TMAE Summit 2026House of Marks: Keeping Your Brand Strategy from Collapsing
Alt Legal Team | June 01, 2026
The Trademark Administrators’ Exchange (TMAE) Summit on October 19-21 is the premier event designed for trademark administrators and professionals who keep IP operations running smoothly. Join peers from across the country for this exciting event providing focused education, interactive discussions, immersive workshops, and valuable networking—all in a collaborative, welcoming environment. Learn about additional sessions here.
Trademark administrators are often responsible for managing hundreds—or even thousands—of related marks. Understanding how those marks work together can have a significant impact on enforcement strategy. Building portfolios around a shared naming structure, house mark, or family of related marks creates both opportunities and challenges when it comes to enforcement. In this session, Debra Duguid of Tao Group and Mar Deniz of Noli IP (formerly of TikTok and Amazon) will explore how house marks, series marks, and brand families can strengthen enforcement strategies, influence risk assessments, and shape decisions about protecting and expanding a trademark portfolio, including:
- Identifying and defining house marks, series marks, and brand families
- Building and maintaining evidence of a brand family
- Evaluating the enforcement advantages and limitations of each approach
- Assessing likelihood of confusion when multiple related marks are involved
- Developing practical enforcement strategies for growing portfolios
Register for the TMAE Summit here.
Speakers
Debra Duguid
, Director, Legal & Business Affairs, Tao Group Hospitality
Debra Duguid is the Director of Legal and Business Affairs at Tao Group Hospitality, where she manages the company’s global trademark portfolio. With more than two decades of trademark experience spanning law firms and in-house roles, Debra has led trademark clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio management efforts for globally recognized brands, including Madison Square Garden and Scripps. Known for her practical approach to trademark strategy and brand protection, she brings extensive experience managing complex domestic and international portfolios across a wide range of industries.
Mar Deniz
, Legal Intern, Noli IP Solutions
Mar Deniz is a CITMA UK-certified Trademark Paralegal, Spanish Attorney, and California Provisionally Licensed Lawyer. Above all, she’s a long-time trademark passionate. Her experience has focused on enforcement, both on the law firm side and reviewing Notice and Takedown requests at major technology companies. From her first IP job in mainland China to her current volunteering roles, she’s sure to bring creativity into IP problem-solving.
Sheila Engle, Senior Trademark Paralegal, Little Caesars
Sheila Engle is the Senior Trademark Paralegal at Little Caesars, overseeing the protection and management of the company’s global trademark portfolio. She collaborates closely with legal, marketing, and business teams to defend and elevate the iconic global brand. With experience in both law firm and in-house environments, Sheila has supported all aspects of trademark portfolio management, prosecution, and enforcement. Passionate about trademarks and brand protection, she enjoys helping business partners understand the value of intellectual property and believes trademark administrators play a vital role as educators, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions that strengthen and protect their brands.