London Bound: What’s Inspiring This Year’s Annual Meeting Co-Chairs

What can registrants expect from the Educational Program?

TF: I have never seen such a robust educational program as this year’s. Of course, we have cutting-edge sessions with legal updates and discussions on law and policy. But we also have a track on the Business of Intangibles and another on Technology Shaping the Future of IP. And from my perspective, those two could not be timelier and more relevant to trademark practitioners. There are over 60 educational sessions, with three series: the Patent Series, the In-House Practitioners Series (which I’m particularly excited about), and the Professional Development & Career Advancement Series.

LK: I think the workshops are important, with new Industry and IP Offices Workshops. Of course, we’re going to continue with the Law Firm Idea Exchange, which encourages open dialogue on key challenges, including talent retention, generational transitions, and evolving client expectations.

And we will also have a Flash Mentoring session for the first time brought to our members by our dedicated volunteers from the Professional Development Committee. We have people who’ve been on the INTA Board, people who’ve been heads of committees, and so on. I often get stopped by members asking how I got the ribbons attached to my INTA badge. How do I get on the Board? How do I join a committee? And so Flash Mentoring is a chance for people to pose those questions to more experienced members.

TF: We’re also very excited about the Trademark Administrators Brunch with 2026 INTA President Deborah Hampton. Being a trademark administrator, she will be there. And it’s the first time, I believe, we’ve hosted something like this.

Are there any other fresh elements or innovations introduced into this year’s program that people can look forward to?

LK: I’m really excited about the Patent Series—we’ve put together a robust two-day program. We’ve heard the question: “You’re a trademark association, so why focus on patents?” The answer is simple: INTA now sees itself as an IP organization, not just a trademark association. Even as trademark practitioners, we increasingly encounter patent issues in our daily work.

I’m not a patent attorney myself, but I’m thrilled to sit in on those sessions, hear insights on patents from a trademark perspective, and engage directly with colleagues on the other side. It’s going to be an incredible learning experience. Of course, if you are a patent professional and don’t want to miss out on the Annual Meeting, you now have strong justification to register and attend the Annual Meeting.

TF: I think the way you put it, Lara—patents from a trademark perspective—is spot on. As a trademark practitioner myself, I’m not just focused solely on trademarks anymore. To be able to learn and spot issues, and have some understanding of patent matters, is going to be an incredible opportunity for registrants.

We’re going to have twice-daily keynote speeches, which is new—a morning keynote and an afternoon keynote. And they’ll be from 20 to 50 minutes in length, with interesting speakers from the business world, judiciary, as well as academia.

It really is a packed program. How are people going to literally fit in all of this, and what advice do the two of you have, being long-time Annual Meeting participants?

TF: I can tell you what I have started to do, because I was always guilty of scheduling meetings first. I actually do the reverse now: I look at the microsite and book the educational sessions first and then I book my meetings around them.

LK: It really is all about adequate planning before you arrive, which means going to the microsite. Look through and begin to ask your clients for those meetings now. It’s not too early. So, when I have no major issues to discuss with my clients and there is a session that I think they would enjoy—for example, on dupes—I say, “Look, I think you would actually enjoy listening to this. Would you like to grab a coffee after this session?” That way, I’m not dictating that they go to this session, I’m suggesting something I think they will find interesting. I think it’s a disservice to the people who are going to speak—to the amount of work they have put into it—to not attend.

What new opportunities or initiatives have been added this year to help members connect and grow their business?

TF: This year there will be a corporate lounge for in-house practitioners, which will be a quiet place to chat with fellow in-house practitioners, not a spot to hold meetings with outside counsel. It’s envisaged as a quiet place to regroup and take a minute, have a cup of tea, and then get back out there. If you need to conduct a meeting, corporate members can book a business suite at no additional charge

LK: The business suites and the exhibitions are always popular. We have over 350 Table Topics, 100+ affiliate events, and the Business Development excursions. Also, plan your journey around the London Underground Elizabeth Line. It’s easy, and if you’re based near Canary Wharf, plan your journeys using the DLR (Docklands Light Railway).

TF: The Excel is going to be the place to be. It’s in a very cool area of London. But the layout of the Center itself is so conducive to networking, having meetings, and bumping into colleagues who you may not have scheduled a meeting with. There are going to be food trucks highlighting different areas around the world. There’ll be little fun events here and there throughout the Center, in addition to all the business, workshops, and educational meetings running. It’s really a unique space right on the Thames, right by the Royal Docks area of East London.

For those members joining for the first time, do you have any specific tips for them ahead of the Meeting?

LK: Attend the Annual Meeting First-Time Registrant Orientation & Reception. Everyone will be in the same boat and you can discover the Meeting together. That’s what worked for me when I attended many years ago. In fact, while wandering around, I bumped into a classmate of mine. We were at university together. It was also her first time. And so we began our journey and we’re still coming to the same Meeting many years later.

I started my practice off really at INTA, and I had no clients, so there was no responsibility apart from attending sessions. Plan now. Plan to attend. Look at the receptions. And have an open mind. Remember, everyone is there to do business. Everyone is there to meet people. So have your business cards with you—be they virtual or traditional business cards.

TF: I remember my first INTA Annual Meeting. I was so overwhelmed. I was young. I was nervous. Everybody seemed to know each other. I was hesitant to introduce myself or venture out. But when I did, it was remarkable how welcoming people were. I remember going to one event, and I’m still friendly with people I met at that event. They took me under their wing and introduced me to INTA and got me involved in INTA, and I’ve never left.

It can be intimidating. Do know you’re not alone. The new INTA President, Deborah Hampton, mentioned it in her opening letter recently that “We are a family, and we support each other, personally and professionally.”

Over the years, how has your strategy for navigating the Annual Meeting changed? Any lessons learned that you can share with others?

LK: Planning, planning, planning. I know you want to go to all the parties. I know you want to go to all the receptions, but please pace yourselves, and don’t discount any day. There’s lots to do in London, and shopping too will take you away. But don’t forget why you’re really there!

TF: I could not agree more on the need to plan, but leave a couple of pockets of free time to allow for spontaneity. I have found that I would book myself from 8am to 8pm with back-to-back meetings, and then I would run into somebody, and I would not be able to meet them. So allow yourself a little bit of wriggle room.

With so much change happening around the world, why do you think it’s especially important for the global IP community to come together for this year’s Annual Meeting?

TF: I think it’s because there’s so much happening in the world that it’s important for us to come together. An Annual Meeting allows for us to come together so that we can speak with each other. We can learn from each other and we can support each other in a way that no other meeting I know does.

LK: The programming is spectacular. It’s second to none. But I think if you come to this Meeting, there’s so much in the content for you. For instance, we’re going to try to hopefully make sense of AI’s impact. We know it’s redefining many things—authorship, inventorship, infringement. Also, enforcement complexity is rising—the way we have done it in the past doesn’t work anymore. Counterfeiting has changed from going into stores to online, so come and learn about it from the experts.

We’re navigating a time of geopolitical and economic volatility, and we understand the global shifts taking place. Trade policies are evolving, tariffs are being imposed and enforced, and these changes impact our industry. INTA’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan positions the Association as a global advocate, and what better place to learn about our vision and plans for this advocacy than at our Annual Meeting.

Editor’s Note

The early bird deadline is February 13, 2026. INTA is also hosting its 5th Open Innovation Challenge in London, providing a  unique opportunity for early to mid-sized start-ups and scale-ups to pitch and promote their business idea, gain insights from judges and peers, and network.

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. The opinions expressed in this interview are those of the persons being interviewed and do not purport to reflect the views of INTA or its members. 

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