Member Spotlight: Ellen Shankman
Diane M. Lambillotte, Arnold & Porter LLP, Los Angeles, California, USA, INTA Bulletin Features–Members, Benefits & Services Subcommittee

Ellen Shankman is a principal of Ellen B. Shankman & Associates, located in Rehovot, Israel. Ellen was raised in the United States and practiced public interest litigation at various governmental agencies before moving to Israel several years ago.

Having been very active in INTA for a number of years, Ellen has served in both the education and policy sides of the organization and is now a member of INTA’s Board of Directors. As she puts it: “There’s no question that my international and Israeli clients have benefited from the substantive and practical things I’ve learned at INTA—as well as from the amazing network of colleagues and resources.” In addition, her active leadership role in INTA has afforded her the ability to work on cutting-edge issues with “some of the best minds and experience” in the trademark area, not to mention resulting in lasting friendships and professional relationships.

Ellen’s interest in trademark law began when she represented Boeing in a precedent-setting trademark case during her articled clerkship, which is required in Israel prior to joining the bar. She views trademark work as involving a unique combination of language, business and branding goals that the client is working to achieve. She is particularly fascinated by the stories and experiences that lead clients to choose their particular marks, and likes being involved in the real-life dynamics of bringing a brand to market.

Today’s global and collaborative world presents many challenges to the traditional trademark model, and Ellen believes practitioners need to be looking for innovative ways of branding and co-branding in the future. She observes that there are movements in the patent and copyright fields toward creative ways of sharing information (such as Wikipedia) that historically was considered proprietary, and believes this area will be at the forefront of emerging intellectual property issues as a new generation of business leaders takes the helm.

If she weren’t so fully immersed in trademark law, Ellen would spend her days painting and writing.