CLA’s Intellectual Property Section Honors “the Vanguard”

California Lawyers Association’s (CLA) Intellectual Property (IP) Institute is considered the premier event of its kind. Now in its 48th year, attorneys in the IP field connect to discuss the numerous shifts impacting this legal specialty. This year’s event takes place from March 6-8, 2025, in Long Beach, California.

However, this is not an article about the upcoming Institute.

This is a recognition of exceptional people.

Each year, CLA’s IP Section honors outstanding legal professionals for their contributions to the advancement of intellectual property law with the Intellectual Property Vanguard Awards. The decisions are not easy ones, because there are indeed countless hard working attorneys throughout the state, and the country, who propel the IP field forward. Some, though, are exemplary.

That is, according to Jonathan Lurie, CLA IP Section Chair. “There are so many exceptional IP lawyers,” he says. “I think the thing that sets the award recipients apart is that they are always thinking about change, making change, or finding ways to do something about change.”

The people selected for the 2025 Vanguard Awards are recognized for developing practices and standards which IP attorneys in California rely on every day. The criterion to be considered for the esteemed honor is rigorous and based solely on merit. The ceremony is conducted during CLA’s yearly Intellectual Property Institute, the single, largest in-person event held by the IP Section, generally with more than 100 attorneys in attendance.

Receiving the award in the Private Practice arena is Andy Gass, Partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP. Andy is an acclaimed antitrust and IP lawyer, representing technology companies in high-stakes disputes. He is the architect of his firm’s decorated copyright practice and teaches at the UC Berkeley School of Law. He has shaped some of the most cutting-edge issues in digital copyright law over the past decade.

Shabnam Malek, Head of IP and Privacy at The Wine Group, is being honored in the area of In-House Counsel. Shabnam is a co-founder and the founding President of the International Cannabis Bar Association, with a membership base of over 800 attorneys, and a strong international presence.

In addition, Shabnam has developed a robust pro bono practice representing imprisoned women before the California Board of Parole Hearings. She is a regular speaker and writer on the topics of trademarks, brand expansion, regulated industries, and the role of women in creating changes.

In the category of academia, Mark McKenna, Professor of Law and Co-director of the Institute for Technology, Law & Policy at UCLA School of Law, is the Vanguard award winner. Mark teaches a variety of courses in intellectual property law, privacy, and torts. He has played many legal roles as a practicing attorney, an academic, of counsel, and as a consultant on high-stakes intellectual property litigation. Mark also serves as an expert witness in trademark and copyright cases.

The selection process is a difficult one, explains Lurie. A slate of possible recipients is developed and scrutinized before decisions are made. The winners are chosen for their tremendous contributions.

Acknowledged and celebrated for his long-standing dedication to CLA’s IP Section, Ben Borson, Founder and President of Borson Law Group, PC, is the 2025 recipient of the Larry Maxham Award. This award is given in honor of CLA member Larry Maxham, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2023. He was known for his tireless work to the organization and its IP Section. Borson, current Chair of the IP Section’s Legislation Interest Group, has dedicated thousands of hours to CLA. He is a long-standing member of the IP Section.

“You’ve got to do something with twenty-four hours in a day,” jokes Borson, whose history with the California State Bar and CLA began nearly 30 years ago. “I passed the Bar and immediately got involved with the IP Section, at the urging of one of my colleagues. I tell new attorneys to get involved, stay involved, and keep your eyes open.”

In addition to his role as President, Borson Law Group, PC, Borson holds a Ph.D. in Physiology. He utilizes his understanding of how science works and applies that awareness to the legal system, he explains. He cites numerous cases impacting such areas as health, transportation, and technology focused on dimensional relationships.

“Sometimes, when there is a major Supreme Court decision, you have to pull things apart and get to the inside. There is an intersection between science and law that revolves around intellectual property.”

As the Larry Maxham Award recipient, Borson says he is very thankful and considers it a lifetime achievement award. He is enthusiastic about his work with CLA, calling it the premier organization that addresses IP matters.

As Lurie reflects on the achievements of the 2025 award honorees, he says, “I am so incredibly proud to present these inspiring people with the Vanguard Award. They are all so deserving. I think we live in changing times. There are very few fields that aren’t seeing change, and our award recipients spearhead what that looks like in the legal field.”  He adds, “The advent of AI and many other technologies requires us to look at how with think about the contours of IP. There are entirely new industries which are coming to the forefront. Each of these people are constantly pushing the envelope in some of the most important litigation and IP-related issues we are facing. They are some of the brightest minds of our times.”

CLA congratulates all of the honorees and thanks them for their commitment to the legal profession and the system of justice in California. To learn more about the Intellectual Property Section, the Institute, and the Vanguard Awards, please visit the CLA IP Section.