Well, it is over. Throughout this week, I thought for a few times to sit down and write a post, but it was just impossible – it was just so hectic!

But now, that it is over, and I am safely headed home, it is time for summaries.

I think the best way to describe this trip will be “mixed feelings”.

Business-wise, it was the best trip I have ever had. Had you read the email I have sent to my many friends and colleagues around the world about the changes I have been going through, you know that my firm has expended into Europe, with a UK branch. Our business model, which is based on reducing European overhead by keeping docketing and legal support in Israel rather than in Europe, has caught much attention. Some European firms, especially UK firms, charge top dollar (well, top Euro, or Pound) for every tiny action, and our business model is a way around that.

Add that to the immense inner-charm of my new English-man partner, some good pieces of cynical humor, and true willingness from our side to reciprocate work to associates we like, and several real good business prospects have been created.

Fun-wise, however, I was disappointed. INTA is always fun. It is a break of ordinary work and something different. I usually love it. This time, however, it seems that something was just not working. Put aside several really good receptions – Alston & Bird, Finnegan (YEAH!), Merchant & Gould (I hope I got the name right), to name a few – and my general impression was that the receptions were not as fun as always. The grand finale was a great disappointment. I always resent doing that in Museums, but doing it in the same location where the grand finale of the AIPPI which was held 2 years ago?! Come on… I remember Berlin’s amazing amusement park or the great location in Toronto. Those really left an impression!

Other things that got in the way of having fun were having a little one back home, which I really missed, but that’s not INTA’s fault.

One piece of advice to the new fellows who come to INTA and make the same mistake every year. Here’s a short story first – I was in an important private meeting at the hospitality area. Then, a guy from a lovely country in the Far East sits right next to us, and starts staring at us for 10 minutes. When we are finished with the meeting, he goes “my name is … , do you have any work in …?”. Right, dude, we have a whole stash of work in your country just waiting to be given NOW to rude people interrupting us in our private meetings…

Here’s my advice – it’s okay to ask about the firm and talk about work, but at the end of the day, it’s all personal. People work with people they like. Be nice, personable, friendly, and show real interest in the person talking to you, and not just in his stash of cases. This is your best chance of getting his cases, and maybe of making a friend.

Overall, INTA is THE event for intellectual property practitioners. Like it or not, it is not to be missed. See you in San Francisco.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This blog has just started. The published a few professional blogs that gained some interest. By some, I mean several to dozens hits each. That’s okay, say experts. It takes time before a blog builds up its readership.

Nevertheless, the post in which I shared with you the receptions to which I go in INTA attracted more than 300 hits. In other words, every third person that I ever met or have ever remotely seen, read it.

While it is very clear to me that people read this post becuase it may help them gain more benefit from their INTA trip, it also tells me something about the immense interest that professional conferences, and INTA is one of the most important ones, attract.

So, I decided to share the experiences from my trip with you. I have no doubts that this will not gain as much interest as my post that could bring immediate benefit, but hopefully, some people will find my experiences in INTA an interesting “diary” at the least, or something to learn from, at the better option.

Anyway, my trip to INTA began with very long two flights, with a very long connection. Overall, I have spent over 20 hours since I left home and until I got to my hotel in Boston. That is a very long time and my sanity is now questioned. I am not going to sleep because I am waiting for the night, hoping to completely avoid jet leg. My only practical recommendation in this respect – get a good book. Maybe even two. There is A LOT of time.

When I landed in boston and after I finally got to my room, I took a shower, started unpacking, and then got very hungry, so, I walked to one of the better seafood restaurants nearby, one of the branches of the famous local network “legal seafood”, and ate the local “clam chowder”. Now, I do not feel I didn’t sleep for 20 hours, but only for 18 hours.

Another advantage of having a lot of sudden “free” time, is the ability to write. So, I decided to write a few posts about Israeli IP litigation. This is a very important subject that nobody really rights about. By Israeli IP litigation I do not mean decisions of courts, but rather – how does it “really” work – which court do you go to? how do you choose where to file your suit? how do you cross-exam, etc.

I will publish these posts periodically within the next months.

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

We wish we could meet all of you at the upcoming INTA. With some of you, we managed to schedule meetings. We hope to see all of you at the different receptions. 

To raise the chances for that to happen, I will hereby post all the receptions we intend to attend. 

By this, I will serve another purpose – I believe that it is good for everyone to know about as many parties as possible, so we can all pick the best ones to go to. I urge you, my good friends, to comment on this post. If you know of good receptions or parties not listed here (and I am sure there are plenty) – please feel free to share. 

Here it goes, then. You can meet Keith Jones, Moshe Ben-Porat, and myself, at: 

Sunday, 23/5/2010 

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Husch Blackwell Sanders Welsh & Katz Brunch, Anthony’s Pier 4, 140 Northern Ave., Boston
6:30pm-9:30pm K&L Gates LLP, State Street Financial Center One Lincoln Street, Boston
7pm-11pm – Fish & Richardson – ONE Marina Park Drive in Fan Pier
9pm-11pm - Loeb & Loeb – Dessert Soiree – Westin Boston Waterfront Harbor Ballroom 

Monday, 24/5/2010

12:00-3pm - Vossius – Harvard Faculty Club – (PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A PRIVATE ONE! ACCESS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED WITH A PERSONAL PRINTED TICKET! SO I WAS TOLD)
4pm-6:30pm - Neal Gerber Eisenberg – Umbria Prime, 295 Franklin Street
5pm-7pm - Heenan Blaikie – Hyatt Regency Boston, Quincy Room
5pm-7pm - Nelligan O’Brian Payne – Gypsy Bar, 116 Boylston St.

Tuesday, 25/5/2010

6pm-8pm - Soei – Grand Ballroom – Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
6pm-9pm - Miller Thomson’s – Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Hunington Avenue

These are the private receptions I plan to go to so far! If you know of very good ones – Irish pubs, rock bands, exciting touristic sites, great parties, or just other good events – please don’t hesitate to post a comment!

See you in Boston!