Young Practitioner Spotlight: Tamara Winegust

Tamara Céline Winegust (Bereskin & Parr, Canada)

Tamara Céline Winegust (Bereskin & Parr, Canada) was taught from an early age that our mental capabilities make us what we are. As such, she was first drawn to the intellectual property (IP) field because of the intellectual challenge. She found the perfect fit in trademark law.

Ms. Winegust is a member of INTA’s Emerging Issues Committee, Embargoes, Sanctions and Treaty Compliance Subcommittee.

Ms. Winegust began practicing at Bereskin & Parr LLP in Toronto, Canada, immediately after finishing law school in 2013 and is now an associate at the firm. Admitted to the bar in 2014 and also a Canadian Registered Trademark Agent, today, she works with all types of clients, from large multinational companies with worldwide trademark portfolios to local independent businesspeople building their brands from the ground up.

At the firm, Ms. Winegust enjoys the opportunity to learn from her mentors and senior colleagues at the firm. She firmly believes in the importance of collaboration with peers and clients and in providing timely and useful advice. She considers these qualities central to the practice of IP, along with the need to never stop learning, not being afraid to ask questions, and making the most of relationships with senior practitioners.

In her daily practice, Ms. Winegust sees that an open mind and collaborative skills are a must for IP practitioners, who also need to craft practical strategies for clients that consider changes and developments in law, technology, and commerce.

From her perspective, the tension between the worldwide reach of brands (especially via the Internet) and the principle of territoriality is one of the most important issues in trademark law today. In particular, she notes, brands and their counsel must consider the relationship between use and goodwill and jurisdictional protections as national laws may not be fully adapted to rapidly changing market realities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted this issue, as consumers have increasingly moved online to purchase goods and access services.

Ms. Winegust greatly appreciates the resources available at INTA, including the INTA Bulletin and The Trademark Reporter, and notes how they help practitioners learn about trademark laws worldwide and better assist clients.

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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