Croatian Attorney Receives International Trademark Association’s Prestigious President’s Award

New York, New York―November 19, 2020―The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce Mladen Vukmir, Partner, Vukmir & Associates, Zagreb, Croatia, as a recipient of the Association’s 2020 President’s Award.

The global association of brand owners and trademark professionals presents the prestigious award annually to one or more of INTA’s most distinguished volunteers for a career dedicated to trademarks and intellectual property (IP) protection and advancement, and for contributions that have advanced INTA’s mission and made a lasting impact on the Association.

Mr. Vukmir has served on a staggering number and variety of committees and project teams at INTA for more than two decades. His leadership positions have included serving as a member of INTA’s Board of Directors from 2012 to 2014 and chairing the Brands and Innovation Committee during the 2018–2019 Committee Term.

He founded Vukmir & Associates in 1991. Among his numerous accomplishments in Croatia, he has been appointed by the Government of the Republic of Croatia to serve as a member of the Board of Appeals for Patents and Topographies and has written and lectured on various IP topics, including regularly teaching as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law.

“During my career I saw INTA as a source of professional excellence and integrity, of collegiality and friendship, of a globalized outlook at the world, of integration and tolerance, all things that I cherish,” Mr. Vukmir said. “The work that went into my volunteer contributions always ended up having an impact, and that is most of what we can strive to achieve in our professional lives. This is why the INTA President’s Award means so much to me.”

One of Mr. Vukmir’s passions is corporate social responsibility (CSR) and, as such, he has embraced INTA’s focus, as part of its Strategic Plan, on CSR and sustainability. Currently, he is a member of the Association’s Brands for a Better Society Committee. Earlier, in 2017, he co-chaired INTA’s Brand Authenticity Conference in Berlin, Germany, which explored the powerful impact that CSR, sustainability, and integrity can have on brand value and business results.

Also on the CSR front, Mr. Vukmir and his firm have committed to supporting a private venture developing a way to sequester carbon by the deployment of “marine snow,” designed to address global warming and contribute to the creation of a better planet. To raise awareness about the importance of CSR initiatives, Mr. Vukmir interviewed his business partner who developed the technology to produce marine snow, and authorized INTA to post the video interview on its YouTube channel.

In presenting the award to Mr. Vukmir, INTA President Ayala Deutsch said, “Rarely do you come across someone with more commitment to making the world a better place than Mr. Vukmir. In addition to his consistent excellent work for the Association, he is passionate about all facets of building a better world for future generations. I deeply respect his accomplishments and congratulate him on this honor.”

Ms. Deutsch presented Mr. Vukmir with the President’s Award in a video announcement on November 19 during INTA’s all-virtual 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting. The Association also announced a second recipient of the 2020 President’s Award, Anna Carboni, an attorney and former INTA counsel  who is based in London, United Kingdom. Earlier, INTA recognized the 2020 winners of the INTA Service Awards and the Tomorrow’s Leader Award.

About the International Trademark Association (INTA)
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include nearly 6,500 organizations, representing more than 34,350 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 185 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.