Work history
Associate
PCT Law Group
March 2008 – Present (7 years 4 months)Virtual
• Conduct and analyze preliminary/knockout searches for similar or confusing marks; create
opinions for clients regarding risk of proposed mark
• File new trademark applications and Section 8 and 15 declarations; respond to Office Actions and TTAB actions
• General intellectual property, technology and related business law matters
Staff Attorney
Fidelity Default Resolution Network
December 2012 – August 2014 (1 year 9 months)Rancho Cordova, CA
• Monitored and assisted with duties of non-judicial foreclosure trustee in 9 Western states
• Reviewed potential, current and prior foreclosures for compliance with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations; conducted internal audits for various levels of compliance
• Interacted with and advised various sized banks, mortgage servicers regarding foreclosure processes
• Worked closely with retained counsel in actual or potential suits against the company
• Managed 100+ title insurance claims for banks and mortgage servicers
• Took title curative actions to resolve issues, allowing many foreclosures to proceed
In-House Claims Counsel
Fidelity National Title
November 2009 – December 2011 (2 years 2 months)Omaha, NE
• Investigated, analyzed, determined and drafted coverage positions on insurance contract claims for nation’s largest title insurance company
• Directly handled curative matters and settlement negotiations for residential and commercial claims
• Directed, supervised and managed local retained counsel in litigation and curative matters
• Managed large and active claim load, averaging 160 claims
• Worked closely with underwriting staff and local offices in several states to prevent future claims
• Responsible for uncovering multi-state fraud scheme and stopping over $6M in open orders, preventing large potential losses to company
IP Attorney (freelance/contract)
n/a
January 2008 – November 2009 (1 year 11 months)Chicago, IL
Trademark prosecution
Paid and pro bono work
Program Coordinator, Center for Information Technology and Privacy Law
The John Marshall Law School
November 2008 – October 2009 (1 year)Chicago, IL
• Conducted scholarly research for Center’s faculty
• Assisted in developing institution-wide privacy and data management policies
• Redesigned and updated Center website; maintained databases and spreadsheets; responsible for Center’s social media strategy and marketing
• Planned and coordinated events and continuing legal education courses
Contract Attorney
Huron Consulting Group
June 2009 – July 2009 (2 months)Chicago, IL
• Retained to provide discovery support for 3rd party subpoena on an antitrust claim.
• Utilized Ringtail electronic discovery software to determine document relevance and privilege
Contract Attorney
Hudson Legal
September 2008 – September 2008 (1 month)Chicago, IL
• Retained to provide discovery support for various patent infringement and other litigations
• Utilized Concordance and Lextranet electronic discovery software to determine document relevance and privilege
• Add'l time period- July 2009
Contract Attorney
Special Counsel
June 2008 – August 2008 (3 months)Chicago, IL
• Retained to provide discovery support for patent infringement, contract litigations
• Used CaseLogistix and Clearwell electronic discovery software to determine document relevance and privilege
• Add'l time period- May 2009
Independent Contractor; Legal Intern
Ocean Tomo
June 2007 – January 2008 (8 months)Chicago, IL
Company provides financial products and services related to intellectual property, including expert testimony, valuation, research, ratings, investments, risk management and transactions.
• Created company-wide document retention policy and records management program; researched and selected appropriate enterprise content management software solution
• Reviewed and modified contracts, NDA’s, engagement letters, internal operating agreement
• Researched international auction law, records retention requirements, copyright terms, expert fee options, naming rights and IP-based shareholder actions
• Prepared provisional patent application and trademark applications
Law clerk
Offices of Catherine Simmons-Gill
May 2006 – May 2007 (1 year 1 month)Chicago, IL
• Assisted in trademark and patent litigation, TTAB cancellation and opposition proceedings, drafted motions, correspondence, court filings, discovery, depositions, digesting, and settlement negotiations
• Maintained and docketed book of client trademarks, filed new trademark applications, Section 8 and 15 declarations, responded to Office Actions
• Conducted and analyzed preliminary/knockout searches for similar or confusing marks
• Acquired proficiency with electronic searching of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office databases
Rental Housing Clinician;
Administrative Assistant
MSU Law Clinical Programs
August 2003 – December 2004 (1 year 5 months)East Lansing, MI
• Counseled landlords and tenants on local and state rental housing laws.
• Advocated to stop eviction proceedings, negotiated and recovered security deposits, helped resolve maintenance issues.
Education and qualifications
LL.M., Intellectual Property Law
The John Marshall Law School
Authored weblog and provided support for JMLS Center for Information Technology and Privacy Law’s 25th and 27th Annual Moot Court Competition, October 2006 and 2008
Engaged in research with professors in the fields of traditional knowledge protection and computer crime
J.D., Intellectual Property & Communications Law
Michigan State University College of Law
Editor-in-Chief- Journal of Gender Law, Dean's List
B.A., Interdisciplinary Humanities- Computer Science, History and Musi
Michigan State University
Studied abroad at Scuola Dante Alegheri, Florence, Italy (Firenze, Italia)
Honors College, Campus Orchestra, Women's Glee Club, Hillel
