CITMA Council election 2026 results announced
We're pleased to announce the results of the 2026 CITMA Council election, following a contested ballot.
We received 16 eligible nominations for 11 available places on Council. With more candidates than positions available, a ballot was conducted among our Corporate Members (Ordinary members, Fellows and Corporate Honorary members).
228 Corporate Members participated in the ballot, representing a turnout of approximately 26%.
What is CITMA Council?
CITMA Council is our governing body and is responsible for setting our strategic direction, and representing the interests of trade mark legal professionals across the UK and beyond.
Council members play a vital role in shaping the future of the profession and ensuring CITMA continues to serve its members effectively.
The results
We're delighted to congratulate the following 11 members elected to CITMA Council (in alphabetical order):
- Ese Akpogheneta – BAT
- Kara Bearfield – Reckitt Benckiser
- Oscar Benito – BioNTech
- Charlotte Duly – D Young & Co
- Daniel Hardman-Smart – Stobbs
- Becky Knott – Hogarth Chambers
- Harrison Lee – Potter Clarkson
- Allister McManus – Elkington + Fife
- Azhar Sadique – Abion
- Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy – Baker McKenzie
- Catherine Wiseman – Barker Brettell
Congratulations to all 11.
We thank all 16 candidates who put themselves forward for election. Standing for Council reflects a genuine commitment to the profession, and we're grateful to everyone who took part.
Officer elections
With the new Council now confirmed, the next step is the election of our officers. On 21st April 2026, Council will elect from among its members the three officer roles: President, Vice-President, and Second Vice-President/Treasurer. They will then serve a two-year term.
We will announce the outcomes of those elections in due course.
Student and CITMA Paralegal representatives
We are delighted to announce the new representatives to Council. Mark Dainty of Edwin Coe will be the new student representative, while Kane Ridley from Abion has been re-elected as CITMA Paralegal representative – click here to read more about the representative appointments.