Ofelia Kirkorian-Tsonkova

• 9 years (from August 2007 until September 2016) as IP lawyer (full time), including as trade mark and patent representative. I have experience in filing patents, utility models, industrial designs and trade marks applications and manage to communicate in appropriate language with people who don’t understand the specialized IP law terminology. I have been representing my clients before the Bulgarian Patent Office and the national courts, including arbitration courts in relation to IP rights cancellations and infringements cases.
• 5 years’ (from October 2016 until August 2021) experience as Vice President of the Bulgarian Patent Office (full time). At that time, I was responsible for the management of the oppositions, invalidities and appeal cases. I regularly participated in deliberation meetings with the examiners and the parties trying to find the best legal solution which serve to their business interests. I had to review all the decision drafted by the examiners and the legal assistants and to approve them before being sent for signature to the President of the Office.
• 4 years (from October 2021 until now) as Seconded National Expert to the Boards of Appeal to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (full time), where my main tasks include examination and management of appeal cases relating to trade marks and drafting decisions, approved by the Board including the preparatory work such as research and analysis of case-law. I also participate in different working groups for discussion of IP law issues together with representatives of the national offices and trade mark owners associations. I have very well-developed skills to listen all the interested parties in one discussion, to pay attention to the details of the different points of view and to look for most balanced legal solution of the problems in reasonable terms.
• 9 years (2016 until now) as a part-time Member of the Boards of Appeal to the Community Plant Variety Office I have had several cases on CPVR cancellations as rapporteur or co-signer in which I demonstrated my professional knowledge and detailed focused approach in solving the disputes. I have experience in participating in oral hearings in English onsite and online.
• 13 years (2009-2022) as part-time assistant professor in IP Law.