Francis Gurry joins IPH as advisor
Asia-Pacific IP services provider IPH has recruited former World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) director general Francis Gurry as a strategic advisor.
Gurry stepped down as head of WIPO in September, to be replaced by former Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) chief executive Daren Tang. Gurry had served in the position since October 2008.
“We are pleased to have secured an executive of Francis’ calibre to the group as a strategic advisor,” said Andrew Blattman, IPH CEO.
“Under Francis’ leadership, WIPO has been at the forefront of managing the impact of rapid technological change on international patent and copyright systems and ensuring that the IP system continues to serve its fundamental purpose of encouraging creativity and innovation,” Blattman added.
Gurry said: “IPH is one the major patent filers globally and has been an innovator in the IP sector, including being the first IP services group to list on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2014.
“I look forward to bringing my experience to the group and assisting IPH progress its strategy to be the leading IP services group in secondary IP markets and adjacent areas of IP.”
Francis Gurry
“I look forward to bringing my experience to the group and assisting IPH progress its strategy to be the leading IP services group in secondary IP markets and adjacent areas of IP.”
In an April interview with WIPR , Gurry spoke about the importance of furthering gender diversity in the global IP system.
Gurry launched WIPO’s first policy on gender equality in 2014, but in the interview said global innovation was still suffering from a lack of participation from women.
“We will be able to draw on Francis’ unparalleled knowledge, insights and experience in global IP matters for the benefit of our clients and our IP professionals across the group,” Blattman said.
Baker McKenzie appoints key China IP partner to global committee
Baker McKenzie has named IP partner Shih Yann Loo to its global executive committee.
Loo lead’s the firm’s IP group in cross-border litigation and enforcement in Hong Kong and Mainland China. He joined the firm’s Hong Kong office in 1993 and during his 27 years with the firm, has played a key role in implementing the firm’s China strategy.
This includes being a part of the management team that led the establishment of Baker McKenzie FenXun (FTZ), the firm’s joint operation office in 2015, working with clients across China.
Loo has also served on the committee that oversees Baker McKenzie’s offices and member firms in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, and Vietnam.
The firm also appointed Michael Wong to the role of Asia-Pacific chair, in addition to his continuing role as global executive committee member.
Loo and Wong will serve as Asia-Pacific representatives on the executive committee, Baker McKenzie’s eight-strong senior leadership team, with responsibility for developing and implementing global business strategy and managing the firm’s day-to-day business across 77 offices in 46 countries.
“I look forward to working with Michael and the senior leadership to further advance our firm’s goals and be the counsel and employer of choice to our clients and our people.”
Shih Yann Loo
Commenting on the announcements, Baker McKenzie’s global chair Milton Cheng said: “I am delighted to welcome Shih Yann to our global executive committee and Michael to his new role as Asia-Pacific regional chair.
“They are both outstanding lawyers, and I am confident that, working closely with our other executive committee members, they will continue to drive our success and global strategy moving forward.”
The two new positions took effect during the firm’s annual meeting, which was held virtually in October.
Loo said: “I am honoured to be elected to the executive committee. I look forward to working with Michael and the senior leadership to further advance our firm’s goals and be the counsel and employer of choice to our clients and our people.”
AIPLA names Knobbe Martens partner as president
The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) has elected Joseph Re, a partner at Knobbe Martens, as its 2020–21 president.
Re succeeds Barbara Fiacco, outgoing president and Foley Hoag partner.
“I am honoured to pass the gavel to Joe. He has been an active leader in the IP community, and an engaged and valued contributor to the association for many years. Joe has already made important contributions to AIPLA’s policy efforts and our community as a whole,” said Fiacco.
Re is the first Knobbe Martens lawyer to lead AIPLA since founding partner Don Martens served as the organisation’s president in 1995–96.
“Our quick response, under the leadership of my predecessor Barbara Fiacco, has kept the AIPLA strong and active during trying times.”
Joseph Re
Trial and appellate attorney Re has handled technology cases for more than 30 years. He secured a $466 million jury verdict for longstanding client medical technology company Masimo in a patent dispute against Philips Electronics North America. The parties subsequently settled the litigation.
“The AIPLA is a very special organisation, and its members are what make it so great. Our staff, leadership and members faced the challenges of the global pandemic head-on. Our quick response, under the leadership of my predecessor Barbara Fiacco, has kept the AIPLA strong and active during trying times,” said Re.
ARIPO appoints Ugandan Bemanya Twebaze as leader
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has announced that Ugandan national Bemanya Twebaze will be its next director-general.
Twebaze will take up the position on January 1, 2021, for a term of four years, according to a press release issued on November 17.
In addition to thanking ARIPO’s administrative council for his appointment, Twebaze pledged to put his “best energy” into making “meaningful transformations at ARIPO”.
Twebaze is the chief executive officer of Uganda’s national IP office, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), a position he has held since 2012.
According to his profile on the URSB’s website, under his leadership, the office has placed an emphasis on the use of technology to support and simplify registration operations.
Twebaze has promoted private sector growth and spearheaded the development of a simplified and efficient regulatory framework to govern the URSB’s activities during his time in office.
Bemanya Twebaze pledged to put his “best energy” into making “meaningful transformations at ARIPO”.
In addition, Twebaze has fought against corruption that has led to improved revenue collection and enhanced public trust.
Twebaze will be the sixth director-general of ARIPO. The outgoing director-general, Fernando dos Santos from Mozambique, will finish his eight-year term on December 31, 2020.
Zimbabwe-based ARIPO was formed in 1976, and currently has 20 member states: Botswana, The Kingdom of Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, The Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
USPTO names new general counsel
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has appointed David Berdan as its new general counsel.
Berdan, who most recently served as general counsel and compliance officer of gambling company Gaming Arts, took up the post on November 16.
Prior to his role at Gaming Arts, Berdan was deputy general counsel at sports betting company IGT, and chief counsel for IP at Koch Industries.
“America’s inventors, creators, and innovators will be well-served with David as general counsel at the USPTO,” said USPTO director Andrei Iancu.
David Berdan
“With his leadership experience and knowledge of so many aspects of technology and the law, he will help guide the USPTO as we endeavour to expand innovation and support a growing and dynamic US economy,” Iancu added.
Berdan will be Iancu’s chief legal advisor, and oversee the USPTO’s offices of the solicitor, general law, and enrolment and discipline.
“America’s inventors, creators, and innovators will be well-served with David as general counsel at the USPTO.” Andrei Iancu
Sidley Austin hires partners from McKool Smith
Sidley Austin has strengthened its Dallas office with the addition of two partners into the firm’s global IP litigation practice.
Patent litigators Aimee Fagan and Phillip Aurentz both join from McKool Smith.
Yvette Ostolaza, managing partner of Sidley’s Dallas office and a member of the firm’s management committee, said: “It’s a real coup to have Aimee and Phillip join our Dallas team and the highly skilled group of IP litigators in Dallas and across the firm.
“They are among a small handful of IP litigators with deep knowledge and experience in patent litigation issues facing those in the energy sector. Aimee and Phillip are excellent trial lawyers and will be able to immediately step in and add value for our clients.”
“Aimee and Phillip are excellent trial lawyers and will be able to immediately step in and add value for our clients.” Yvette Ostolaza
Fagan advises clients, particularly those in the energy industry, on complex patent litigation and commercial litigation matters, including misappropriation of trade secrets, and securities investigations.
Aurentz represents companies as both plaintiffs and defendants across various technologies ranging from digital content transmission technology to down-hole oil field tools and hydraulic fracturing.
“With their deep experience in high-stakes patent litigation matters and trial work, Aimee and Phillip will be welcome additions to our practice, which is consistently ranked among the top in the country,” said Tom Rein, global leader of Sidley’s IP litigation practice and a member of the firm’s executive committee.
Barnes & Thornburg hires Reed Smith trio
Barnes & Thornburg has expanded its IP department in Chicago with the addition of three IP litigators from Reed Smith.
John Cullis and Lee James join the firm as partners, while Robert Browne joins as of counsel.
Julia Gard, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s IP department, said: “This group has a long track record of success when it comes to IP litigation, involving everything from trademarks and patents to copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and more.
“Their skills as litigators, combined with the strategic counsel they provide clients on any number of IP issues, make them key additions to the firm.”
Cullis focuses his practice on IP litigation, counselling and procurement. He is a trial lawyer who has first-chaired trademark, trade dress, trade secret, copyright and unfair competition matters.
Cullis and James make up the fifth and sixth partner additions to the Chicago office’s IP department this year.
Robert Browne
Lee James
John Cullis
James handles litigation in federal courts and before the US Patent and Trademark Office, litigating matters involving trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and unfair competition.
Browne assists clients in protecting and enforcing their IP and defending their rights. He drafts and prosecutes patent and trademark applications and regularly negotiates and drafts IP and merchandise licences and distribution agreements.
“Their skills as litigators, combined with the strategic counsel they provide clients on any number of IP issues, make them key additions to the firm.” Julia Gard
WIPO: new leadership team ‘most diverse to date’
The member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have approved the appointment of four deputy directors general and four assistant directors general, creating the organisation’s most diverse senior leadership team to date.
Speaking at WIPO’s coordination committee on December 3, WIPO director Daren Tang confirmed his selection of eight sector leads “for their technical attributes and ability to work together to lead WIPO into its next chapter”.
Tang noted the geographical and gender diversity of the team, pointing out that three of the four new deputy directors general are women, comprising 37.5% of the senior leadership team.
“This is the most gender-diverse senior leadership in WIPO’s history," said Tang: “It will be a source of strength for WIPO and demonstrate our seriousness about gender diversity.”
The successful candidates for the posts of deputy directors general are:
- Lisa Jorgenson (US): deputy director general, patents and technology sector.
- Wang Binying (China): deputy director general, brands and designs sector
- Sylvie Forbin (France): deputy director general, copyright and creative industries sector.
- Hasan Kleib (Indonesia) deputy director general, regional and national development sector.
The successful candidates for the posts of assistant directors general are:
- Kenichiro Natsume (Japan): assistant director general, infrastructure and platforms sector.
- Edward Kwakwa (Ghana): assistant director general, global challenges and partnerships sector.
- Marco Aleman (Colombia): assistant director general, IP and innovation ecosystems sector.
- Andrew Staines (UK): assistant director general, administration, finance and management sector.
“It will be a source of strength for WIPO and demonstrate our seriousness about gender diversity.” Daren Tang
“The sector leads play an important role as senior leaders of the organisation. Collectively, and together with me, we set the tone at the top. As a team, we are responsible not just for strategy and leadership but also translating strategy into concrete plans, initiatives and actions,” said Tang, who assumed his role as head of WIPO for a six-year mandate in October.
Tang added: “WIPO needs to continue being strong in our core areas of running IP registries, providing tools, services and information, and shaping the normative agenda. At the same time, we need to broaden our work now to look at IP from an enterprise and economic perspective.”
The pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital and increased the importance of innovation and technology, he said.
“This will mean an increased demand from members for support and assistance as they look towards innovation and creativity as drivers of economic recovery,” he said.
He explained WIPO was ready to meet this challenge. “We are looking forward to working with all members and stakeholders to build a balanced, inclusive, forward-looking and dynamic global IP ecosystem,” he said.
EUIPO appoints João Negrão to Boards of Appeal
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has named João Negrão as the incoming president of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal, effective from April 1, 2021.
The decision of the Council of the EU to appoint Negrão was published on November 16.
Negrão, who is Portuguese, is currently the director of the EUIPO’s international cooperation and legal affairs department. He has held this position since 2011. For a year prior to this, he headed the president’s cabinet at the EUIPO.
Under Negrão’s direction, the EUIPO expanded its cooperation with the national and regional IP offices in the EU. During this period, the EUIPO also created the EU IP network and invested in more advanced IT tools to modernise the EU’s IP landscape.
Under Negrão’s direction, the EUIPO expanded its cooperation with the national and regional IP offices in the EU.
Additionally, Negrão led the EUIPO’s creation of the convergence programme, which seeks to harmonise practices at EU level, and he oversaw the expansion of the EUIPO’s international cooperation activities.
Before joining the EUIPO, Negrão served as director of international relations, legal affairs and promotion of innovation at the Portuguese IP office (INPI).
Negrão succeeds Greek national Théophile Margellos, who was appointed to the position in 2013.
