The process of the UK leaving the EU—commonly known as Brexit—is complex on many levels. The consequences of Brexit on all businesses will be affected in a myriad of ways, including IP. Brexit will affect the European Union Trade Mark and the UK’s participation and influence in the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It also impacts the rights of representation of the UK legal profession.
There are issues surrounding pending trade mark applications, trade mark use requirements, renewals, and inter partes proceedings including pending opposition, invalidity and revocation proceedings.
It also affects anti-counterfeiting and European design rights. Brexit day is fast approaching on 31 December 2020 and this presentation covers points relevant to any industry that has IP rights in Europe.
This program is presented by Joanne Lecky, who is the Director of Trademarks at Murgitroyd, Dublin.
Program Notes:
- This event is available to members of MIPLA at no charge.
- A link to access the Zoom meeting will be included in the reminder email sent out the morning of the event.
- 1 CLE credit has been applied for.
Speaker Bios:
Joanne holds the current titles;
- UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
- Registered Trade Mark Attorney (Ireland)
- European Trade Mark & Design Attorney
- LLB Law, The Queen’s University of Belfast
- MSc Management and Information Systems, The Queen’s University of Belfast
- Diplome d’etudes juridiques francaises, University of Limoges Member of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (MITMA)
Joanne Lecky graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an LLB in law with french.
As part of her undergraduate degree, she spent a year studying law at the University of Limoges in France, obtaining a Diploma in French Law. Joanne then completed a Master of Science degree, her dissertation covering the protection of software as intellectual property.
She worked in-house as an intellectual property advisor for a US technology company prior to joining Murgitroyd in 2002. Joanne is a qualified trade mark attorney in both the UK and Ireland, and is the main point of contact in Ireland for trade marks. Joanne was appointed Director of Trade Marks in 2012.
A member of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, Joanne has presented to the Law Society in Belfast. She also regularly lectures undergraduate law students at Queen’s University.
She helps clients with trade mark clearance searches and protection as well as IP audits, licensing and dispute resolution.
Joanne has experience in representing clients before the UK Intellectual Property Office and the EUIPO in oppositions, revocations and invalidity actions. Her clients range from large corporations to small and medium sized companies in a diverse range of industry sectors.
Some of Joanne’s major clients have been in the following sectors: Fashion, retail, food and beverage, FMCG, media and entertainment.
Joanne is based in the Belfast Office and works closely with the team in Dublin.
Eleanor Coates holds the current titles;
- UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
- European Trade Mark and Design Attorney
- MA Economics, University of Glasgow
Eleanor is a Director of Trademarks at Murgitroyd, and is also the UK Trademarks Team Head of Legal Practice, ensuring that changes to legal practices through case law or legislation are reflected in Murgitroyd’s practices, and attorneys are always up to date. She is also been responsible for monitoring Brexit developments, communicating these to the wider team and clients through legal updates and the Brexit hub at Murgitroyd.com.
Eleanor Coates’ core area of expertise is trademark and design protection and prosecution, including trademark clearances, certification and collective marks, oppositions, assignments, cancellations and invalidations in the UK and EU. She has significant experience in developing trademark protection strategies for clients, from large international organizations to SMEs, small family firms, and individuals, and enjoys the variety of work that offers.
She routinely represents clients in opposition work before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). She supports pre- action dispute correspondence, and advises on infringement matters.
After graduating from the University of Glasgow with an MA (Hons) in Economics, Eleanor began working in London for The Patent Office (now UKIPO) as a search room assistant and hearings clerk before moving into private practice, first at D. Young & Co (London), then at Rouse LLP, where she qualified as a trademark attorney. During this period, she worked with large multi-national companies and undertook several world-wide registration programs.
