Latvia-Based Lawyer Receives Tomorrow’s Leader Award from International Trademark Association

New York, New York—November 15, 2021—The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce that Agnese Gerharde, an associate at COBALT, Riga, Latvia, is a recipient of the Association’s 2021 Tomorrow’s Leader Award.

The global association of brand owners and trademark professionals presents this award annually to outstanding professionals who have been practicing trademark law for five years or less to inspire the next generation of intellectual property (IP) professionals and to help accelerate the development of the recipients within the Association and the global trademark community.

An associate at the full-service IP practice for three years, Ms. Gerharde specializes in IP, IT matters with a particular focus on global IP protection strategies and transactions, trademark enforcement, trademark litigations, and copyright.

She has done extensive pro bono work for various organizations in Latvia during her brief career as an IP lawyer. Her efforts have included providing assistance on IP matters for the country’s official COVID-19 contact tracing mobile application; the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre, which collects testimonials, objects, photos, and stories about Latvia emigration; and ManaBalss, a platform for public initiatives.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the Tomorrow’s Leader Award,” Ms. Gerharde said. “This award resonates hard work, commitment, and amazing mentorship of my colleagues at COBALT. Receiving this award is a great milestone of my career and a direction for the future to continue the work and become more active with INTA and the international community of trademark professionals.”

The recipient of a Fulbright scholarship to study law in the United States, Ms. Gerharde has already had several articles published on topics such as new trademark laws in Latvia, Brexit guidelines, landmark IP decisions of the European Court of Justice, and more.

In acknowledging the award winner, INTA President Tiki Dare noted: “INTA is delighted to recognize Ms. Gerharde at the beginning of her professional journey. Between her impressive pro bono work, versatility as a lawyer, and clear passion for intellectual property, we are sure she has a prosperous career ahead of her, and we look forward to her contributions to the field and to the Association in the years ahead.”

As an award winner, Ms. Gerharde can serve on an INTA committee and receives complimentary registration to INTA’s 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+ and INTA’s 2022 Annual Meeting.

Ms. Gerharde graduated with a LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law from Fordham University Law School in New York City. She has an LL.M. with merit in International Law and European Law and a LL. B with merit in Law and Diplomacy, both from Riga Graduate School of Law in Latvia. Ms. Gerharde passed the New York Bar examination in July 2021.

Ms. Dare announced the Tomorrow’s Leader Award winners in a video announcement on the opening day of INTA’s 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+, which takes place through November 19. The other 2021 Tomorrow’s Leader Award recipients are Giulia Maienza of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Milan, Italy; and Pedro de Abreu M. Campos of Di Blasi, Parente & Associados, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Throughout the Meeting, Ms. Dare will also announce the winners of the INTA Service Awards and the President’s Award.

About the International Trademark Association
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 Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and a representative in New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.