SGMA Spring Market Adds To Conference Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 2, 2007 – SGMA Spring Market, the nation’s largest gathering of sporting goods and fitness retailers, team dealers, and manufacturers, announces the addition of the Protecting Your Brand Equity legal series which consists of four in-depth discussions on the threats and opportunities to intellectual property and business value.

The series will take place on Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12 on the show floor and is open to all SGMA Spring Market attendees. SGMA Spring Market takes place June 11-13 at the Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas.

The team of 16 experts has designed the following agenda to provide legal guidance and education for both retailers and manufacturers.
Monday, June 11th: 10:15 am – 11:45 am
Protecting your Employees and their Valuable Information
•Protecting key employees and covenants not to compete
•Hot Topics in Privacy and Security: Obligations a company owes to its employees and customers with respect to the use and protection of their information
•Protecting your valuable employees’ information from being poached
Monday, June 11th: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
“Monster Litigation” – Class Actions and Punitive Damages
•Class actions: Effects of CAFA
•Removal/fraudulent joinder
•Role of experts in products cases involving punitive damages
Tuesday, June 12th: 10:15 am – 11:45 am
Protecting your Brand Name Identity
•What Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers Need to Know About Trademark Infringement and the Federal Dilution Revision Act of 2006
•Who’s snooping around my booth – patent concerns at trade shows
•Believe it or Not! Protecting your IP through the use of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice
Tuesday, June 12th: 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Retailers and Manufacturers Teaming Together to Win Litigation
•Do’s and don’ts for importing into the United States
•Tools to protect retailers and distributors from products liability lawsuits
•The law of products liability and significant affirmative defenses available to manufacturers and distributors in the commercial chain
•Record handling issues and the e-discovery threat – a wake-up call for retailers and manufacturers
•How to pass your risk to others and negotiate with those who are trying to pass it to you
“These presentations take retailers and manufacturers to the cutting edge of legal issues facing our industry in the next five years. Lawyers from across the country with long experience representing the sporting goods industry will share their ideas and knowledge with the audience. Attendees, this program will prepare you for what is coming – the good and the bad – but be ready!” said Mark S. Granger, senior partner, Boston office of Morrison Mahoney LLP.

SGMA Task Force Members include:
•Nicholas P. Alexander – Morrison Mahoney LLP, Boston, Mass.
•Mark S. Granger – Morrison Mahoney LLP, Boston, Mass.
•Brian N. Johnson – Halleland Lewis Nillan & Johnson, P.A., Minneapolis, Minn.
•Walker W. Jones III – Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, Berkowitz, P.C., Jackson, Miss.
•Darin Lang – Hall & Evans, LLC, Denver, Colo.
•H. Christian L’Orange – Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, San Francisco, Calif.
•David F. Maron – Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, Berkowitz, P.C., Jackson, Miss.
•Kevin Mayer – Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Los Angeles, Calif.
•Greg McCue – Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Washington, D.C.
•Kirk J. Nahra – Wiley Rein LLP, Washington, D.C.
•Gary M. Pappas – Carlton Fields, Miami, Fla.
•Edward F. Perlman – Wolf, Greenfield, & Sacks, P.C., Boston, Mass.
•Benjamine Reid – Carlton Fields, Miami, Fla.
•Paul S. Rosenlund – Duane Morris LLP, San Francisco, Calif.
•Bryan K. Shreckengost – Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon LLP, Pittsburgh, Pa.
•Alan G. Towner – Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon LLP, Pittsburgh, Pa.

SGMA Spring Market combines educational opportunities such as the Legal Series with the opportunity to preview the latest products from the industry’s top brands. The event is the ‘go-to’ event in the sporting goods and fitness industry for manufacturers, retailers, team dealers, sales agents, and journalists. Along with many of the industry’s most influential brands, a number of sporting goods industry groups, associations, and media organizations are conducting their meetings and events either prior to or during SGMA Spring Market.
SGMA Spring Market is a focused sporting goods industry event showcasing full lines of footwear, performance apparel, equipment and accessories for fitness, running, spring team sports and licensed products. SGMA Spring Market brings together the industry’s leading brands, specialty, independent and trendsetting retailers, and team dealers—all under one roof. The event also provides sporting goods industry professionals with in-depth educational training. SGMA Spring Market is presented by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) and is managed and produced by Universal Event Management. For more information on the event, please visit www.sgmamarkets.com or call 1-888-535-5199.
SGMA, the trade association of leading industry sports and fitness brands, enhances industry vitality and fosters sports and fitness participation through research, thought leadership, product promotion and public policy. SGMA produces signature industry events including the Spring Market trade show, Sports+Technology Convergence, Industry Leaders Summit and National Health-through-Fitness Day on Capitol Hill. More information about SGMA membership and SGMA’s Sports Research Partnership can be found at www.sgma.com.
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