Dyson, Jack Daniels, Walmart and more join expert roster for WTR Connect

WTR recently revealed the first participants for WTR Connect, a series of high-level online events taking place across two weeks in October. We can now reveal that experts from companies including Amazon, ASOS, Dyson, Gilead, Jack Daniels, SuperDry and Walmart have joined the stellar participation roster, with Christian Archambeau, executive director at the EUIPO, confirmed to deliver a keynote.

WTR Connect is a digital concept that offers a series of individual interactive digital sessions organised around major themes. Rather than following the usual webinar or online conference model, WTR Connect is comprised of a series of hubs, each designed to facilitate discussion, benchmarking and the sharing of best practice around key topic areas and challenges facing trademark and brand leaders. Each day will start with a keynote address from a major industry figure. This will be followed by live breakout discussions lasting for a maximum of 60 minutes.

The latest names to join and lead the discussions include Danica Acosta (Walmart), Rachelle Andrews (Jack Daniel’s Properties), James Beeton (Superdry), Louise Butler (Diageo), Jennifer Chung (AccuWeather), Allison Leader (American Red Cross), George Sevier (Dyson), Gretchen Stroud (Gilead) and Amy Toms (ASOS).

Among the confirmed keynotes are addresses:

• David Gooder, commissioner of trademarks at USPTO
• Allison Leader, director, legal counsel at American Red Cross
• Christian Archambeau, executive director at the EUIPO

The current list of confirmed participants therefore now includes:

• Danica Acosta, associate general counsel, IP, at Walmart
• Laura Alteri, deputy general counsel at Del Monte Foods
• Hogarth Andall, director, IP at Sony
• Livia Andermatt, senior counsel, IP at Lindt
• Rachelle Andrews, senior attorney, trademark enforcement at Jack Daniel’s Properties
• Sharon Armstrong, senior counsel, global trademarks at Align Technology
• Christian Archambeau, executive director at the EUIPO
• Jose Bautista, associate legal counsel, IP at Abercrombie & Fitch
• Mark Bearfoot, legal director, global brand protection at Tommy Hilfiger
• James Beeton, brand protection officer at Superdry
• Maral Behnam-Garcia, director, brand protection at Wish
• Oscar Benito, assistant general counsel, corporate and vaccines, IP at GSK
• Heike Bhonsle, director, brand protection at Crocs
• Kevin Blum, senior counsel, brands and content, IP at NBCUniversal
• Sine Bramming Platz, senior counsel, IP at PVH
• Adraea Brown, director legal, trademarks and brand protection at Harley-Davidson Motor Company
• Louise Butler, global head, brand protection at Diageo
• John Carriero, senior director, brand protection at Under Armour
• Mandar Chandrachud, associate vice president at Godrej Consumer Products Limited
• Jennifer Chung, general counsel and chief legal officer at AccuWeather
• Christa Cole, head, brand development, enforcement and licensing at Nestle
• Emily Cooper, director, global brand protection and counsel, IP at Popsockets
• Marina  Depietri, vice president, IP, The Americas at Red Bull
• Claudia Gessler, legal counsel, IP at Hugo Boss
• David Gooder, commissioner, trademarks at USPTO
• Stephanie Hall, trademark and brand counsel at Lyft
• Deborah Hampton, senior manager, trademark and copyright at The Chemours Company
• Mikia Hawkins, senior counsel at ViacomCBS
• Debra Hughes, assistant general counsel at Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Daniel Kelly, vice president, deputy general counsel at Vista Outdoor
• Shannon King, associate general counsel at Williams-Sonoma
• Renee Kraft, director counsel, trademark and copyright at Target
• Allison Leader, director, legal counsel at American Red Cross
• David Llewellyn, head of trademarks at Arm
• David Lossignol, global head, pharma legal brand protection at Novartis
• Aimee Mahan, senior manager at Amazon
• Jennie Martel, chief of brand protection at Colgate-Palmolive
• Frank Meixner, head, corporate trademarks at Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH
• Brett Millar, senior director, brand protection at FitBit
• Anna Olsen, global director, IP at Treasury Wine Estates
• Scott Piering, vice president and chief IP counsel at Spectrum Brands
• Måns Sjöstrand, global head of IP and brand protection at Daniel Wellington
• Tina Pompey, principal counsel, IP at Walt Disney
• Laurence Rickles, chief trademark counsel at Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Michel Rorai, lead counsel, IP at Unilever
• Koji Sato, general manager, intellectual property department at ASICS
• George Sevier, category head, IP enforcement, at Dyson
• Frank Schöne-de la Nuez, lead counsel, trademarks at CSL Behring
• Lynn Schrier, senior counsel, IP at Swarovski
• Jitendra Sharma, unit manager, legal IPR at Metlife
• Natasza Shilling, senior counsel, legal at Vodafone
• Gretchen Stroud, senior associate general counsel, IP at Gilead
• Heather Stutz, corporate counsel, IP at Starbucks
• Amy Toms, senior attorney, trademarks, at ASOS
• Niall Trainor, senior director, brand protection, family and brands at Entertainment One
• Catrin Turner, IP counsel at Dr Martens Airwair
• Jeff Warren, director, brand protection at Burberry

The sessions, taking place from 6-15 October, are timed to suit attendees in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Participants can register for as many sessions as they like, building their own schedule. However, to ensure maximum interaction and discussion, capacity within each hub will be limited.

To find out more and to secure your place at WTR Connect, click here.