Brooks Kushman attorneys Jonathan D. Nikkila and Rachel A. Smith have been appointed as Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA) officers for the 2016-2017 term.
Nikkila, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, will serve as president; and Smith, a Wayne Law alumna, will serve as second vice-president.
As president, Nikkila will be responsible for acting as the official representative of the association. He will provide leadership and strategic vision to the organization to aid in its growth and importance, offer guidance to the organization's standing committees and preside over all meetings of the membership, as well as the board.
As second vice-president, Smith will plan the annual judge's golf outing of more than 150 attendees, which entails organizing invitations and selecting a charitable organization to partner with as recipient of the event's proceeds. This role is also considered for future leadership positions as part of the organization's succession planning model.
Together as MIPLA leaders, Smith and Nikkila will oversee programs that promote the organization's mission and core values such as law school outreach programs and liaisons, community outreach, coordinating networking events, organizing CLE credit luncheons and other on-going educational opportunities for members.
The Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA) is an organization of intellectual property attorneys, patent agents, and law students from across the State of Michigan who are interested in intellectual property issues.
Published: Mon, Jun 13, 2016
