International & Comparative Law Review explores global IP landscape at annual symposium
Miami Law Staff Report | April 8, 2025
The University of Miami School of Law’s International & Comparative Law Review hosted its second annual symposium on March 7, bringing together a distinguished panel of experts to navigate the complex field of international law and intellectual property law.
The symposium “IP Quest: Charting the Global Map of Innovation,” transformed the Lakeside Village Auditorium into a hub of intellectual discourse as leading scholars and practitioners examined the evolving landscape of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets across global jurisdictions.
The daylong event featured three panels and an intimate fireside chat, each addressing distinct facets of international IP law. The opening session, “Guarding global secrets: Motorola’s DTSA Showdown,” examined the landmark Motorola Solutions v. Hytera case, with Professor Sharon Sandeen of Mitchell Hamline School of Law and Jessica Neer McDonald of Neer McD PLLC providing insights on its implications for international trade secret protection. The substantial verdict sends a clear message about the U.S. court’s willingness to enforce the DTSA extraterritorial.
The second panel ventured into the critical intersection of IP and public health with “Prescription for Progress: Brazil, TRIPS, and Global Health.” Distinguished panelists Rochelle Dreyfuss from NYU School of Law, Hannibal Travis from FIU School of Law, and Susy Frankel from the University of Wellington in New Zealand engaged in a discussion regarding TRIPS involvement in the balancing of pharmaceutical innovation, tech assimilation, and the working environment seen today in the U.S..
The symposium included a fireside chat on “Treaty Talk: The Design Treaty and its Implications,” featuring Professor Christine Farley of American University Washington College of Law. The panel was moderated by ICLR’s editor-in-chief, Jaelin Bustamante. Their conversation covered Farley’s firsthand experience in Saudi Arabia concluding the Design Law Treaty and how it is positioned to transform protection for industrial designs globally.
The final panel on “International IP Enforcement” brought a practical perspective to the discussion. John Malloy of Malloy & Malloy, Jaime Vining of Friedland Vining, and Ury Fischer of Lott & Fischer shared firsthand experiences of protecting IP rights across jurisdictions. Fischer emphasized the importance of cultural awareness and expertise of other legal connections, especially in Latin American countries where two to three firms predominantly control the IP legal field.
The event drew attendees from across the legal community, including practitioners, academics, and students eager to deepen their understanding of international IP law. Many participants highlighted the value of bringing together diverse perspectives on issues that transcend national boundaries.
As the symposium concluded, Dreyfuss shared that “the symposium couldn’t have gone better; it was an excellent day.” ICLR plans to publish selected papers based on the symposium topic in its upcoming fall issue, ensuring that the insights shared during this intellectual discussion will benefit an even wider audience in the year ahead.
This article was originally published by the University of Miami Law Review on April 8, 2025.