Rising to the challenge

Connect with the profession on a brand new virtual platform and gain exclusive insight into what lies ahead for the IP profession.

You will be able to navigate the conference floor to network with delegates and ask questions to our expert speakers as your own avatar, while you earn up to six hours’ CPD during our sessions.

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Gain exclusive insight into what lies ahead post-Brexit at the UK IPO and participate as we hear from both sides of the Sky v SkyKick debate. 

Get up to speed on the latest UK and EU law and practice updates and get involved in our panel discussion on artificial intelligence and its relationship with copyright - plus much more. 

Over the two half-days, we are bringing you an innovative, interactive, informative and 'never been done before by us' conference. We look forward to you joining us. 

On the recommendation of our software provider, we have changed the date of our Autumn Conference to 5th and 6th November.

This is to allow them time to make an important upgrade to the software to improve the security and experience for you. 

 

What to expect

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Engage with a range of excellent speakers, including Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys, solicitors, barristers, in-house counsel and senior representatives of the UK IPO.

There will be breaks between sessions to give you a chance to meet and network with delegates in an interactive environment. 

Our conference is spread out over two half days - one session in the afternoon on Thursday 5th October, followed by a session on Friday 6th November in the morning. 

You will gain six hours' CPD by attending this year's Autumn Conference. 

We're looking forward to connecting with you in this new virtual world.

Book now

The platform

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We've teamed up with an events agency to create an exciting and engaging Autumn Conference so you can enjoy an interactive experience from wherever you are. 

On the platform you will be able to:

  • Build and customise your own avatar
  • Choose your outfit
  • Navigate around the conference
  • Network with delegates and speakers
  • Interact with exhibitors
  • Play chess or connect four with other delegates

There will be technical support before and during the conference, including tutorials and one-to-one help, to ensure you are feeling confident about using the platform. 

Enjoy a whole new way of networking and learning through this brand new platform. 

Book now

The programme

Download our official programme 

Download Programme

 


Thursday 5th November, 2:00pm-6:00pm

The first session will begin at 2pm, with login available at 1pm to give you time to create your avatar, explore the conference and network with other delegates. 

The afternoon session will end at 5:45pm with networking available for a short time after. 

Time Content Speaker
1pm - 2pm

Registration, exhibition and networking

 
2pm - 2:05pm Welcome

Richard Goddard, President 

2:05pm - 2:15pm

Keynote: Rising to the challenge – the UK IPO perspective

Tim Moss, UK IPO

2:15pm-3pm UK case law update Charlotte Blythe, Hogarth Chambers
3pm-3:35pm 

What goes wrong in Tribunal actions

Allan James, UK IPO

3:35pm-3:55pm

Break and networking in the lobby area, exhibitor access

 
3:55pm-4:35pm  SkyKick debate

Becky Knott, Barker Brettell

Ashton Chantrielle, 8 New Square

4:35pm-4:55pm

Break and networking in lobby area, exhibitor access

 
4:55pm-5:05pm Keynote: European trade mark harmonisation after Brexit Daniel Alexander QC, 8 New Square
5:05pm-5:40pm

Cofemel and Brompton

Jonathan Moss, Hogarth Chambers
5:40pm-5:45pm Closing remarks

Richard Goddard, President

5:45pm-6:00pm Break and networking in the lobby area, exhibitor access  


Friday 6th November, 9:30am-1:00pm

The morning session will begin at 9:30am, with login available for 8:45am to give you time to create your avatar, explore the conference and network with other delegates. 

The morning session will finish at 1pm with networking available for a short time after. 

Time Content Speaker
8:45am-9:30am Log in, create an avatar (only if you didn't attend on the first day), networking, exhibitor access  
9:30am-9:35am Welcome

Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy, First Vice-President

9:35am-9:40am Keynote  Amanda Solloway, MP
9:40am-10:25am EU case law update

Mike Tennant, Tennant IP

10:25am-11:10am Brexit Briefing - key aspects of the transition period explored Richard May, Osborne Clarke
11:10am-11:30am Break and networking in the lobby area, exhibitor access  
11:30am-11:40am Keynote: Creating the best regulatory framework The Rt Hon Lord Smith, IPReg
11:40am-12:50am Panel discussion - artificial intelligence and intellectual property

Chair: Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy

Dr Birgit Clark, Baker McKenzie

Lee Curtis, HGF

Nick Phillips, Edwin Coe

Stephanie Wickenden, Serle Court

12:50pm-12:55pm Closing remarks

Richard Goddard, President

12:55pm-1:10pm Break and networking in the lobby area, exhibitor access  

 

You will be able to gain six hours' CPD while you interact and learn at this year's Autumn Conference.

Book now

Tickets

Your ticket includes:

  • Entry to all sessions of the conference 
  • Access to tutorials before the conference
  • Technical support on the platform 
  • Networking and interaction with delegates, speakers and exhibitors 
  • Access to all presentations after the conference 
Book now

Meet the speakers

Daniel Alexander QC, New Square
Keynote: European trade mark harmonisation after Brexit
Daniel Alexander

Daniel Alexander QC is a highly-regarded advocate, focusing on IP disputes of international significance in a wide range of technologies and industries.

He has been lead counsel in a number of defining cases in electronics, pharmaceuticals, biophysics and biotechnology, as well as some of the leading trade mark and media disputes. Daniel has a broad practice, focussing on intellectual property but extending to contractual cases, IT, media/entertainment law and a range of international disputes. He is rated in the top band of QCs in IP in legal directories. He also sits part-time as a judge and arbitrator.

Charlotte Blythe, Hogarth Chambers
Plenary: UK case law update
Charlotte Blythe

Charlotte is a specialist soft IP practitioner at Hogarth Chambers. Charlotte has a strong presence in the UK Trade Marks Registry: she had the highest number of attendances by Counsel in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Charlotte also regularly appears in IPEC, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Most recently Charlotte was junior counsel for the defendant in Bentley Ltd v Bentley Motors Ltd  and was sole counsel for the successful respondent in Aiwa Co Ltd v Aiwa Corporation.

Charlotte also teaches Trade Mark Attorneys at Nottingham Law School.

Ashton Chantrielle, 8 New Square
Plenary: SkyKick Debate
Ashton Chantrielle

Ashton specialises in all areas of intellectual property law, as well as related areas such as contract law and breach of confidence.  She has also acted in a number of cases that involve aspects of competition law and has also been involved in a number of arbitrations.

Ashton has considerable experience in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and appears in the High Court. She also regularly acts for clients at hearings and for appeals in the UK IPO and the EUIPO.

Ashton won Junior IP Barrister of the Year at the 2020 Managing IP Awards.

Dr Birgit Clark                                                                               
Panel: AI and IP
Birgit Clark

Dr Birgit Clark is based in Baker McKenzie's London Office and is the Lead Knowledge Lawyer for the firm's global Intellectual Property and Technology practice group.

Birgit originally qualified as Attorney-at-Law in Germany and subsequently as UK solicitor and Chartered UK trade mark attorney.

Birgit is an extensively published legal author and commentator with a particular focus on how modern technology interlinks with Intellectual Property law principles.  

Lee Curtis, HGF
Panel: AI and IP
Lee Curtis

Lee is a Partner in HGF's specialist trade mark team, having joined the firm in November 2009.

Lee has nearly 25 years’ experience of the trade mark and design law in the UK and overseas, and advises on design and trade mark protection. This includes searching, filing and prosecution through to enforcement of trade mark and design rights.

He has also had articles published in leading Trade Mark Law Journals, such as Managing Intellectual Property, Trademark World, Oxford Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, CITMA Review and the MARQUES Newsletter. 

Richard Goddard, CITMA President
Co-chair
Richard Goddard

Richard is CITMA's First Vice-President and a Fellow of the Institute.

He is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney at BP p.l.c., where his work includes advising on the registration, enforcement and licensing of trade marks and designs.

Richard joined the profession in 2003, working in private practice for several years before moving in-house.

Allan James, UK IPO
Plenary: What goes wrong in Tribunal actions
Allan James

Allan joined the UK IPO in 1988. He was appointed Head of Trade Marks Examination in 1994 and later, in 2007, Head of Inter Partes Proceedings. He has acted as a Senior Hearing Officer throughout this time during which he has decided 100s of trade mark oppositions and cancellations, including many of the high-profile cases, such as eSure Insurance v Direct Line Insurance [2008] ETMR 77 and Nestlé v Cadbury [2017] EWCA Civ 358.

Despite partially retiring in 2018, Allan continues as a Senior Hearing Officer. A decision he made last year about the registrability of the shape of the Land Rover Defender has recently been in the news.       

Becky Knott, Barker Brettell
Plenary: SkyKick Debate
Becky Knott

Becky is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney at Barker Brettell, having joined the firm in 2015. She specialises in the medical, cosmetics, fashion, and start-up sectors. Her work includes infringement and passing off matters, invalidity and revocation actions, clearance work, filing, and coordinating oppositions for international portfolios.

She has previously served as the Student Representative for CITMA and has had articles published in the CITMA Review and on the Fashion Law website. Becky was recently nominated for an award by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (‘Future Face of Legal 2020’).

Richard May, Osborne Clarke
Plenary: Brexit Briefing - key aspects of the transition period explored
Allan James

Richard is a dual-qualified Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and solicitor at Osborne Clarke.  He is an expert in all aspects of intellectual property, with an emphasis on trade marks. His particular specialism is IP strategy, brand protection and litigation.

Richard is known for being commercial and pragmatic and has advised major brand owners across all sectors for over 10 years.

Richard is a Member of CITMA, serves on the WIPO Liaison Working Group and contributes regularly to the CITMA Review. 

Tim Moss, UK IPO
Keynote: Rising to the challenge – the UK IPO perspective
Tim Moss

Tim has been Chief Executive Officer and Comptroller General at the UK IPO since May 2017. 

He is responsible for advising Ministers on all IP policy matters and for the operation of the Office.

Tim came to the UK IPO from Companies House where he was the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales and Chief Executive.  He worked at Companies House from 2002 where he held many senior positions within the organisation.

His extensive work portfolio included leading on the digital agenda, operational delivery, business strategy and corporate policy. Tim also held the position of president of the Corporate Registers Forum.

Nick Phillips, Edwin Coe LLP
Panel: AI and IP
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Nick’s practice is centred on providing advice on the protection, exploitation and enforcement of the full range of intellectual property rights. His clients include individual inventors, SMEs, larger companies, charities and international organisations. He has advised manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, ISPs, re-sellers, distributors and agents in a wide range of industries.

He also regularly advises on a range of, e-commerce, domain name, intellectual property and internet related issues as well as on a wide variety of IT contracts and a large part of his day to day work involves giving practical and commercial advice on the application of the copyright laws in a number of different contexts.

Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury (Chris Smith), IPReg
Keynote: Creating the best regulatory framework
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Chris began his political career as a Labour Councillor, becoming MP for Islington South and Finsbury in 1983. When Labour came to power in 1997 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Chairman of the Millennium Commission.

Over four years as Secretary of State he restored free admission to national museums and galleries, established NESTA, the Film Council, Creative Partnerships for schools, and the Foundation for Youth Music, expanded funding for the arts and sport, championed the creative industries for the first time in Government, and began the switchover process for digital television.

Chris returned to the back benches in 2001, playing a leading role in opposing the Iraq war, standing down from the Commons in 2005. Immediately afterwards he was made a life peer, taking his seat in the House of Lords in July 2005.  Chris currently sits on the crossbenches as an independent Peer.

Currently the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Regulation Board, Chris is also the Master of Pembroke College Cambridge.

Amanda Solloway, IP Minister
Keynote speech
Amanda Solloway

Amanda Solloway is the current Member of Parliament for Derby North and was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, serving as the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation.

Mrs Solloway was first elected in 2015 and held the seat until the 2017 General Election. She later reclaimed the seat in the 2019 General Election. During her previous tenure, she was a PPS at DFID.

Michael Tennant, Tennant IP
Plenary: EU case law update 
Mike Tennant

Michael Tennant started his career in trade marks at Tennant IP in 2015.

He obtained Chartered status and was appointed a Director in 2018. Michael represents a wide range of clients in the UK and EU, from FTSE 100 companies to start-ups and has already handled several high-profile cases in his relatively young career.

His experiences in business and commerce give him real empathy and understanding with clients and he enjoys nothing more than discussing and educating others about the world of trade marks.

Stephanie Wickenden, Serle Court 
Panel: AI and IP
Stephanie Wickenden

Stephanie is a barrister at Serle Court chambers specialising predominantly in soft IP. She appears regularly in the IPEC, High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as acting in matters before the UK IPO and EUIPO.

Many of Stephanie’s cases have a cross-border or jurisdictional element, such as recent cases easyGroup v Easy Fly and the Glaxo Group litigation relating to the Seretide inhaler. Most recently, she acted as sole counsel for the successful respondent in the Court of Appeal in Glencairn v Product Specialities.

With a background in art and theatre prior to coming to the bar, Stephanie is particularly interested in how IP law interfaces with contemporary creative practices.

Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy, CITMA First Vice-President
Co-chair
Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy

Rachel qualified in 2007 and is now Of Counsel at Baker McKenzie, advising on all aspects of trade mark and design protection and enforcement. 

Rachel specialises in trade mark disputes such as infringements, oppositions, cancellation actions, company and domain name disputes and dispute resolution. 

Prior to being elected as our First Vice-President, Rachel served as our Second Vice-President and Treasurer for two-years. Rachel is also the chair of our Law and Practice Committee.

 Please note

  • Payment online via debit or credit card only; proforma invoices are not available.
  • Full terms and conditions apply.
  • Closing date: Friday 30th October, 9am.

Join us as we reflect and prepare for the challenges of 2021. 

Book now

 

FAQs

How will I login to the conference?

If you have bought a ticket for our conference, you will receive a direct link to access the platform before the event. 

How do I communicate with other delegates at the conference?

You will be able to talk to other participants using your headset.

Enjoy the chance to talk to other delegates, speakers, and exhibitors in the same way you would in a face-to-face conference. You will also be able to use the group or private message functionality to type out messages to other participants.

Can I ask questions during sessions?

Yes, all our speakers will be conducting interactive Q&A sessions. You will be able to submit questions during sessions you attend, plus you will be able to raise your hand to ask verbal questions. 

Can I meet with exhibitors?

Yes. You will be able to visit exhibition booths, meet and talk with exhibitors and interact with their demonstrations. 

What devices can I use?

You can use your mobile, tablet or computer as long as it is an iPhone 5 or newer, Android 5.0 or newer, PC or Mac.

No server is necessary.

What type of connection do I need?

We recommend using 4G or Wi-Fi, but a stable 3G network will give the same functionality.

Can I share my contact information with other delegates?

Yes. You can fill out more information when creating your profile and then share or request to share contact details with other delegates whilst you are networking.