New President Aims to put ITMA firmly on the International Stage

Speaking at the inaugural President’s dinner on the eve of World Intellectual Property Day, Gillian said:  

“For the UK profession to flourish and grow, I believe we need to build on the strengths and qualities we already have in the UK and take those skills to the wider world. In particular we need to demonstrate that the UK profession is ideally placed to be the Gateway to Europe for international businesses seeking trade mark protection in the EU.”  

“In my two year Presidency I aim to continue with our programme of overseas visits, focusing on the Far East markets of China and Japan but extending them to other regions such as South Korea. This programme will be augmented by the reception we are hosting in the British Embassy in Berlin next month (19 May) during the International Trademark Conference which attracts seven or eight thousand delegates annually from all over the Globe.”  

“In the same vein we will be looking to increase our influence with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) based in Geneva so that we have more input into the operations of WIPO and the international treaties that are the backbone of international trade mark protection. In this respect, I shall hope to lobby them to speed up their operations; to clarify systems of notification and to strengthen users’ rights.”  

“We already have excellent relations with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO), and OHIM (the Office for the Harmonisation of the Internal Market) which is responsible for EU Community Trade Mark (CTM) registrations. Improving relations with WIPO is a natural extension of international co-operation and we will be looking at other organizations worldwide where our influence can come to bear, not only for the good of the UK profession, but also for the UK consumer.”  

“On the internal front, I shall be looking at ways of improving the Institute’s services to members. During my Presidency I shall be exploring whether the Institute office can be re-located closer to the majority of members whilst maintaining the excellent staffing levels. We have just introduced a new website (www.itma.org.uk) which gives the public easier access to members in the UK and improves our service to members and we have set up a special group to look at improving benefits to members.”  

“These are just a few of the initiatives I hope to carry out in my term as President. As the second female President in the history of the Institute I relish this opportunity at a time when the profession is facing many changes because of the reforms in the regulation of legal services. These changes bring challenges of their own and I am grateful for the continued support of my predecessors, latterly Phil Harris and formerly Stephen James and Ian Buchan, who were instrumental in putting in place many of the procedures required to implement the reforms and who continue to work tirelessly to see them through.”  

“Finally, I have to thank my firm, D Young and Co who has endorsed my rise through the Institute ranks to the exalted heights of President. My colleagues are well aware that this new role places many demands on my time and energy and I thank them for their forebearance and support”  

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Gillian Deas joined D Young & Co in 1997 and became a Partner in 2004. D Young & Co have offices in London and Southampton and are specialists in trade marks, patents, designs and copyright and have over 200 employees. Gillian, who used to work in the Southampton office, has been working in London for the last two years. Previously, she had many years in-house trade mark experience with Shell Oil Company with responsibility globally for protecting their petrochemical trade marks. She also has experience in-house in a multi-national tobacco company.

Gillian was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys in 2002 having qualified as a Member in 1980. She became a European Trade Mark Attorney on the advent of the Community Trade Mark System in 1996 and a European Design Attorney on the advent of the Community Design System in 2003.

Gillian has a 25 year old daughter, Kirsty, who is a psychologist, and lives near Winchester.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) was established in 1934 as the professional body representing those persons qualified to act for the owners of trade mark and allied intellectual property rights (in particular, registered designs) both nationally and internationally. It now represents the vast majority of UK registered trade mark agents and all UK Trade Mark & Design Litigators.

2. Currently ITMA has approximately 500 practising members; it also extends associate membership to professionals in related fields of law and overseas membership to foreign trade mark attorneys. Its total membership (all classes) is about 1600 members, primarily located in the United Kingdom and Europe, but also in more than 50 other countries.

3. ITMA is regularly consulted by UK government and by international bodies when questions affecting trade mark and allied intellectual property rights arise. It has regular meetings with the UK Intellectual Property Office, the Community Trade Marks Office (OHIM), and other sister organisations in Europe and beyond. For more information visit www.itma.org.uk.

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