and trademark matters.

 

Uganda

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Paul Asiimwe

Paul Asiimwe is the managing partner of Sipi Law Associates. He graduated from Makerere University with an LLB and later obtained an LLM in international economic law from Warwick University, United Kingdom. He handles all IP matters, including trademark and patent filings as well as copyright counsel. Other areas of expertise include telecommunications and IT, trade and investment, and land law. His practice involves both transactional work and litigation. Mr Asiimwe lectures in IP law at the Uganda Christian University Mukono. He is a member of the International Bar Association, the International Trademark Association and the Licensing Executives Society of South Africa.

Eva Mudondo

Eva Mudondo is a legal associate with Sipi Law Associates and an advocate of the High Court. She holds an LLB from Makerere University and a postgraduate diploma in legal practice. She has three years of experience in trademark filing and conveyancing. She also teaches business law at the Multitech Accountancy Programme in Kampala.

 

Ukraine

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Antonina Pakharenko-Anderson

Antonina Pakharenko- Anderson holds degrees in technical science and IP law and a doctorate in law. She is the president of the Ukrainian National Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property and a co-chair of the Advisory Group on the Protection and Implementation of Intellectual Property Rights for Investment of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Her practice includes counselling on all areas of IP law, licensing, enforcement of IP rights, anticounterfeiting and anti-piracy. She represents clients before civil and commercial courts, as well as other competent bodies of Ukraine.

Alexander Pakharenko

Alexander Pakharenko is a lawyer, a registered patent attorney and a partner of Pakharenko & Partners. He is a graduate of Kiev Polytechnic University, the Kharkiv Institute of Intellectual Property and the Academy of International Personnel Development in Kiev. He was also an intern at the Strasbourg Intellectual Property Academy. His practice includes counselling on registrability/patentability of intellectual property, IP searches, licensing and enforcement of IP rights. He represents clients before civil and commercial courts. As a member of several international anti-counterfeiting coalitions, he provides assistance to businesses in enforcing IP rights and tackling counterfeiting and piracy problems in Ukraine.

Natalia MacMaithghon

Natalia MacMaithghon is an IP paralegal at Pakharenko & Partners. She graduated with an MA (Hons) from the Linguistics and Literature Department of the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kiev. She also studied IP law and management at the Institute of Intellectual Property and Law in Kiev. She deals with issues related to trademark protection and legislation analysis

 

United Kingdom

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Darren T Olivier

Darren T Olivier is a partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse. He manages brand portfolios for multinational companies primarily in the sports, fastmoving consumer goods, beverage and financial services industries. He advises on all issues relating to brands, including strategic brand management, licensing and acquisitions, as well as enforcement matters. Prior to joining Field Fisher Waterhouse in January 2000, Mr Olivier was head of intellectual property at Dunlop Slazenger Group Limited. Mr Olivier is chairman of the Brands Committee of the UK and Ireland Licensing Executives Society. He is a dual qualified solicitor/attorney in the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as a qualified trademark practitioner. He is a frequent speaker and writer on legal brand issues.

 

United States

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Karin Segall

Karin Segall practises predominantly in the areas of counselling, protection and licensing of trademarks and copyrights, building on her litigation background in all aspects of intellectual property. Her practice focuses on clearance and registration of domestic and international trademarks for a broad range of corporate clients in the United States and abroad in the publishing, fashion, telecommunications, finance and technology industries. She also has considerable experience in handling oppositions and cancellations before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, carrying out programmes for the enforcement of trademark rights and negotiating complex deals in all fields of intellectual property.

 

Venezuela

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Ricardo Alberto Antequera Hernandez

Ricardo Alberto Antequera Hernández has been the director of the industrial property division of Estudio Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez and a partner of the firm since 1997. He is a graduate of Universidad de Los Andes and a former student at the Intellectual Property Summer Institute, Franklin Pierce Law Center, United States. Mr Antequera Hernández is vice president of the Latin American High Technology, Computers and Law Institute. He is a member of the Inter- American Association of Industrial Property, the International Trademark Association and the Inter- American Institute of Copyrights, as well as a member for Venezuela of the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance.

Monica Granadillo Sanchez-Bello

Mónica Granadillo Sánchez- Bello joined Estudio Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez in November 2004 after obtaining a masters in intellectual property law from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. Ms Granadillo Sánchez-Bello was an intern at the law firm Santiago Mediano Abogados in Madrid from March to June 2004. She also clerked at the legal department (risk and compliance unit) of Zurich Insurance Company and at the investigation division of the Academia de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales, both in Caracas, Venezuela.

 

The information provided above was correct at the time of publishing.