Catherine T. Dobrowitsky

Practice Areas

Intellectual property litigation and dispute resolution
Lead trial counsel in intellectual property infringement cases, opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and in Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) actions.

• First-chair trial counsel for intellectual property owner in trademark infringement and breach of contract action. Following a four-day bench trial, the court ruled in client’s favor on all issues and awarded full damages, including treble damages, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.

Brand protection
Develop cost-effective brand protection strategies that balance business priorities and budget.

• Guided client in launch of brand for innovative sports equipment sold in U.S. and abroad. Cleared potential trademarks, obtained trademark registrations in North America and Europe, secured domain names, advised client on design patent protection, and policed use of trademarks by others.

Intellectual property counseling
Advise clients on issues involving trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, false advertising, unfair competition, counterfeiting, ecommerce, and domain names.

• Manage and maintain worldwide intellectual property portfolio for consumer goods manufacturer, including identification and clearance of new brands, maintenance of U.S. and foreign trademark registrations, and review of proposed packaging, website copy, and advertising.

Licenses and agreements
Negotiate licenses and agreements to maximize and protect the value of intellectual property assets, from non-disclosure and joint development agreements to technology transfer and acquisition/divestiture agreements. Support mergers and acquisitions by performing intellectual property due diligence.

• Worked with established performance artist to obtain, maintain, and protect intellectual property related to immersive theater event by drafting and negotiating non-disclosure agreements, artwork licenses, independent contractor agreements, supply agreements, and participant, media, and performer releases.

Education and Admissions
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of Michigan, Residential College, B.A.
Admitted in:
Michigan, Massachusetts; U.S. District Courts for the E.D. Michigan, W.D. Michigan, and E.D. Texas; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Federal Circuit; and the U.S. Supreme Court

Federal Trial Court Clerkship
Hon John Feikens, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan