Three Questions with Kevin Blum: In-House Practitioners Series at the 2025 Annual Meeting

Kevin Blum (NBCUniversal, USA)

INTA will introduce its first ever In-House Practitioners Series at the 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, USA. The seven sessions comprising the Series were specifically designed for brand legal professionals navigating the complexities of in-house trademark practice. In addition to these educational sessions—six of which are CLE-eligible—the Series will include a workshop and reception exclusive to in-house practitioners.

In-House Practitioners Committee member Kevin Blum (NBCUniversal, USA) has led the development of this Series, which will cover a range of topics, including the effective communication of the value of intellectual property (IP), ethical considerations, cybersecurity collaboration, team management, brand expansion and management in China, and brand portal development and management.

Here, Mr. Blum sheds light on how the evolution of the in-house role led to the development of this Series, provides a sneak peek at what registrants can expect from the educational sessions, and shares his advice for in-house practitioners attending their first Annual Meeting.

How has the in-house role evolved in recent years, leading to the expansion of programming dedicated to in-house practitioners at the 2025 Annual Meeting?
In-house practitioners are being asked to wear more hats than ever. It’s very rare that I come across an in-house colleague who only handles their company’s trademark portfolio. It’s always “trademarks and marketing” or “trademarks and domain names” or “trademarks and copyright.”

At the same time, in-house lawyers are constantly being asked to do more with lower budgets and headcount. Every spend, be it outside counsel fees, registration costs, vendor fees, or otherwise, needs to be defensible as an investment for the company.

The In-House Practitioners Committee’s Interactive Subcommittee has been doing a fantastic job of brainstorming and executing programming around these topics and others relevant to in-house counsel. So much so that there are more topics than opportunities to discuss them. Further, some of these topics are better and more candidly discussed with all participants in the same time zone and room.

These factors are culminating in the first-ever programming series designed by in-house practitioners for in-house practitioners at the 2025 Annual Meeting. I am incredibly excited and honored to have been asked to spearhead this Series, and I strongly believe that the seven sessions that we have on tap will make this the most valuable Annual Meeting for in-house practitioners to date.

Please provide a brief overview of what registrants can expect from the Series.
With seven sessions and one workshop spread over five days, there will truly be something for everyone. Registrants can expand their substantive knowledge by attending Expanding and Managing Your Brand in China and It’s Not Really a Trademark Question. Those looking to improve efficiency and communicate value to stakeholders will enjoy panels on Setting Up and Maintaining an Effective Brand Portal and Communicating the Strategic Importance of IP.

If you’re interested in building the best possible brand protection team, then Building a Winning Trademark Team and Partnering with Your Cybersecurity Team for Enhanced Legal Protection will be particularly of interest.

And, of course, since everyone needs to satisfy their ever-important ethics CLE credits, we will be having a special panel on how to avoid ethical pitfalls that pose particular dangers to in-house counsel. On top of all this, the very popular In-House Practitioners Workshop will allow for more in-depth conversations and benchmarking. All of the sessions and the Workshop are open only to in-house practitioners (read: you won’t get pitched in the middle of a session) and are included with your registration.

Based on your personal experience, what advice would you offer an in-house practitioner attending the Annual Meeting for the first time?
Be the master of your own schedule. Between all of the programming, events, meetings with your outside counsel and vendors, and receptions, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You don’t have to say “yes” to every invite that comes across your inbox.

Take some time to recharge. Explore the exhibition hall. Use your hotel’s gym. Grab breakfast with a former colleague. Go on a Business Development excursion. By actively controlling your schedule, you’ll be able to keep your mental and social batteries charged and ensure that you’re ready to take full advantage of all five days of the Annual Meeting.

Learn more and register for the 2025 Annual Meeting.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

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