Bring Your Teams to 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting

With the 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting set as an all-virtual event in November, corporates and law firms from around the world have indicated that they will be registering more people than for past Meetings thanks in large part to the overall lower cost of attending this innovative event.

Early-bird registration for the Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting opens on July 6 for corporates, and general registration follows on July 13. The early-bird rate is available through August 21.

New this year is a one-time special package for multiple registrations: corporates receive one free registration with every three registrations purchased by the same organization; associates receive one free registration with every five registrations purchased by the same organization. Also contributing to the cost savings, this year, there will be no charge for add-on events like workshops and Table Topics.

“The size of the team we can bring to INTA is usually limited by the registration fee, hotel, and airfare,” notes Batur Oktay, Managing Director, Corporate Counsel at Starbucks, Seattle, Washington, USA. “But this year, thanks to the substantially reduced rate, I hope to bring more of my team so they can take the region-specific and topical courses that are so helpful to our work.”

Kowit Somwaiya, Managing Partner, LawPlus Ltd., Thailand, has done the math, calculating that two partners from his firm typically spend around US $15,600 to attend an Annual Meeting. “This virtual offers high value with flexible time schedules for a fraction of the normal cost,” he says. “More of our partners and young associates will attend this Meeting.” Plus, besides the savings on the cost of travel to an on-site Meeting, attendees will save days of traveling time.

Likewise, Elisabeth Bradley, Vice President, Innovation Law: Trademarks, Copyrights, and Brand Protection at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, sees the lower cost as a door opener for “newer attorneys to attend, experience the terrific educational content and obtain CLE credit, and start building their networking and leadership skills—all while still being able to cover their work responsibilities and be available for family commitments.”

“It truly is the perfect combination of having a fantastic INTA Annual Meeting experience while also being able to manage your work and family obligations,” declares Ms. Bradley, who is serving as the Annual Meeting Project Team co-chair.

With the virtual format, the Annual Meeting will be held November 16–20; during the prior week, November 10–13, committee meetings and Leadership Meeting sessions for INTA volunteers will be scheduled.

The Meeting will include live, simulated-live, and on-demand educational sessions in various formats, such as fireside chats, workshops, and panels. Also on tap are multiple social networking opportunities, an interactive Exhibit Hall, and meeting rooms and Hospitality Suites to hold one-on-one meetings.

The latter appeals to Zeeger Vink, Intellectual Property Director at MF Brands Group, Geneva, Switzerland. “Our IP team is excited to use the new meeting format: it provides a unique opportunity to have even more of our outside counsel attend our annual IP Counsel Meeting.”

Heather J. McDonald, Partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP, New York, New York, USA, is looking forward to “thought-provoking educational sessions and innovative networking experiences.”

“Now, more than ever,” she says, “it’s important for us to support INTA, and they’ve made that very easy by creating all of this at an amazing value, with the registration cost being far lower than the combined cost of the Annual and Leadership Meetings, with lots of great add-ons. I can’t wait to ‘see’ all my INTA friends and colleagues in this wonderful new format!”

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.

© 2020 International Trademark Association