Maggie Ramage becomes third female President of ITMA in its 75 year history

Maggie Ramage was today elected as the third female President of ITMA – the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys – in its 75 year history.

Speaking after the ITMA Council voted her as President, Maggie said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be elected as President of this august Institute. If I were to sum up my principal aim of my two year Presidency it is to raise the standards and awareness of trade mark practice throughout the legal profession and consolidate the position of the Institute.”

“A key feature of this is how we grapple with the challenges as well as the opportunities facing the profession of trade mark attorneys in the first year of the separation of our representational and regulatory responsibilities. The UK is pioneering in its approach to regulation of the trade mark attorney profession and this will instil the UK as an attractive option for non EU countries. I wish to ensure there is a smooth transition of our regulatory functions to the new IP Regulatory Board (IPReg) without incurring undue burdens on the professions; either by costs, which in turn ensure the consumer still gets value for money, or by administrative requirements which frees up the professionals to work in the furtherance of their clients’ interests.”

 “And while regulation is something that is one of the new challenges facing the profession, I intend building on one of the founding strengths of our organization – its education and training system. A complete overhaul means that we are introducing a new way of qualifying as a trade mark attorney, introducing a mixture of both legal knowledge and practical application as part of the curriculum, with courses delivered by noted academic institutions Nottingham Law School and Queen Mary University, London. This is just the start. Over the next two years I will make sure that all new entrants to the profession have access to top quality courses as well as a supporting programme of seminars and lectures for all of our members enabling them to meet stringent CPD (Continuing Professional Development) requirements for trade mark attorneys and litigators.”

“I plan to raise the profile of the Institute and provide more benefits to the membership. With our new premises at Outer Temple in the heart of Central London we have a prime opportunity to develop relationships with key players in the IP field such as the Legal  Services Board, and Government agencies including the Minister for IP’s Whitehall Head Office and deliver the views of the membership/profession. Perhaps more significantly our new Central London location will enable some of our out-of-town members to make use of the office as a base for meeting clients in London; a service that amply demonstrates one of the many benefits of belonging to an Institute which has flourished for over 75 years”

“I want to ensure that ITMA builds on its reputation as a key player in the world of trade marks. I want to develop the relationship we already enjoy with sister organizations throughout Europe and internationally through WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and INTA, the US based International Trademark Association. I hope that by the time my Presidency ends, I will be able to hand over a thriving professional body with an even greater membership as I seek to broaden the Institute’s appeal.”

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Maggie is a UK Trade Mark Attorney, and from April 2010 the President of ITMA, and a European Trade Mark Attorney.  She is also a member of INTA, ECTA and MARQUES.  Maggie has worked for the Californian based Raychem Corporation and was seconded to San Francisco in 1987.  She then worked for what was Beecham Group (now part of GlaxoSmithKline), before moving to British Telecommunications.  Maggie became a Partner in Surrey based Alexander Ramage Associates in 1991. A picture is available from the contact below or from Lauren Boosey at the Institute office on 0207 101 6093. 

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 Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the Community Trade Marks Office (OHIM), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and other sister organisations in Europe and beyond. For more information visit www.itma.org.uk.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS