Paris Fashion Law Conference

The Intellectual Property Law Section of the Federal Bar Association and the French American Bar Association are thrilled to welcome you to the 2022 Annual Paris Fashion Law Conference.  Please continue to check this page for updated information.

This event will be held at the picturesque Art-Deco Grand Salon of La Fondation des États-Unis (FEU).  The FEU is a cultural center serving Franco-American cultures since 1930.  It is one of the first of 45 residences to have been built on the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP) campus. The FEU’s cultural program offers a wide range of concerts, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and performances, and showcases FEU artists-in-residence and alumni.

This event will provide 3 CLE credit sessions, and will be followed by an on-site cocktail reception at the FEU’s garden terrace featuring FEU artists-in-residence and alumni.

Agenda

Address:  15 Bd. Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France

Public Transport:

RER B: Cité Universitaire
Tram T3a: Cité Universitaire
Bus 21 or 67: Stade Charléty – Porte de Gentilly
Please visit the RATP website for a detailed itinerary.

Welcome Remarks – 2:00 – 2:15 pm

Jean-Baptiste Bourgeois, Rezac Law Group

Olivera Medenica, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP

Joan Divol, Director, Fondation des Etats-Unis

Playing with Uncertainty: Lessons for Brands Eying the Commercialization of NFTs
2:15 – 3:15 pm

The “metaverse” and non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) have continued to dominate commercial and legal discourse. These new digital worlds promise to bring new avenues for product promotion and transactions, but they also bring new challenges and obscurity to intellectual property law. NFT creators use trademarked images they claim to be “art” and profit from their sale, but the owners of these trademarks contend that the use of these images does in fact constitute infringement. In a new age of globalized digital technology, NFT and metaverse property disputes are relevant worldwide.

This panel will discuss how the use of trademarks in the art world is protected in the EU. Panelists will examine the implications of Hermes v. Rothschild and Nike v. StockX in trademark law worldwide. In house counsel will discuss trademark protection strategies and anti-counterfeiting considerations.

Speakers:

Ewa Abrams, General Counsel, Kering Americas
Jean-Baptiste Bourgeois, Partner, Rezac Law Group
Olivera Medenica, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Jean-Hyacinthe de Mitry, Partner, Gide Loyrette Nouel

Greenwashing, ESB focused Enforcement Actions, and Sustainability in the EU: What Global Brands Must Know
3:30pm – 4:30pm

The number of lawsuits concerning climate and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues has more than doubled globally since 2015. A growing sector of these lawsuits relate to “greenwashing,” the practice of selling investments as more sustainable or environmentally friendly than they actually are.

Agencies in both the U.S. and the E.U. have begun new ESG initiatives. In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new ESG task force began regulating in April of this year, and in the E.U., legislators have taken similar regulatory action to prosecute “greenwashing.”

Environmental concerns have also instigated a growing number of climate cases alleging over-reliance on “negative emission” or greenhouse gas removal to “offset” high-emission activities. Fashion and luxury retail brands are one of many industries being targeted with these climate and environmental suits.

This panel will examine the concept of greenwashing, recent SEC investigations, liability standards, and comparisons to EU standards in relation to the fashion industry.

Speakers:

Judith Bussé, Counsel, Edson
Maria Vathis, Of Counsel, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Nicolas Walker, Partner, Reed Smith

Licensing Success: Negotiation Strategies for a Better Brand Licensing Deal
4:45 pm- 5:45pm

The process of negotiating a brand licensing deal requires skill and knowledge. Intellectual property lawyers and licensing professionals negotiate on behalf of brands seeking to lease trademarked or copyrighted materials. The role of negotiator is essential to procuring your client a better deal.

Attendees will learn …
• due diligence best practices
• how to best understand the complexities of the law within the context of negotiations
• brand strategies and goals
• negotiation preparation and approaches
• and many more tactics to achieve success in negotiations.

In this panel, speakers will examine willing strategies to negotiate better deals for your clients.

Speakers:

Céline Bondard, Partner, Cabinet Bondard
Sophie Divaret, Commercial Legal Director, PUIG
Alexandra Varla, Business Lawyer, Founder: Tailored

Registration has Closed

• Early Bird (prior to October 1, 2022): 45 Euros
• General Admission after October 1, 2022: 55 Euros
• On Site Registration: 65 Euros