Industries

• Manufacturing
  • Consumable Goods
  • Industrials
• Technology

Practices

• Franchise & Hospitality
• Intellectual Property
  • Copyright
  • IP Litigation
  • Social Media, Internet & E-Commerce
  • Technology & IP Transactions
  • Trademarks

Biography

Sam represents both domestic and global clients in a wide array of intellectual property matters relating to trademark, copyright, internet and unfair competition issues, with a particular emphasis on trademark prosecution, counseling, licensing, enforcement and litigation, including the defense and prosecution of inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  In addition, Sam assists clients with anti-counterfeiting measures in both the U.S. and abroad, including past efforts for a world-famous cartoon brand that necessitated interaction with counsel and customs authorities in numerous countries on an almost daily basis as well as ongoing enforcement efforts for one of the world’s most recognizable collegiate brands.

Sam also represents clients in intellectual property disputes on the internet, including domain name disputes and the misuse of copyrighted material, and has brought successful Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings to recover domain names from cybersquatters on behalf of The Limited, Cracker Barrel, Food Network, HGTV and totes-Isotoner to name a few.  These UDRP proceedings included key domains for these companies, such as thelimitedscandalcollection.com, crackerbarrel.online,  hgtvmagazine.com, foodnetworkasia.com and isotoner-slippers.com.  Sam also leads the charge in keeping her clients and colleagues abreast on the developments of the new TLD era, and manages FBT’s agency with the Trademark Clearinghouse.

In recent highlights, Sam assisted women’s fashion retailer The Limited with negotiating an exclusive license with ABC, actress Kerry Washington and fashion designer Lyn Paolo for a fashion line based upon the hit show Scandal.  In addition, Sam has been consistently ranked in the gold band of the World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) since 2015, an independent ranking of the top 1000 trademark practitioners world-wide.  According to the WTR 1000, “[Sam’s] facility for getting signatures on the dotted line is famed among peers, particularly when it comes to sports and collegiate licensing.”  The World Trademark Review has also noted Sam’s “very practical and business-minded” approach to client service, and she is quoted as having “built a very sophisticated practice” with her “striking knowledge of trademark law.”

Before becoming a trademark lawyer, Sam had aspirations of becoming a business and tax attorney.  After receiving the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.), she pursued the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Business and Taxation.  During this time, Sam also took a position as a project assistant for a team of trademark attorneys and was heavily involved in the successful defense against a trademark infringement suit, including the request for a preliminary injunction, brought against the then upcoming launch of Current TV in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio.  It was this very experience that signaled a change in Sam’s aspirations.

Sam is admitted to practice law in Ohio and Maryland only, and she will practice under the supervision of D.C. Bar members.