CITMA Spring Conference - London

To download the full programme, please click here.

Thursday 16th March 2023

Doris Afuko-Addo, Lewis Silkin

Doris is a CITMA-qualified Senior Trade Mark Paralegal with significant experience in trade mark formalities and global portfolio management. She has strong international experience, having worked in Dubai covering the MENA region, and regularly managing worldwide portfolios. Her role involves working closely with clients, attorneys, and IP offices across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance and delivering strategic support.

Doris is skilled in handling complex formalities processes and proficient in IP management systems, with a focus on efficiency and best practice.

She actively contribute to the CITMA Trade Mark Paralegal Course, recording and presenting course content, and stays engaged in the wider IP community. As a member and mentor with IP Inclusive, she is passionate about supporting diversity and inclusion within the profession. In addition, Doris volunteer with the Samaritans, offering support to those in need and helping promote mental wellbeing.

Bence Bozóki, Mars 

Bence is Senior IP Counsel at Mars, working for the company’s confectionery business globally. His team supports iconic brands like SNICKERS®, TWIX®, DOVE/GALAXY®, MARS®, MALTESERS®, CELEBRATIONS®, MILKY WAY®, and BOUNTY®. Bence specialises in crafting and executing enforcement strategies, leading trademark litigation, and advising on building robust global trademark portfolios.

He has extensive experience in addressing issues related to lookalike products. Before joining Mars, Bence was a Senior Associate at SBGK, a leading IP law firm in Budapest, Hungary. He is a regular speaker at industry events and a member of the MARQUES Unfair Competition team.

Douglas Campbell KC, Three New Square

Douglas is one of the few silks to excel at both hard and soft IP. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993 and took silk in 2016; was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2021; was registered as a legal practitioner with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in 2024; and was registered as a Unified Patent Court (UPC) legal representative in 2024.

Douglas has been a Recorder since October 2010 and a Deputy High Court Judge since 2015. He is also the Editor of Terrell on the Law of Patents, the leading practitioner text on UK patent law, currently in its 20th edition.

 Carinne Kamdar, Baker McKenzie LLP

Carinne is counsel in the Dispute Resolution team in London. Her practice covers a broad spectrum of advisory and contentious work. Carinne is experienced in international arbitration, commercial litigation, and IT disputes.

She regularly advises on contractual interpretation, termination rights, arbitration and dispute resolution clauses and arbitration and litigation practice and procedure.

Carinne sits on the Main Committee of the London Solicitors Litigation Association.

Colm MacSweeney, Corsearch

Colm MacSweeny, Account Executive at Corsearch, brings seven years of expertise with Artificial Intelligence in the trademark industry. He specialises in guiding legal teams to optimise AI alongside human expertise, streamlining trademark clearance and protection processes while prioritising speed and quality.

With a diverse background encompassing creative arts, intellectual property, and economics, Colm leverages his broad experience to deliver effective solutions to complex client challenges. Outside of work, he is passionate about music and welcomes conversations on music or artist recommendations anytime.

Elizabeth Rimmer, Lawcare

Elizabeth is the CEO of LawCare, the mental health charity for the UK legal sector. She started her working life as a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence, practicing at Leigh Day. She joined LawCare from the Institute of Group Analysis, a membership and training organisation for group psychotherapists. Before that she headed up Alzheimer’s Disease International, a worldwide federation of Alzheimer associations. Elizabeth is Co-Chair of the Helplines Partnership (national charity for support and advice services) and a member of the International Bar Association’s Professional Wellbeing Commission and chairs the Commission’s regulatory and ethics committee.

Allister McManus, Elkington Fife

Allister joined Elkington + Fife as an Associate Trade Mark Attorney in August 2018.

He also has an interest in US trade marks and how to best assist UK businesses in the US, and he has contributed written articles on the subject as well as general best practice trade mark advice for business in the UK and EU.

The majority of Allister's work focuses primarily on contentious matters.

Geoff Steward, Addleshaw Goddard

Geoff is an IP and commercial litigator with over 30 years of trial experience. He has acted for some of the world’s biggest
brands across a broad range of sectors (including sport, retail, FMCG, fashion, publishing, and aviation).

Geoff has significant experience in trade mark infringement, registered and unregistered design infringement, and copyright
infringement as well as licensing, supply and contractual disputes. He has acted on numerous reported IP cases and passing off, including the leading authorities on post sale confusion in trade mark infringement, and on statutory acquiescence, and registered design infringement.

Geoff is noted for his campaigning against lookalikes and advised M&S on the Colin the Caterpillar wars.

Kelly Saliger, CITMA President

A dual qualified Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and Solicitor, Kelly has a wealth of experience advising brand owners on all matters relating to trade mark and design portfolios.

Kelly has over 10 years’ experience in the field and specialises in international litigation, enforcement and strategy particularly in the field of technology and media. She has acted before the Appointed Person and led multi-territorial prosecution and litigation. Kelly was elected as CITMA's President in April last year, and chairs its Education, Qualifications and Standards Committee.

Kay Szawlis, Springbird IP

Having spent over a decade in the world of trade marks and patents, Kay is an expert Trade Mark Paralegal with extensive experience in portfolio management for a variety of clients. With a history of working in both large and small firms, Kay is a highly adaptable paralegal well versed in both the commercial and pragmatic thinking required to effectively protect client’s most valuable assets.

Sarah Talland, Potter Clarkson

Sarah is an experienced trade mark attorney and works with clients across a variety of sectors in all aspects of trade mark prosecution as well as complex contentious matters. Sarah works for clients in a wide range of areas, but specialises in the food and drink sector, cosmetics, and the automotive industries. She also has a particular interest in non-traditional trade marks and has extensive experience of advising on and protecting such marks. Sarah regularly speaks on IP matters at business events and seminars. 

Rachel Wilkinson Duffy, Baker McKenzie LLP

Rachel advises on all aspects of trade mark and design protection and enforcement, including global filing strategies, clearance searching and transactions involving intellectual property for the UK, EU, Madrid Protocol and overseas.

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

She is the immediate past CITMA President and was the Chair of the Law & Practice Committee for many years, so has regular interaction with government officials at the UK IPO, EUIPO and WIPO, amongst others.

Our conference is taking place at The Waldorf Hilton on Aldwych, a five minute walk from the Royal Courts of Justice. Featuring some of London's finest conference facilities, we will enjoy the collision of tradition and the contemporary.

Following a packed day of learning, our drinks reception will take place in The Waldorf's historic Palm Court - the perfect space for you to relax and solidify your connections from the day.

History

Since The Waldorf’s debut in 1908, this grand old lady of Theatreland has had a glittering career.

The Waldorf, famously named after William Waldorf Astor, has a wealth of history.

The original idea for The Waldorf came from an entrepreneur and charted accountant (Edward Sanders and Thomas Wild), however, they needed £700,000 to begin its development.

It is rumoured that William Waldorf Astor came to their rescue, as he invested the funds they needed.

In return, the pair named the hotel after him as a sign of gratitude.

Although some areas have been restored and re-furbished, rooms such as the Executive Boardroom still remain in place; which used to be a gentleman’s smoking room. 

Volunteering opportunities

We are offering you two optional opportunities to donate your time and expertise to good causes in your community and beyond.

Coram's Fields

In the heart of Bloomsbury, Coram’s Fields has provided a safe place for children from the local community since 1936.

It supports families in the local area, providing a wide programme of activities and sessions across the year. At its peak during the summer, Coram's Fields sees about 1000 visitors per day.

The day before our core conference programme, our delegates will be helping to keep the grounds fit for play.

The jobs include painting, gardening and general upkeep of the grounds. 

The programme for Wednesday 15th March is as follows:

• 1pm: arrival
• 1pm-1.30pm: teas and coffees 
• 1.30pm: brief introduction to Coram’s Fields and allocation of roles
• 1.45pm-4.15pm: main activities 
• 4.30pm: group leaves

Online advice clinic

Provide 30 minutes of vital trade mark advice to a small business who might otherwise be unable to afford it.

Volunteer two hours of your afternoon the day before the conference to help small businesses by taking part in our virtual advice clinic. You will be able to choose a time slot and take part in up to three 30 minute slots across two hours.

You must be a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney or other qualified legal professional to participate.

Carbon offset

We take our responsibility to the environment seriously and our pledge to become net zero is a key factor.

Your ticket for the conference will include a small contribution to offsetting the carbon output from our delegates' travel to the event – this will be used to fund sustainability projects across the globe via Ecologi.

Your ticket includes:

• Complimentary drinks reception
• Five hours' CPD sessions
• A delicious lunch
• Access to one of our CSR activities 
• Exclusive access to presentation slides

Member rate: £425

Standard rate: £500

Please click here to read our terms and conditions.

You can stay at the Waldorf Hilton with an exclusive 15% discount for delegates.

The rates are subject to change depending on demand, but will always be 15% off the best available rate. 

• Payment online via debit or credit card only; proforma invoices are not available.
• Full terms and conditions apply.
• Closing date: 5pm, Friday 3rd March.