Paul Cox appointed to ECTA Supervisory Board

Ionic Legal co-founder and partner Paul Cox has joined the Supervisory Board of ECTA, representing the UK for the 2026-2027 term.

ECTA (founded as the European Communities Trade Mark Association) is a Europe-wide intellectual property association with more than 1,500 members, advocating for the IP community within the European Union. The Supervisory Board includes two representatives from each of the 27 member countries. Paul Cox has been selected as one of two UK Board members (without voting rights following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU), joined by Lauren Somers of HGF.

Prior to founding Ionic Legal, Paul had previously served on the Board in 2023. He has also been a member of ECTA’s Anti-Counterfeiting Committee.

Paul comments: “I am delighted to have been re-appointed to this role. For many years, ECTA has championed the interests of IP practitioners and provided a forum for the exchange of cutting-edge ideas within our community. At a time of great upheaval with the rise of generative AI, the strength of ECTA will be more crucial than ever.”

Founded in 1980, ECTA was a driving force in the establishment of the EU’s Community trade mark (now known as the European Union trade mark or EUTM) in 1996. The associations acts as a recognised discussion partner for, and hosts regular official meetings with, the European Commission, EUIPO and World Intellectual Property Organization as a means of shaping IP regulation and policy. ECTA’s members include lawyers, judges, academics and other professionals from across the continent.

Made up of multiple governing bodies, ECTA is also overseen by a Board of Directors and includes multiple committees and task forces. ECTA only promotes views and policies where there is general consensus among its members to do so; given the Supervisory Board is the only fully-elected body within the organisation, it is therefore uniquely important in determining the association’s positions.