Allison Z. Gifford concentrates her practice in the area of intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on trademarks and copyrights, including domestic and international trademark prosecution, counseling and enforcement, trade dress, copyright, unfair competition and Internet-related matters. She advises clients on trademark prosecution, clearance and enforcement in the U.S. and worldwide and counsels clients on strategic brand adoption and protection. She also handles domain name disputes and handles both ex parte and inter partes matters before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Ms. Gifford negotiates and drafts licenses, assignments and other IP-related agreements and performs due diligence regarding intellectual property rights in connection with corporate financings and transactions. She has experience working with clients representing the retail clothing, building supply, biotechnology, software, pharmaceutical, financial services and document management industries.
Ms. Gifford is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia bar associations. She is a 1998 graduate of Temple University School of law and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
Areas of Practice
· Intellectual Property - Trademark & Copyright
Professional Activities
· American Intellectual Property Law Association
· Pennsylvania Bar Association
· Philadelphia Bar Association
· International Trademark Association
- Trademark Administrators Committee
-- Content Development Subcommittee, 2004-2006
· Community College of Philadelphia, Adjunct Faculty Member, Introduction to Intellectual Property Law for Paralegals, Fall 1998, Spring 2000
Experience
· Duane Morris LLP
- Special Counsel, 2010-present
- Associate, 1998-2009
- Intellectual Property Paralegal, 1994-1998
· Synnestvedt & Lechner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Intellectual Property Paralegal and Administrator, 1989-1994
Board Memberships
· Board of Directors, Abington Art Center, 2008-2009
· Advisory Board, National Federation of Paralegal Associations, 2000-present
· Community College of Philadelphia, Advisory Board Member, Paralegal Program, 1993-1998
Civic and Charitable Activities
· The Pitt Club of Greater Philadelphia
- Member, 1990-present
- Executive Committee Member, 1990-1995
· The Paralegal Medical Assistance Foundation
- Trustee, 1992-1997
· The Friends of the Jenkintown Library
Selected Publications
· Co-author, "Pennsylvania Supreme Court Overturns State Trademark Counterfeiting Law," Duane Morris Alert, October 9, 2009
· Co-author, "The European Community Trademark System Springs to Life," The Legal Intelligencer, October 7, 1999
· Co-author, "The Internet, VCRs and Boat Hulls," The Legal Intelligencer, November 5, 1998
· Co-author, "My Domain or Yours? The Try, Try Again Internet Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy," The Legal Intelligencer, April 2, 1998
· Co-author, "Look to Trademarks Before You Leap into Applying for a WWW Domain Name," The Legal Intelligencer, July 3, 1997
Selected Speaking Engagements
· Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Intellectual Property Law Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 17, 2007
· "Implementation of the Trademark Law Treaty in the U.S.," Philadelphia Association of Paralegals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1999
· "Changes to U.S. Trademark Law as Result of the Trademark Law Treaty Implementation Act," Philadelphia Association of Paralegals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1999