Insider: January 2023

10th Jan 2023

Our profession is sure to thrive.

Rachel Wilkinson Duffy

President's welcome

We are into another new year and I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and to look forward to what 2023 will hold.

Last year saw two great CITMA conferences, the launch of another round of our Paralegal Course, the beginning of our representation project and much more.

We have been able to work and learn together as a profession, and invest time in working for a positive environment for the future of our industry.

December also gave us the opportunity to come together at an array of CITMA Christmas events.

It was great to see so many familiar and new faces at our London and Leeds Christmas lunches – thank you to everyone who attended and who worked to make these events a success.

At our London Christmas Lunch, we were also able to celebrate our 2022 CITMA award winners. I’d like to take this opportunity to once again pass on my congratulations to all of them.

During the upcoming year, we can look forward to another packed programme of learning and social events, with opportunities available both across the country and remotely.

Booking is now open for our Spring Conference, which will take place at The Waldorf Hilton in London in March.

I hope to see lots of you there for another great day of learning and networking, with our wide array of expert speakers joining us to offer insight on a characteristically broad range of topics.

Finally, I wish you all the best of luck for 2023 – no doubt it will be another busy year, but I’m sure that our profession will continue to thrive.

Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy, CITMA President

Celebrating our students' successes

insider1.jpg 1

The annual CITMA awards are our chance to celebrate the top trade mark students in the country. We are delighted to announce the 2022 winners.

Our winners were once again able to receive their awards in the company of our members at our London Christmas lunch.

In 2022 our awards recognised the Student members receiving the highest marks on the trade mark qualification courses at Queen Mary University of London, Bournemouth University, Brunel University and Nottingham Law School.

In addition, the Roy Scott Award was presented to the student who achieved the top mark in the CITMA Paralegal Course.

CITMA award winners 2022

Postgraduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice at Queen Mary University of London

  • Jean-Francois Bruneau, BAT Mark 
  • Szu-Yu Tao (Celia Tao), Pinsent Masons

Postgraduate Certificate in IP at Bournemouth University

  • Danielle Wears, Pure Ideas

Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice course at Nottingham Law School

  • Christina Chan, Stevens Hewlett & Perkins 

Intellectual Property Law Postgraduate Certificate at Brunel University

  • John Glover, William Grant & Sons

Intellectual Property Litigation and Advocacy Certificate at Nottingham Law School (Hogarth Chambers Award)

  • Sonia Amrar

The Roy Scott Award

  • Lauren Fisher, Albright IP

CITMA extends its congratulations to all of these outstanding students

insider2.jpg 1

IP handbooks: Free trial

Thomson Reuters is offering CITMA members a free 30-day trial allowing access to the following CIPA/CITMA publications on ProView eBook: The Trade Mark Handbook; The European Union Trade Mark Handbook; The Community Designs Handbook. Click here to learn more.

George Freeman returns as IP minister

insider3.jpg 1

George Freeman MP has been re-appointed as the minister with responsibility for IP, less than five months after resigning.

He takes over from Dean Russell MP.

The role sits within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Click here to learn more.

Spring Conference 2023

insider4.jpg 1

Share strategies for success and meet our international community of trade mark professionals at our Spring Conference in London on 16th March 2023.

Hosted in The Waldorf Hilton, the conference will equip you with practical advice to take into your work. Find out more and book.