TMAE Summit RoundtablesHome Improvement: Tools for Bringing Trademark Work In-House
Alt Legal Team | August 28, 2026
We’ll be making the most of our time during the lunch hour at the TMAE Summit by hosting small roundtable discussions on a variety of relevant topics. Each roundtable will have a host assigned to lead the discussion with pertinent questions, allowing you to share knowledge and resources and get to know your fellow conference attendees.
Roundtable Description
As organizations face increasing pressure to do more with less, many trademark teams are reevaluating how trademark services are delivered and which functions are best handled internally. Bringing work in-house can offer greater visibility, efficiency, and control, but it also requires careful planning, strong processes, and effective collaboration between in-house teams and outside counsel.
In this roundtable, Nikki Ramos of Monster Energy will lead a discussion exploring the opportunities and challenges of managing trademark services in-house, as well as the evolving role of law firms in supporting lean, cost-conscious trademark teams. Drawing on participants’ experiences from both in-house and law firm environments, the discussion will examine how organizations are adapting their trademark operations to meet changing business needs and budget realities. Participants will discuss:
- Evaluating which trademark functions are best handled internally
- Building workflows, processes, and internal expertise
- Creating productive partnerships between in-house teams and outside counsel
- Managing budgets while maintaining high-quality trademark support
- Avoiding common pitfalls when expanding internal trademark capabilities
View all TMAE Summit Roundtables here.
Learn more about the TMAE Summit here.
Roundtable Host
Nikki Ramos, Managing Paralegal, Monster Energy
Nikki Ramos brings over 30 years of experience in the legal field to her current role as Managing Paralegal for IP & Litigation at Monster Energy. Having worked in both law firm and in-house settings, she has built deep expertise in intellectual property and litigation support throughout her career. Based in Corona, California, Ms. Ramos applies both institutional knowledge and hands-on experience to every matter she handles.