Gide Partner Arnaud Michel has been appointed President of LES International (Licensing Executives Society) at its international delegates assembly, held in Moscow on May 18, 2014.
According to Gide, "LES International (LESI) is one of the main international organizations active in the field of intellectual property, recognized worldwide by patent offices, national authorities, and the European Commission. Its 10,000 members globally are grouped into 32 national and regional societies, covering over 100 countries. Its object is to promote and advance intellectual property rights, in particular through technology transfers and licensing. LESI members are drawn from the industrial sector, intellectual property rights development companies and liberal professionals alike, all active in the field."
Michel has been a Partner at Gide since 1988, and he headed the firm’s Brussels office from 1986 to 1993. He is also an expert to the World Intellectual Property Organization, a member of a number of professional organizations, the President of LES France from 2002 to 2004 and the President of APRAM (the Association of Trade Mark and Design Law Practitioners) from 2000 to 2001.
Of his appointment, Michel said: “The strength of LES International comes from its deep roots in industry. It is an honor and a challenge to chair this impressive IP organization, in a world where the role of IP is constantly growing and changing.”