Marques 2025

Two of our Trade Mark Attorneys, Mayke van Wanroij (Delft Office) and Caroline Brooks (Bath Office), attended the Marques Annual Meeting at The Hague in the Netherlands last week, along with around 950 other Trade Mark professionals from around the world.

Held in the World Forum, venue for the recent NATO summit, the subject of the meeting was “Brand changes in an international context”. The insightful opening session was particularly thought-provoking, and got the conference off to a great start, considering how developments in technology (AI), international trade, geopolitics and society will affect our day-to-day work. The quality of speakers and subjects was sustained throughout, with useful sessions on brands in international trade, the rise of sustainability in IP, brands in international M&A as well as thoughts on the revival of brands and a helpful update on CJEU and EU general court IP case law.

There were also plenty of opportunities to network and enjoy the local culture, with a Welcome Reception in the World Forum, a sparkling Gala Dinner at the impressive Broodfabriek, and the fantastic cultural evening at Madurodam, “the Netherlands in miniature”. Even the rather wet and windy conditions couldn’t spoil the cultural evening, sampling more local delicacies (including delicious cheese, poffertjes, stamppot and, of course, chips with mayo), admiring the miniature Dutch monuments and enjoying the somewhat eccentric “rides”. Caroline and Mayke were also pleased to join a small but intrepid band of conference attendees on Thursday afternoon collecting litter and enjoying the blustery outdoors at Scheveningen beach.

All in all, it was a pleasure to spend a few days among so many brand specialists, especially in a venue so close to our own Dutch Office. We look forward to next year’s annual meeting in Lisbon – a longer journey for the A+I team, but hopefully a less windy destination!