CITMA Paralegal Conference - The modern paralegal - emerging trends and challenges

We’ve introduced a special super early bird ticket for this year’s Paralegal Conference. Book now to save £40 on our full rate – that’s over £100 if two colleagues join you. Great for you and your firm.

Your tickets include:

• Access to all sessions and networking opportunities
• Welcome refreshments, a delicious lunch, and networking drinks at the end of our day together
• Exclusive access to presentation slides

Tickets

• Super early bird, if you book by April 25^th 2025:
  • Member rate: £260
  • Standard rate: £295

• Full member rate: £300
• Full standard rate: £335

Tuesday 23^rd September 2025

In 2025, we’ll again gather at BMA House, the beautiful Grade-II listed building in the heart of Bloomsbury. Located in central London, it’s easy to get to from anywhere in the capital and beyond.

The historic building will be our private venue for the day, giving you a dedicated space to focus on your learning and development.

We encourage you to choose sustainable travel options when attending our conference. BMA House is ideally situated for public transport access, making green travel both convenient and straightforward.

The venue sits within a short walking distance of several major railway stations - Euston, King's Cross and St Pancras International - offering excellent mainline connections throughout the UK and Europe.

For underground travel, Euston, Euston Square, King's Cross St Pancras and Russell Square tube stations are all nearby, providing access via multiple London Underground lines. The area is also well-served by numerous bus routes.

By choosing public transport, you'll help reduce our event's carbon footprint whilst enjoying the convenience of central London's comprehensive transport network.

Earn five hours of CPD, setting you up to continue your professional development. Get specialist insight into a range of topics, including:

• Paralegals’ growing role in business development
• Career pathways, with perspectives from both private-practice and in-house experts
• Updates on recent key case law and IPO developments
• How to spot and avoid money-laundering situations
• Recordals and assignments

Amy Bell, Teal Compliance

Amy is Director and Founder of Teal Compliance and Teal Legal, and author of Solicitors and Money Laundering and Compliance That Works. A Compliance Consultant with a passion for helping firms adapt to the changing legal landscape, she has many years’ experience in working with law firms.

Amy is a member and former Chair of the Law Society’s Money Laundering Task Force, where she represents the Solicitors profession at Government and in Europe. She is also the author of the Law Society’s Anti-Bribery Toolkit and their Anti Money Laundering Training courses. And she is a regular speaker for the Law Society, the ARK Group, and MBL Seminars, as well as local Law Societies.

Simeon Bowen, UK IPO

Simeon is a Public Relations professional and external communications lead at the UK IPO. He specialises in stakeholder engagement and is experienced in strategic communication and internal communication.

Simeon has spoken at previous CITMA Paralegal Conferences, providing insight into the One IPO Transformation project and what it measn for trade marks. 

 Kerri-Ann Hazzard, Baker McKenzie

Kerri Ann is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and High Court Litigator. She has been a member of the IP Team at Baker McKenzie since 2016. She concentrates her practice in trade marks, designs, copyright and related IP, with a particular focus on contentious proceedings. In addition to multi-jurisdictional brand management in a range of sectors, Kerri Ann has experience in brand enforcement, including conducting litigation in IPEC and the High Court in the UK, resolving complex disputes, negotiating settlement agreements and orally representing clients in opposition and invalidation hearings before the UK IPO. She also has extensive experience in the resolution of domain name and company name disputes.

Kerri Ann has presented at previous CITMA paralegal events and is a guest tutor at Nottingham Trent University on the Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice course. She is a founding member of the CITMA Litigators’ Club.

Douglas McPherson, Potter Clarkson

Doug started his sales and marketing career at Patent World, Trade Mark World and Copyright World. During his initial career in IP, he worked with IP firms all over the world, and was a regular attendee at INTA, AIPPI and AIPLA.

He moved to Lloyds of London where he enjoyed 10 years as Commercial Director at Lloyds’ Marine Intelligence Unit. He worked closely with the professional services, before joining Size 10½ Boots Ltd, a specialist BD agency that works solely with professional service firms, as a partner.

Doug has extensive experience in all aspects of marketing and business development across professional services. He’s written three books on marketing and business development, and is a regular contributor to the legal press.

Kane Ridley, Abion

Kane is a Partner and Director of Brand Operations at Abion, where he oversees the strategic and operational aspects of trade mark and domain name services. He’s an active member of INTA and CITMA, where he serves on various committees and working groups, and represents the paralegal community.

Kane has a strong background in trade mark formalities, renewals and management, as well as marketing and customer service. He’s passionate about delivering high-quality and efficient solutions to clients, enhancing brand protection and awareness, and fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry.

Carly Sherwood, Barker Brettell 

Carly is a Senior Chartered Paralegal and technical work flow specialist with vast experience in all aspects of trade marks. She qualified as a CITMA Paralegal in 2005.

Lynsey Stephenson, Springbird IP

Having started her IP career 20 years ago, Lynsey has significant experience in all aspects of trade mark formalities. She was in-house for a FTSE 100 pharmaceutical company and while there was part of a team responsible for a portfolio of tens of thousands of trade marks, designs and domain names around the world.

Lynsey has experience in portfolio management and brings this and her vast knowledge to Springbird, helping look after their varied clients, in particular those with larger portfolios.

Sahil Malhotra, Drishti Law

Sahil Malhotra is an Intellectual Property Attorney who founded Drishti Law because of his vision in protecting dreams and ideas. It is a continuation of his passion and experience as a student attorney at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Law Intellectual Property Clinic.

Sahil provides individuals and small businesses with an opportunity to enhance their IP’s value by helping them register trade marks and successfully argue against office actions. In addition to his training and experience, he has been deeply involved in the multifaceted IP portfolio at UIC and continues to be associated with IP organisations and conferences. Sahil also sits on the INTA Trade Secrets Committee. 

Mark Wilden, 3PB

Mark Wilden is a commercial barrister specialising in Intellectual Property and Media & Entertainment. He acts unled in the High Court, IPEC, County Court and IPO. He accepts instructions in contract, copyright, trade mark, passing off, database, designs, patents, confidential information and related matters.

Mark worked at Carpmaels & Ransford LLP before completing pupillage at 8 New Square Chambers, where he worked on high-profile IP matters for clients including Apple, BBC, Ferrari, Google, Microsoft, Next, Peloton and Tesco.

Louise Williams, Trainee IP Attorney at Superdry Plc

Louise is a Trainee IP Attorney at Superdry PLC, a CITMA Student Member, and a part qualified Trade Mark Attorney having completed the PG Cert Intellectual Property course at Bournemouth University in July 2024. She currently manages Superdry’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection strategy as well as Superdry’s global Trade Marks and Registered Designs portfolios, and assists with contentious intellectual property matters.