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Kelly P. McCarthy Partner

One Embarcadero Center
Twenty-Second Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111

T:
415.392.1960
F:
415.392.0827

Kelly McCarthy represents clients in relation to brand protection issues, trademark enforcement and portfolio management. Her clients include public and private entities, from emerging regional companies to global industry leaders.

Ms. McCarthy advises clients on a variety of trademark and brand protection issues, including matters involving product and corporate name selection; trademark availability and clearance; worldwide branding strategies; trademark related agreements including licenses; management and prosecution of worldwide and US trademark portfolios; disputes before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; domain name disputes and cybersquatting concerns; foreign, domestic and online anti-counterfeiting and enforcement measures; advertising, claims and promotions, and social media and Internet marketing issues.

Ms. McCarthy specializes in the development and implementation of customized and comprehensive brand protection programs that focus on global trademark portfolio growth while combatting product counterfeiting concerns and other infringements.

Prior to joining Sideman & Bancroft LLP, Ms. McCarthy was Of Counsel at Tomlinson Zisko LLP.

Experience

Intellectual Property Counseling

  • Ongoing representation of Varian Medical Systems, Inc., a Fortune 1000 multinational developer and manufacturer of medical devices and software for cancer treatment, in trademark matters and other selected intellectual property issues
  • Ongoing representation of Stella & Dot LLC, popular designer of apparel, accessories, cosmetics and skincare, in all aspects of intellectual property development, anti-counterfeiting and enforcement matters
  • Ongoing representation of Welly Health PBC, a popular emerging company in the personal care space, in in all aspects of intellectual property development and enforcement matters
  • Ongoing representation of ILIA Beauty, a popular maker of clean cosmetics and skin care, in all aspects of intellectual property development, anti-counterfeiting and enforcement matters
  •  Advised Kat Von D Beauty, Bite Beauty, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Ole Henriksen of Denmark and parent company Kendo Brands in all aspects of intellectual property development and enforcement matters
  • Ongoing representation of Magpul Industries Corp., a leading supplier of accessories for firearms for military and recreational applications, in all aspects of intellectual property development and anti-counterfeiting matters
  • Ongoing representation of Method Products and its parent company Ecover, maker of environmentally conscious cleaning products, in all aspects of intellectual property development and enforcement matters
  • Advised Method Products on successful multi-platform social media marketing strategy (www.votedaisy.com)
  • Ongoing representation of OLLY PBC, a leading maker of vitamin, supplements and nutrition products,  in all aspects of intellectual property development and enforcement matters, including the successful prosecution of the company’s application for trade dress protection of its unique bottle shape
  • Ongoing representation of San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas, US Gas & Power and parent company Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services company, in U.S. trademark clearance and prosecution matters
  • Ongoing representation of Varex Imaging, the world’s largest independent supplier of medical X-ray tubes and image processing solutions, in relation to the company’s trademark matters and other selected intellectual property issues
  • Trademark and IP counsel to Cedar Ridge Apple Ranch, LLC, producer and seller of the Indigeny Reserve line of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages
  • Advisor to an up-and-coming cosmetics and skincare company in the launch of its website, including incorporation of all levels of social media promotions and guest blogging activities
  • IP counsel to Limay Ventures, LLC, owner of the U.S. rights to the trademark La Bodeguita del Medio and the U.S. restaurant by that name, on, among other matters, issues arising from the ownership of the mark and its similarities to another trademark as affected by current U.S. embargoes
  • Trademark and IP counsel to Stemple Creek Ranch, a California-based cattle ranch producing organic grass-fed beef and lamb
  • Counsel to Passport Resorts, owner of a collection of high-end hotels and restaurants in IP matters arising in relation to its hotel and restaurant properties
  • Management of domestic and international trademark prosecution matters, including counseling, USPTO filings, management of local counsel, watch service monitoring, and content and trademark licensing, for Incase Designs Corp., a developer of personal electronics accessories
  • Counsel to venture-backed start-ups RockYou, Xignite, Inc., and Glassdoor, Inc., in all U.S. and international trademark prosecution matters

Intellectual Property Enforcement

  • Development and implementation of comprehensive anti-counterfeiting program for Kat Von D Beauty including policing of online markets and customs enforcement
  • Counsel to a well-known California winery in relation to claims against a former employee for trade dress infringement, trademark infringement and passing off, copyright infringement, theft of trade secrets, and breach of contract
  • Counsel to major international personal electronics brand in relation to anti-counterfeiting efforts and enforcement of trademark rights in the United States
  • Counsel for oversight and management of all online intellectual property enforcement efforts for a popular children’s entertainment franchise and a well-known fashion and lifestyle brand
  • Co-counsel/trademark subject matter specialists with regard to geographical descriptiveness claims on behalf of a well-known California winery in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) cancellation action
  • Representation of Testarossa Vineyards, LLC, a California producer of award-winning Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, in an action for trademark infringement against an Italian winery and its U.S. importers
  • Management of domestic and international trademark enforcement matters, including counseling, watch service monitoring, web monitoring, investigation, cease and desist demands, TTAB proceedings, litigation, and settlement negotiation, for Incase Designs Corp., a developer of personal electronics accessories

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Representation of the selling stockholders of Advanced Portfolio Technologies, Inc., a provider of software and data products supporting investment advisory services, in its sale to SunGard
  • Special IP counsel to Incase Designs Corp., a designer and developer of carrying solutions for consumer electronics, in the leveraged buyout of Incase by Swander Pace
  • Special IP counsel to Incase Designs Corp., in the acquisition of Incase by Incipio Technologies
  • Special IP counsel to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in spin-off of Varex Imaging
Professional Involvement

Ms. McCarthy belongs to the International Trademark Association (INTA), where she has served as the chair of the Academic Committee and now sits on the unREAL Campaign Committee. She is also a member of the San Francisco Intellectual Property Association and the Personal Care and Products Council. Ms. McCarthy is the author of a number of articles and journal publications and speaks and writes frequently on intellectual property issues.

Ms. McCarthy is a member of the West Coast board of directors for buildOn, a national charitable organization focused on breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education in the United States and developing nations.

Listed in World Trademark Review’s List of The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2017- 2021. Ms. McCarthy is recognized as a Trademark Star in Managing Intellectual Property‘s 2020 and 2021 reviews of the world’s leading IP practitioners and law firms.

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®  2024

Publications