Speed networking event still impresses

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Speed networking event still impresses

Cheryl Black pretended to collapse on a table. “Maybe 18?” she said. “Wow, 18 people in one hour. That’s why I’m tired.”

Black, of Goodman Allen & Filetti in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. had just completed a Speed Networking session, where she met with a consistent stream of participants all in search of one thing: making a connection.

In its second year at the Annual Meeting, the Speed Networking event is so popular there were people who were unable to snag one of the 40 first-come, first-served slots at yesterday’s session. K.M. Aasim Shehzad of BFS Legal in Chennai, India, was among those who missed a seat. “It’s about recommending work or giving work to somebody,” he said, as he hung around in case a slot opened up.

Metin Calis of Calis Law Firm in Istanbul, Turkey, returned to the event after attending a session last year. He got several contacts from the Annual Meeting in San Francisco, he said, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint which ones he met through speed networking. This year, he knew what he had to do: keep notes, identify the brand with the lawyer, and send an e-mail upon his return home. “To get another brand—that’s my goal,” he said.

Missed yesterday’s session? Try to make one today, Tuesday or Wednesday.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

News of Dolby suing Snap over AV1 and HEVC patents and SCOTUS offering guidance on the liability of internet service providers were also among the top talking points
Arrival of Caitlin Heard will bolster the soon-to-be-created Ashurst Perkins Coie’s IP presence in the capital
AI, cybersecurity and data practice group will provide clients with legal guidance around AI alongside a 'deep technical foundation’ in IP
Lawyers at Vondst and Biopatents say a ruling concerning the protected status of trade secrets could see the UPC flooded with requests to prevent access to confidential information
Sharad Vadehra of Kan & Krishme discusses why older IP firms still have an edge over up-and-coming boutiques and how the firm is using AI to provide quick and cost-effective service
Lawyers at Appleyard Lees share how they picked apart a plant breeder’s infringement claims concerning the ‘Tango’ mandarin
A further decision on long-arm status, and a new hire for Pentarc in Germany from Taylor Wessing were also among top developments
The US decision marks a rare grant of a request under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act in a patent case
Stobbs has applied to strike out a contempt of court application filed against the firm and two of its lawyers
With trademark volumes surging, trademark teams need to think beyond traditional clearance searches, towards a continuous, intelligence-led workflow, says Meghan Medeiros of Corsearch
Gift this article