More than 8,000 global professionals gathered in Hong Kong at the 136th International Trademark Association annual meeting, the first to be held in Asia.
The annual gathering is the largest and most dynamic trademark event in the world. Picture: INTA
Ekaterina Shekhtman, managing partner of Novosibirsk INCO IP Rights Protection Agency, said: 'There are about ten Russian companies taking part in this year's meeting in Hong Kong, with most of them from Moscow.
'This is a fantastic chance for our agency to make contacts with IP attorneys from around the world, and begin partnerships with companies in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. I am taking part not only as IP attorney and company's managing partner, but as a teacher, taking part in seminars on teaching intellectual property protection'.
She stressed: 'It is an honour to be here among the world's leading players in our field.
'We are making excellent contacts which we hope will be mutually beneficial in the future. The annual meeting also helps us to serve our clients better by being fully up to speed in best practice from around the world.'
The annual meeting runs from 10 to 14 May. INTA unites nearly 7,000 companies involved in trademark and IP rights protection. The companies are from 190 countries.
INTA's first Annual Meeting in Asia includes five days of international trademark and intellectual property education sessions 'led by the most acclaimed IP professionals in the world'.
The programme features a special 'Focus on Asia' track with eight sessions devoted to 'hot topics and substantive case law updates' in the region, according to the organisers. 'Attendees will also enjoy countless opportunities to network with in-house and outside counsel, trademark professionals, government officials and IP service providers from around the world,' states the INTA website.
The annual gathering is the largest and most dynamic trademark event in the world.