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Do you need pro bono assistance from a trademark lawyer?
Assistance is coming soon. In 2016, INTA will be launching a pilot pro bono clearinghouse to connect those in need of trademark legal support with available trademark lawyers. The initial pilot program will focus on trademark matters falling within the United States, but INTA plans to expand the program on a global basis in the coming years.
In the meantime, please see the below “International Pro Bono Resource Guide”, which highlights a wealth of assistance available now through pro bono organizations in a variety of countries.
International Pro Bono Resource Guide
Search for Pro Bono Organizations:
 Australia | | Centre for Asia-Pacific Pro Bono | http://www.cappb.org/
The CAPPB is a clearing house that seeks to maych requests for pro bono assistance from orginizations (including governments) in the Asia-Pacific region with appropriate international pro bono legal service providers in Australia. | | Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (HPLC) | http://www.pilch.org.au/hplc/
Pro bono general free legal services to the homeless or people at risk of homelessness. | | Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS) | http://www.piac.asn.au/campaigns/homeless-persons-legal-service
General free legal services to homeless through a human rights framework. | | Law Society of New South Wales Pro Bono Scheme | http://www.lawsociety.com.au/community/findingalawyer/probono/
This is a clearing house that can put people in contact with law firms willing to provide general legal services for free/reduced fees. | | National Association of Community Legal Centres | http://www.naclc.org.au/
CLCs are independently operation not-for-profit community organizations that provide general legal and related services to the public, focusing on the disadvantaged and people with special needs. | | National Network of Women's Legal Services | http://www.nwjc.org.au/
The NWJC is a coalition of organizations and individuals which aims to promote women's equality before the law in Australia. | | National Pro Bono Resource Centre | http://www.nationalprobono.org.au/
National Pro Bono Resource Centre is a clearing house that provides general pro bono legal services to lawyers, law firms and the community sector. | | Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Incorporated | http://www.qpilch.org.au/
QPILCH is a clearing house that provides general pro bono legal services for individuals and community groups. | | The Law Society Northern Territory | http://lawsocietynt.asn.au/for-the-community/pro-bono-clearing-house
The Law Society Northern Territory is a clearing house that provides a full general range of services to solicitors (particularly members). | | Victorian Bar Pro Bono Scheme | http://www.vicbar.com.au/
The Victorian Bar is a private, voluntary, self-funded, non-profit professional association that provides general legal representation without fear/favour to the community. |
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Are you a trademark lawyer, firm or corporation wanting to provide pro bono assistance?
Pro Bono work provides many advantages for lawyers. In 2016, INTA will be launching a pro bono clearinghouse to match its member lawyer with pro bono clients in need of trademark assistance. Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved.
In the meantime, please see the information in the “Benefits of Legal Pro Bono” and “Pro Bono Resources” headings below to learn how to build a pro bono program and find out about organizations currently looking for volunteers.
Benefits of Legal Pro Bono
- Take responsibility for your organization’s impact on the community.
- Engage in voluntary programs to improve individuals’ quality of life.
- Contribute to the progression of an ethical social and economic environment.
- Enhance your organization’s reputation
- Boost employee morale and foster teamwork
- Fulfill ethical obligations
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INTA’s Pro Bono Committee created this Tool Kit to help law firms and corporations develop their own pro bono programs. The tool kit contains model documents, a discussion of potential issues, and a list of additional pro bono resources.
 Pro Bono Toolkit
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Koury Lopes Advogados
Kathleen Lemieux, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP
Kangxin Partners, P.C., China
Jennifer Mikulina, McDermott Will & Emery
Loreto Bresky, Alessandri Abogados, Santiago, Chile
Iris V. Quadrio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jonathan Jennings, Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Chris Bennett, HEROS
Alaine Doolan, Ability Beyond Disability
Rick Biagi, Bugles Across America
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Congratulations to our winners!
Pro Bono Services Provided by Individuals: Jennifer Mikulina of McDermott Will & Emery LLP
In the past year, Ms. Mikulina has worked with The Health Schools Campaign, a Chicago-based non-profit organization that seeks to create a healthier school environment for students. Ms. Mikulina has worked specifically to protect its valuable FIT TO LEARN and COOKING UP CHANGE trademarks. She has enforced the trademark rights against unauthorized third party use and provided copyright and trademark counseling. Additionally, Ms. Mikulina has worked with the Solve ME/CFS Initiative (SMCI)—formerly the CFIDS Association of America—a leading organization focused on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). She advised them on their rebranding campaign, new logo, and counseled them on how to use and protect their trademark property.
Pro Bono Services Provided by an Organization: Simmons & Simmons LLP
Simmons & Simmons LLP has a strong culture of corporate responsibility, resulting in wide-ranging pro bono activities. In 2015, the firm expanded the pro bono work they do, and sought to innovate their pro bono delivery, effectively overcoming some of the barriers to performing pro bono in the UK. For example, the firm has fostered partnerships with agencies to provide pro bono legal services to smaller clients that were previously difficult to access.
The Simmons & Simmons IP Group in London is at the forefront of the firm’s pro bono engagement and is particularly active in providing pro bono support for the arts and indigent individuals and groups in the creative field. As a member of the Queen Mary University Legal Advice Centre “Law for the Arts” program, IP lawyers from the firm supervise Queen Mary University law students in providing advice to young artists and designers with their IP related issues. Also in the field of the arts, the Simmons & Simmons IP team provided pro bono advice and support to the London Mozart Players, Frieze Art Fairs, the Centre for Recent Drawing and the English National Ballet. The firm’s IP team has also provided substantial pro bono IP support for a number of environmental organizations, including The Rainforest Foundation, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor and Global Action Plan.
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Know of a member on your committee whose tireless efforts have led to the advancement of trademark-related pro bono? Nominate him/her for the Pro Bono Volunteer Services Award. Nominations will be solicited in July-August.
Two Pro Bono Volunteer Service Awards will be given:
1. The INTA Volunteer Service Award for Pro Bono Legal Services by an Individual Awarded to one or more individuals who have shown a significant commitment to providing trademark and related intellectual property pro bono legal services in support of (a) persons of limited means or other disadvantaged persons; (b) charitable, religious, civic, community and educational organizations that address the needs of persons of limited means or disadvantaged persons; or (c) government or judicial organizations.
2. The INTA Volunteer Service Award for Pro Bono Legal Services by a Member Organization Awarded to one or more member organizations that have demonstrated a significant development or expansion of programs for providing trademark and related Intellectual Property pro bono services during the previous year.
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Are you an INTA member looking for information on INTA’s pro bono committee?
An important initiative dedicated to the advancement of trademark pro bono work globally.
INTA's main pro bono objective is to provide a gateway for members to access invaluable information on how to successfully get involved in pro bono programs. There are several ways to achieve this:
- Create a team of member volunteers who are dedicated to furthering pro bono within the INTA community.
- Provide links to websites of organizations that are involved with trademark or IP related pro bono work to show opportunities for involvement.
- Highlight INTA members’ pro bono efforts.
- Develop pro bono table topics and sessions at upcoming INTA programs.
Do you know an individual or organization involved in trademark pro bono, or do you have your own success story? Are you looking for Pro Bono assistance?
We want to hear about it! Email Stacey Sutton, Associate, Member Acquisition, at ssutton@inta.org to have your experiences, guidance, and suggestions cited on our website.
Pro Bono Committee
Pro Bono Committee
Learn more about the Pro Bono Committee objectives, leadership and more. |
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