Recognized for her intellectual property (IP) work, Karen A. Butcher advises clients on maximizing the value of their IP and protecting their intellectual assets. She focuses on brands, creative works, technology, and related IP. Karen handles transactions and helps clients to structure the ownership and licensing of IP within their corporate group and to resolve complex disputes when they arise. A practice leader in the firm’s intellectual property practice, Karen brings an international perspective to strategic business matters in various sectors, including retail and e-commerce, life sciences and healthcare, food and beverage, and sports and media.
In her IP transactional practice, Karen works with clients contemplating mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution agreements, licensing agreements, strategic alliances, and corporate reorganizations. When clients acquire or divest intellectual assets, she develops and implements cost-effective strategies for maximizing asset value and minimizing deficiencies. She also proactively helps clients integrate acquired assets into their existing portfolios.
With an eye on the international implications of IP, Karen advises business clients on international brand strategy, and provides intellectual property counseling for clients embarking on cross-border transactions and licensing agreements. She advises multinationals on structuring the ownership and licensing of IP within their corporate group by harmonizing tax and IP considerations. She also helps clients develop approaches for multijurisdictional clearance, protection, and enforcement of international brands, including innovative brand rights. Karen helps clients facing complex disputes, with a focus on disputes involving breach of contract, parallel imports and infringement.
With an undergraduate degree in business concentrating in marketing, Karen advises clients on advertising, consumer protection, privacy, e-commerce and social media. She advises clients on false advertising claims under the Lanham Act, compliance with US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state consumer protection regulations, and international compliance strategy. Karen drafts and negotiates innovative agreements for brand development and marketing, including licensing, sponsorship, product placement, brand integration, celebrity spokesperson, creative service, and cross-promotional agreements.
Karen’s experience includes structuring and implementing intellectual property ownership, licensing and management in the consumer products, luxury/fashion, retail/e-tail, technology, life sciences, information services, financial services and real estate fields and the following selected transactions reported in the media:
Leading Trademark Practitioner, Prosecution & Strategy, Washington, DC, WTR 1000, World Trademark Review (2011–2018)
Recognized, Trademarks, Best of the Best Expert Guide (2014–2016)
Recognized, Washington, DC, Super Lawyers (2015–2017)
IP Star, Top 250 Women in IP, Managing Intellectual Property (2013–2016)
Recognized, Trademarks, Who’s Who Legal (2015–2016)
Leading Practitioner, Trademarks, Expert Guide’s Women in Business Law (2016)
Recognized, Expert Guide's World's Leading Women in Business Law (2010–2013)
Recognized, Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners (2012)
Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals
Member, Board of Directors, International Trademark Association (2009–2012)
5/2/2017 - FTC Letters to Endorsers Highlight Need for Transparency in Social Media Advertising
5/3/2016 - US Supreme Court to Review Standard for Copyright Protection of Clothing
3/21/2016 - FTC Complaint Highlights the Need to Disclose Material Connections in Ads
August/September 2015 - Managing trademarks in the BEPS environment — the shifting tax landscape
6/23/2015 - FTC Issues Updated Guidance on Endorsements Compliance
5/11/2015 - US/Cuba Relations: What You Need to Know About Protecting US Brands in Cuba
2/13/2015 - ICANN News: 500+ New gTLDs Introduced to the Internet
2/6/2013 - ICANN Publishes Pricing for Trademark Clearinghouse
1/24/2013 - Enforcement Implications of Already, LLC v. Nike, Inc.
1/3/2013 - Increasing Scrutiny of Consumer Data Collection
10/3/2012 - FTC 'Green Guides': What the Changes Mean for Marketers, Law360
10/3/2012 - FTC Releases Final “Green Guides” for Environmental Marketing Claims
9/28/2012 - Design Protection Bill Sent On for Senate Vote
8/13/2012 - FBI Expands Right to Use Anti-Piracy Warning Seal
6/13/2012 - ICANN Publishes List of New gTLD Registry Applications
4/2/2018 - Morgan Lewis Advises Transcontinental Inc. on Acquisition of Coveris Americas
March 2018 - Morgan Lewis Among Juristat Top 100 Patent Firms in 2018
1/26/2018 - World Trademark Review Recognizes Morgan Lewis in 2018 WTR 1000
10/16/2017 - Morgan Lewis Advises Aramark in $1 Billion Acquisition of AmeriPride Services
9/11/2017 - Jeff Moorad Joins Morgan Lewis to Lead Firm’s Global Sports Industry Initiative
6/1/2017 - Morgan Lewis Advises Ferguson Enterprises in Sale of Endries International
April 2017 - Morgan Lewis Recognized as a Top Patent Firm by Juristat
1/31/2017 - World Trademark Review Recognizes Morgan Lewis in 2017 WTR 1000
1/13/2017 - Morgan Lewis Advises Denali Sourcing Services in Purchase by WNS (Holdings) Limited
11/30/2016 - Morgan Lewis Represents Harte Hanks in Sale of Trillium Software to Syncsort
8/5/2016 - Morgan Lewis Represents DBi Services in Partnership with Sterling Partners
March 2016 - Morgan Lewis Ranked as one of Juristat's Top 100 Patent Firms
7/21/2015 - Morgan Lewis Advises eBay in $925 Million Sale of eBay Enterprise
6/9/2015 - Morgan Lewis Reps Campbell In $231M Garden Fresh Deal, Law360
3/16/2015 - Morgan Lewis Advises Harte Hanks in 3Q Digital, Inc. Acquisition
10/1/2014 - Morgan Lewis Represents UBM in $972M Purchase of Advanstar Communications
6/2/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises TransForce Subsidiary on Transport America Acquisition
5/12/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises Varsity Healthcare Partners on Acquisition of Katzen Eye Group
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