Archives: Speakers

Murat Tabanlıoğlu (RIBA, Chartered Member, Int’l. Assoc. AIA) studied architecture at Vienna Technical University and graduated in 1992. Besides his atelier program at Istanbul Bilgi University, he lectures at universities and various international platforms.

Alessandra Chies, currently working as China IP and Brand Protection Chief Counsel in the leading Italian Firm Barzanò & Zanardo, has a decade of direct experience in assisting European and International companies on Intellectual Property Rights prosecution and enforcement, mostly focusing on China Laws and practices, standing that she lived in Beijing for 8 years and managed a Law Firm specialized in IP Registration and protection strategies.

Alessandra’s focus was of conducting administrative, civil and criminal actions, with special dedication on online sale of counterfeits, customs border protection, trademark and design registration strategies and prosecution actions. Alessandra is currently External Expert of the China IPR SME Helpdesk of the European Chamber of Commerce and collaborated with the EPO-MOFCOM EU-China Project for the Enforcement of IPR (IPR2). She often invited as speaker to seminars and workshops around Europe, related to IPR protection in China.

Alessandra holds a magna cum laude Law degree from the University of Bari, Italy, an LLM in international and European Business Law from Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge and a further Master in IP Law with a special focus on Chinese IP Law from Milan Polytechnic University in collaboration with Tongji University- Shanghai. She speaks Italian, fluent English and basic Mandarin.

Guglielmo is a Chartered Engineer, Designer and Materials Scientist with a strong background in developing new sustainable technologies and managing innovation across sectors in the built environment

John has worked at a high level in architectural companies for nearly thirty years, as a partner at Foster +Partners and as London director for Rafael Vinoly.

Kai-Uwe Bergmann is a Partner at BIG who brings his expertise to proposals around the globe, including work in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Kai-Uwe heads up BIG’s business development which currently has the office working in 20 different countries as well as overseeing BIG’s Communications. Registered as an architect in the USA (eight states), and Canada (one province), Kai-Uwe most recently contributed to the resiliency plan BIG U to protect 10 miles of Manhattan’s coastline. He compliments his professional work through previous teaching assignments at University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida, IE University in Madrid, and his alma mater the University of Virginia. Kai-Uwe also sits on the Board of the Van Alen Institute, participates on numerous international juries and lectures globally on the works of BIG.

Tateo Nakajima is a Director of Arup, an international firm of designers, planners and consultants working across all aspects of the built environment.

As Intellectual Property Legal Counsel, based in Amsterdam, I manage a dynamic portfolio of over 3000+ trademark registrations in 100+ countries and handle domains, copyright, design and patent matters too. I would closely with the global marketing teams on new product launches, from conception to final product delivery, and provide guidance and support to the external global legal teams in relation to IP strategy and protection.

Igor has been in the digital risk protection industry for a few years, assisting businesses to protect against phishing, violations of trademark rights, counterfeiting, and online piracy. With a wealth of industry experience, he has been participating in brand protection activities as an expert in online fraud trends for Russia and the CIS.

He frequently represents Group-IB at major international industry events, workshops, and law enforcement trainings, speaking on online threat prevention, anti-counterfeiting trends and challenges.

With Group-IB, Igor is looking for sharing experience and exploring new ways of making Brand Protection service an essential security tool for businesses to eliminate online infringements and protect their clients.

Sjoerd Oosterhuis is Group Legal Counsel and Member of the Executive Committee of Vlisco Netherlands. He has held this role since 2017. His key accountabilities for the Vlisco Group include: company secretary to the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board; protection of intellectual property rights and trademarks; corporate legal framework and strategy; and general legal affairs. From 2015 to 2017, in his practice at Fender Advocaten, Sjoerd provided legal advice to clients at home and abroad in the area of company law with an emphasis on transaction practice. Sjoerd also was involved with corporate law and M&A at AKD (2010-2015) and previously at Holland Van Gijzen (2006-2010). Sjoerd holds a Master’s degree in law from Tilburg University, achieved in 2005.