As a former trademark examining attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Rachel Blue brings extensive experience and insider knowledge to her practice in intellectual property law as well as franchise law, entertainment law and unfair competition matters.
Her intellectual property practice primarily focuses on trademark clearance and prosecution (searches, opinion letters, filing, prosecution, appeals and maintenance of applications and registrations), opposition and cancellation proceedings, and enforcement. She also handles licensing of all types of intellectual property, coexistence and consent agreements, copyright prosecution and filing, and litigation of trade secrets, trademarks and copyrights. Her franchise practice consists of preparation and review of disclosure documents and franchise agreements, registration of franchises, and counseling for both franchisees and franchisors.
As part of her practice, Rachel works with a wide network of international associates and acts as U.S. counsel for lawyers and clients in Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Korea on intellectual property matters.
Rachel's achievements have earned her inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (copyright law, intellectual property litigation, trademark law) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers (intellectual property, franchise/dealership), where she has been named to its list of "Top 25 Women Oklahoma Super Lawyers." Chambers USA shortlisted her for its 2012 "Women in Law" awards, recognizing her as a finalist for the Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year award.
Rachel has been rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Ratings, a certification mark signifying that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. She has also been recognized for her professional and civic contributions as a 2010 recipient of the The Journal Record's Leadership in Law Award.
Rachel is a graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law. Immediately following law school, she went to work for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington D.C. where she was responsible for handling trademark applications and served on a special detail to the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks. Upon returning to Oklahoma in 1995, Rachel established a substantial portfolio of large institutional clients, growing businesses and individual entrepreneurs while in private practice.
Active in the legal community, Rachel has twice served as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section and served as member of the OBA's Law Schools Committee. She is also a member of the International Trademark Association, the American Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section and the ABA's Forum on Franchising. She is the past president of the University of Tulsa College of Law Alumni Association.
Rachel is a frequent author on intellectual property matters and other topics, including adoption issues. She and her husband are adoption advocates and often speak on the topic. Rachel is active in the Tulsa community, serving as an advisor and board member for several community organizations, including the Tulsa Arts Coalition, OSU-Okmulgee's Innovation & Incubation Entrepreneurial Center, Tulsa Street School and the University of Tulsa College of Law. She is also involved with the Gilcrease Museum, Circle Cinema and Catholic Charities.
Attorney Articles
· Revising IP Licensing Strategies in Light of Social Media and Other Market Developments
Intellectual Property Licensing Strategies, 2012 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Analyzing Trends in IP Licensing and Drafting Effective Agreements - April 2012
· Gavel to Gavel: Control Freaks
The Journal Record - April 14, 2011
· Got to be real
The Journal Record - February 11, 2010
· Picture this
McAfee & Taft tIPsheet Intellectual Property Newsletter - February 1, 2010
· Name calling: Using someone else's trademark
The Journal Record - November 12, 2009
· CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION - Losing more than just an employee
Oklahoma Employment Law Letter - May 1, 2009
· When a picture's worth a thousand...dollars
McAfee & Taft tIPsheet Intellectual Property Newsletter - April 1, 2009
At The Podium
· Cut + Paste = Copyright Infringement presented at NALS Professional Development and Education Conference on March 11, 2010.
· IP for Startups presented at Startup Weekend Tulsa on November 13, 2009.
· The Role of Law Enforcement in Intellectual Property presented at Norman and Oklahoma City Police Department CLEET Program on October 7, 2009.
Professional Organizations and Memberships
· Tulsa County Bar Association
· Oklahoma Bar Association (Past President, Intellectual Property Section; Member, Committee on Law Schools)
· Missouri Bar Association
· American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Section; Franchising Committee; Visual Arts and Dramatic Works Committee)
· International Trademark Association
· International Franchise Association
Civic Involvement and Leadership
· University of Tulsa College of Law Alumni Association (Past President)
· Tulsa Global Alliance
· Street School
· Tulsa Arts Coalition