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AI was the hottest topic of 2023, so it seemed fitting for DALL-E 2 to help illustrate our festive holiday feelings. In reflecting on the year, we are grateful for all the opportunities to serve you, our clients & community, doing what we love. Sending cheer for a happy & healthy season, with best wishes to generate whatever brings you joy & peace in the New Year! 🥂 | |
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Seasons of Giving & Value of Feedback | |
Flying High for Brand Action as a Dove Sponsor Founded by IP professionals, Brand Action is a call for the global legal trademark community to rally together to support people under siege or in times of humanitarian crisis. We are excited to support these incredible efforts as a sponsor for Brand Action's 2024 annual fundraising event. Hope to see you May 20th in Atlanta (concurrent with INTA)! | | | |
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Your Survey Feedback = Your Charity Benefits Feedback is how we get #bettereveryday. In May, we implemented a client satisfaction survey, sending a link with each final report e-mail. By taking a moment to complete it, not only do we win by learning from your comments, your designated charity can win too! Every final report is a chance to complete the survey AND enter our quarterly drawing. If selected, your charity receives a donation in your honor. Here are our first two quarterly winners: | | | |
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Vaudra Receives 2023 HIREVets Medallion Award | |
One of only 859 companies nationwide, 31 of which are in North Carolina, Vaudra was recognized as a 2023 HIRE Vets Gold Medallion awardee. Although our Navy vet, Megan, had to set sail & go back to school, we are proud to have been part of her journey as a supportive place to find her footing when entering the civilian workforce. Wishing her the best! | | | |
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Events: 2023 Wrap Up & Ringing in the New Year | |
California Lawyers Association 47th IP Institute: Last month, we attended this event & presented on the TMA's reasonable investigation requirement & leveraging the tool effectively. Since we don't frequent the West Coast often, we flew into LA & drove to San Diego, giving us a chance to visit clients, colleagues & friends, along the way. Many thanks to everyone at our waypoints & the CLA for the opportunity to share. Read our conference recap here. | | | |
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INTA Leadership Meeting: Also in November, with 1,650 registrants from 83 jurisdictions, it was the largest leadership meeting in history. Plus, there was a record-breaking 4,568 applicants for the 2024 term & 4,403 were placed on committees. If many hands make light work, it will be a busy term for INTA initiatives & the 38 committees.
From among the memorable presentations, meetings & connections, Jarvis Sam's Thursday morning keynote was one we wanted to highlight. After serving in DEI roles at Nike, Snap & Google, he founded The Rainbow Disruption & recently published DEI C.R.E.D.E.N.T.I.A.L. When striving for the sustainability of DEI practices, he discussed intersectionality, "the interconnectedness of different aspects of an individual's identity (i.e. gender, race, religion, etc...) which can compound & exacerbate one's experiences." Inclusivity must explore & recognize one's multifaceted nature to be sustainable.
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In the workplace, he touched on 3 reasons why it can be hard to engage on DEI topics: - Overcoming the fear of saying/doing the wrong thing. When we feel like we lack the right words, we say nothing.
- Knowing such conversations are difficult, leaders have to be open, willing & the first to try for the potential of systemic change & foraging a path for others to follow.
- We struggle with the impact of social humility & being vulnerable. It is admitting that we don't know, aren't sure or are wrong.
If you strive to be comfortable with uncomfortable conversations or intersectionality is a new term (like it was for us), check out his book to add to your 2024 reading list!
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Upcoming Educational Opportunities TexasBarCLE Intellectual Property Litigation Course, Jan./Feb. 2024: Available as a live webcast & replay, we are excited to discuss leveraging investigations AND investigators, common misconceptions on engaging PIs & using pretexting to support your IP objectives [0.5 CLE, including .25 ethics]. Learn more here.
ABA Paralegal Webinar, Feb. 28, 2024: As part of a four-week series organized by the IP Law Section, our goal of this 90-min webinar is to equip paralegals with investigative strategies, perspectives & resources from our investigators' toolbox. | |
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