Edward Kelly Brings Anti-Counterfeiting Practice to LGP. Edward Kelly has joined LaRiviere, Grubman & Payne to become Director of its Asian Operations. Although Monterey is the “world headquaters” of LGP, Ed will work out of LGP’s Bangkok, Thailand office while shuttling to Hong Kong, Monterey and other client sites. In addition to being a leading force among American law firms in combatting counterfeiting and piracy in Southeast Asia, Ed will receive the Victor J. Garo Award in October from Boston University for his humanitarian service in fighting human trafficking.
Powelson Begins Term as Secretary of State Bar IP Section. Partner Matthew Powelson began his term on the officer track of the Intellectual Property Section of the California State Bar Association on September 12. He will serve as Secretary of the Executive Committee, which oversees educational programs, a quarterly journal and informative services for members, which membership is 7,000 strong.
Greg Kelly Begins Teaching Business Organizations Class at Law School. LGP attorney Greg Kelly has begun teaching the fall semester of Business Organizations at the Monterey College of Law. Greg’s course will examine the legal aspects of the creation, structure and management of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, along with the fiduciary duties facing individuals involved in forming and operating such business organizations.
Scott Allen to speak on “Unauthorized, Online Dealers of ‘New’ Goods” at State Bar Meeting. Scott Allen has been nominated by the Executive Committee of the IP Section to speak at the State Bar’s Sections Educational Institute in January, 2010. The conference is attended by members of the California bar, including those who practice in a wide range of disciplines beyond intellectual property law. Scott’s topic will focus on the phenomenon of sales of “new,” supposedly genuine goods on such sites as e-Bay, by sellers who are not authorized by the manufacturer of the product.
Passarelli Begins Agribusiness Bar Term. Attorney Christopher Passarelli begins his term as Co-Vice Chair of the Agribusiness Committee of the State Bar’s Business Law Section. The Committee deals with developing issues for California’s agriculture industry. This is the latest chapter in LGP’s history of commitment to the state’s agriculture industry, in providing counsel on patent matters, plant variety protection, trademark issues, sustainable/organic certification, and licensing transactions as they relate to California farmers.
Payne Tapped to Coordinate Speakers Programs in Texas, NY and California. Partner Robert Payne has accepted invitations to serve on the planning committees for the Texas IP Annual Institute in Austin, Texas on March 2010, and the AIPLA panel on “The Art of Persuasion” at the Spring meeting of the AIPLA in New York City. He will also serve for the second straight year as program Co-Chair of the day-long program on “Departing Employees and Intellectual Property,” hosted by Law Seminars, Inc. in San Francisco in February, 2010.