ABPI and Franklin Pierce Establish Partnership in Rio
“ABPI, as a center for intellectual property education and research, is offering its members a course that ranks among the best in the world,” said ABPI President Gabriel Leonardos during the launch of the partnership between ABPI and the Franklin Pierce School of Law at the University of New Hampshire on October 11 in Rio. Sarah Dorner, Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and International Outreach at Franklin Pierce School of Law, attended the event.
Through this initiative, ABPI members will have access to several benefits, including a 50% discount for ABPI’s Gold and Platinum institutional members, a 25% discount for regular ABPI members, and an additional 10% discount for ABPI members who have overcome challenges and contributed significantly to the community.
The partnership with Franklin Pierce was introduced by ABPI’s Executive Director, Erika Silla, and further explained by Sarah Dorner, who began her presentation by noting that Franklin Pierce Law is “globally recognized for its tradition and excellence in intellectual property education.” The institution boasts a faculty composed of IP leaders and offers master’s, postgraduate, and several other courses in the field. Thanks to the partnership between the two institutions, all programs offer special discounts for ABPI members.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to hear from two ABPI directors, Filipe Fonteles Cabral and Fernanda Magalhães, both alumni of Franklin Pierce. “Intellectual Property is an extremely international field, so studying in another country, specifically in the United States, is an opportunity to engage with a different culture, meet students from all over the world, and study in the same classroom with professors from China, Japan, Korea, Europe, Africa, and South America. It is a fantastic cultural exchange,” said Cabral. “Franklin Pierce truly reshaped the way I think, and this experience opened doors, even allowing me to continue learning,” explained Fernanda.
In the interview below, Sarah Dorner provides details on the partnership with ABPI and shares insights into Franklin Pierce’s expertise in the field of Intellectual Property.
How do you evaluate the importance of the partnership with ABPI?
Sarah Dorner – This collaboration is pivotal in enhancing the professional development of intellectual property (IP) practitioners throughout Brazil, and equipping ABPI members with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of the global market. By providing access to high-quality training programs and innovative teaching practices, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law will empower ABPI associates to advance their skills and thrive in the ever-evolving IP industry. This partnership not only reflects our commitment to excellence in Intellectual Property globally, but also serves to strengthen our collective ability to meet industry demands effectively.
What does the university offer students in the field of intellectual property?
SD – At UNH Franklin Pierce, we offer exceptional IP educational programs, renowned world-wide for their depth and breadth. Our curriculum features over 50 cutting-edge courses covering key areas such as patent, copyright, trademark, privacy, and internet law. Students benefit from experiential, hands-on learning through legal clinics, immersive courses that take students out of the traditional classroom and on-site to real-world locations, our exclusive Intellectual Property Summer Institute, and special events focused on current IP issues.
The Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property leads in thought leadership on pressing topics like data usage, privacy, artificial intelligence, and antitrust. Our faculty includes leading scholars and practitioners who are dedicated to student success, ensuring a rich learning environment. Graduates of our program are influential across the globe, shaping IP strategy as professors, policymakers, and corporate lawyers in over 80 countries around the world. At UNH Franklin Pierce, we empower students to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of intellectual property law.
What is the biggest differentiator of Franklin Pierce School of Law compared to other institutions of its kind?
SD – The biggest differentiator of UNH Franklin Pierce is our commitment to transforming legal education through innovative, practice-ready training. Our faculty are leaders in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, social justice, and healthcare, providing students with cutting-edge insights and opportunities that extend across the country and globally.
We emphasize hands-on experience, allowing students to practice law before graduation and build valuable professional networks. Our unique ABA-approved Hybrid JD program in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Information Law enables working professionals to pursue their degree primarily online, offering the flexibility and accessibility that today’s adult learners need to further their education and advance their careers.
For over 50 years we have focused on empowering students to become pioneering, principled lawyers while fostering a supportive community. Our dedication to excellence and innovation in legal education sets us apart as a world-renowned destination for IP scholars and practitioners.
How does the exchange and networking between foreign students and the university take place?
SD – Each year we welcome international students from around the world to our campus in Concord, New Hampshire to further their IP education. These students become an integral part of the UNH Franklin Pierce community. We offer dedicated programming for international students to ensure their unique needs are met and they have ample opportunities to experience New Hampshire cultural activities throughout the seasons. At the same time, we also help them connect with the broader law school and Concord communities.
We recognize that not all students are able to travel to the U.S. to advance their education. Thus, we train these students through our online and hybrid programs where they can stay in their homes and in their jobs and earn their degree in a more flexible timeline and format. We also offer short-term learning options through our IP Summer Institute so that professionals from across the globe can access our world-class education through short courses on cutting-edge and trending topics in IP.
And finally, we strive to get out into the countries and communities our international students come from. In recent years our staff and faculty have visited countries such as Brazil, China, Guatemala, India, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Taiwan, and more. We meet with law schools, law firms, corporations, associations, and government organizations to better understand their educational and training needs, explore opportunities for collaboration, and learn how UNH Franklin Pierce can continue our tradition of excellence in IP and train the next generation of IP leaders.
