Brand Activation Legal Committee: October 2020

For October’s meeting, Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s presentation will include: (i) a FTC regulatory update; (ii) a discussion of recent federal false advertising cases; (iii) a review of recent NAD/NARB decisions; and (iv) privacy law developments. Presenting will be Sandra Edelman, Sarah Robertson, Fara Sunderji, Tiffany Shimada, and Cody Wamsley.

Sandra Edelman, Partner

Sandy contributes to clients’ business success by providing strategic advice on trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, and advertising law. Her extensive experience in brand name clearance and trademark portfolio management has placed her in the Gold band (the highest possible) of the WTR 1000—a ranking of the world’s leading trademark professionals by the World Trademark Review. Specifically, in its 2018 rankings, WTR relayed high praise by her peers and clients, who called her “incredibly smart and committed”, described her guidance as “pragmatic and all-inclusive,” and stated that “she has helped to advance the trademark practice as a whole.”

Sarah Robertson, Partner

Sarah has over twenty years’ experience helping clients protect, enforce and exploit their intellectual property assets and overseeing clients’ general business needs, with particular depth in the creative industries, tech, financial and consumer product sectors. Sarah has extensive experience in a wide scope of corporate and commercial agreements and transactions involving intellectual property, and assisting with the day-to-day needs of clients. She clears, registers and enforces brand names in the U.S. and internationally. She handles sales and distribution issues, as well as complex licensing matters. She represents clients in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and in disputes involving intellectual property, including mobile app and domain name conflicts. She also counsels clients on marketing, advertising, contest and online reputation management issues.

Fara Sunderji, Partner

Fara assists clients in the development and execution of all types of marketing promotions from sweepstakes to complex contests of skill, including giveaways on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. She also counsels clients on advertising claim substantiation, endorsements, testimonials and native advertising. In addition, Fara has extensive expertise in all stages of the brand management process, including trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement and litigation. She regularly represents clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal court. Fara’s practice includes representation of clients in a wide array of industries, including alcoholic beverages, snack foods, industrial chemicals, fashion, video games, publishing, pharmaceuticals and financial services. Fara is the co-manager of Dorsey’s IP Blog, TheTMCA.com, which focuses on legal developments in the world of Trademarks, Copyrights, and Advertising.

Tiffany Shimada, Partner

With a background in intellectual property valuation, Tiffany deeply understands and respects the worth of intangible assets and enjoys helping clients maximize their value. As a trademark and copyright lawyer, Tiffany works with brand owners and managers from around the world to enforce and protect their intellectual property in a wide array of industries, including cosmetics, financial services, food and beverage, agribusiness, search engine optimization management, outdoor sports and hunting, logistics, direct marketing, online retail marketplaces, entertainment, health care, apparel, renewable energy, and mining operations. She assists clients with all aspects of brand selection and protection, including clearance, prosecution, maintenance, due diligence, and enforcement. Tiffany also counsels clients on brand communication and risk management issues, such as claim substantiation, comparative advertising, influencer marketing, and promotions involving sweepstakes and contests.

Cody Wamsley, Associate

His background as a patent attorney and information security subject matter expert enables him to interface seamlessly with technical security professionals while simultaneously drawing on his management experience to integrate with executives and provide strategic guidance to achieve success. Cody’s experience includes data breach response, information security policy and program development, third party risk, negotiating and drafting complex technology contracts, providing counsel on technology transactions, and advising on global data security and privacy issues for both startups and large enterprises.