Table of Contents

Message from the President Emily Whelan

Message from the Editor

BIPLA Statement on Recent Federal Policy Announcements

2024 Annual Meeting

Fast-Tracked Patents: Using the Patent System in the Race to Combat Climate Change

Minutes of the BIPLA Annual Meeting

Amicus brief of Amicus Curiae BIPLA in Island Intellecutal Property LLC v. TD Ameritrade, Inc.

The BIPLA’s 14th Annual Invented Here! Event Recap

2024 BIPLA PCT Seminar

International and Medical Device Committees Joint Event

Antitrust Committee CLE Program

2025 BIPLA Symposium Announcement

2025 BIPLA Annual Student Writing Contest

2025 Annual Meeting Save the Date

List of Officers and Board of Governors

Job Listings

< Back

< Previous Article

Table of Contents

Next Article >

2025 Ⓒ Boston Intellectual Property Law Association

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Volume 56, Issue 1

Minutes of the BIPLA Annual Meeting

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 The State Room, 60 State Street, Boston

I. Call to Order and President’s Report

Following a networking cocktail hour, President Joshua Dalton called the meeting to order and presented welcoming remarks, in which he thanked the event’s sponsors, the BIPLA Board, and the 2024 committee chairs for their hard work and commitment over the past year. He thanked the Association’s longtime administrator, Constance Brennan, for their work over their many years with the organization. He introduced and thanked Spencer Jawitz, the BIPLA’s new Events & Communications Manager. President Dalton also thanked his activities chair, Erin McGuine, and recognized all BIPLA past presidents in attendance.

President Dalton recapped events that took place over the course of the year, including another highly successful Symposium, and led the meeting in a moment of silent remembrance for BIPLA members who passed away in 2024, including former BIPLA Board Member, Patrick Quinlan.

II. Secretary’s Report

As Secretary David Mello was unable to attend, President Dalton introduced Treasurer Valarie Rosen to provide the Secretary’s Report. Treasurer Rosen moved to waive the reading of the minutes from the 2023 BPLA Annual Meeting, which had been made available to the membership on the Association’s website. Motions to waive the reading and approve the meeting minutes were made and carried; the minutes from the 2023 BPLA Annual Meeting were accepted.

III. Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Rosen reported that, as of November 30, 2024, the organization earned $267,505.23 in income and had $258,754.83 in expenses, resulting in a net income of $8,750.40 in fiscal year 2024. As of November 30, 2024, the Association has $203,490.70 in assets.

Treasurer Rosen offered to read the balance of the Treasurer’s report and, hearing no requests, requested motions to waive the reading of the balance of the Treasurer’s Report and to accept the Report. Both motions were made and carried and the Treasurer’s Report was accepted.

IV. Writing Competition

As Board Member Kevin MacDonald was unable to attend, Vice President Derek Roller presented the winners of the BIPLA’s Annual Writing Competition.

He announced that the BIPLA had selected as the second place paper “Batman v. Superman v. Copyright v. Trademark: The Future of the Public Domain & Source Identification” by Luke Colomey, a 2L at Northeastern University School of Law.

Vice President Roller announced that the BIPLA had chosen “Fast-Tracked Patents: Using the Patent System in the Race to Combat Climate Change,” by Emily Ganem, a 2L at Northeastern University School of Law, as the BIPLA 2024 Writing Competition’s first place paper.

Vice President Roller congratulated the winners and thanked all of the competition’s participants and judges.

V. Pro Bono Award

President Dalton announced the winner of the BIPLA’s 2024 Pro Bono Award: Joel Lehrer of Goodwin Procter. President Dalton described Mr. Lehrer’s extensive pro bono work, including in growing Goodwin’s Neighborhood Business Initiative, which provides business-related legal services to entrepreneurs and small business owners who are members of, or whose businesses positively impact, communities that face discrimination based on race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender and/or LGBTQ+ status. Mr. Lehrer accepted the Award and spoke about his efforts and the importance of pro bono work.

VI. Keynote Speech

President Dalton introduced the BIPLA’s 2024 Keynote Speaker, Administrative Law Judge Lawrence T. Stanley, Jr. of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In his keynote address, Judge Stanley provided an overview of appeal proceedings, described the roles of TTAB judges and staff, and discussed changes and new initiatives in trademark appeals at the TTAB.

VII. Nominating Committee Report and Election

President Dalton introduced Immediate Past President Rebecca McNeill to announce the nominations for 2025 Officers and Board Members.

Immediate Past President McNeill noted the automatic elevation, pursuant to the rules of the BIPLA, of Emily Whelan to the office of President. Ms. McNeill presented the slate of Officers that had been approved by a unanimous vote by the Nominating Committee, comprised of Past Presidents McNeill, Keith Toms, and Dan Young:

President: Emily Whelan, WilmerHale President Elect:  Derek Roller, Barnes & Thornberg Vice President: Valarie Rosen, Cabot Corporation Treasurer: Keith Wood, Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds Secretary:  Wyley Proctor, McCarter & English Immediate Past President and Board Member: Joshua M. Dalton, Morgan Lewis (by automatic ascension) Board Member: Rebecca Simmons, McNeill PLLC Board Member: Jonathan Roses, Wolf Greenfield & Sacks Board Member: Simone Yhap, Mintz

Immediate Past President McNeill requested a motion for acceptance of the nomination of the Officers and Board Members and election of the nominees, which was made and carried. In accordance with the Bylaws of the Association, the 2025 Board of Governors of the BIPLA was duly elected.

VIII. Remarks of the Incoming President

Immediate Past President Dalton introduced Incoming President Whelan. President Whelan thanked Mr. Dalton for his service and presented him with a gift of an engraved clock.

In her remarks, President Whelan expressed her excitement at leading the BIPLA into its second century and described her goals for increasing engagement with the BIPLA, including adding new members, expanding participation in the Association’s events and programming, and engaging with the wider IP community.

IX. Adjournment

President Whelan moved to adjourn and the motion carried. Following the meeting, the Association enjoyed networking at the venue.