Laura has been with Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Louisville office since 2000. She serves as Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property practice and the Hemp & CBD industry group, and is a Member contributing to several other practice groups at the firm. Her work on behalf of SKO clients encompasses a wide variety of commercial, corporate and intellectual property transactions and compliance matters, with a focus on developing efficient and cost-effective strategies for balancing competing business concerns.
Laura has been listed as a “Leading Lawyer for Business” by Chambers USA. She has been named a “Kentucky Super Lawyer” for Intellectual Property and a “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine in the International Trade and Securities areas.
Business Services: Laura routinely drafts and reviews agreements that combine commercial and intellectual property issues, such as distribution, supply, joint venture, licensing, consulting, service arrangements and internet terms of service. She also has significant experience with the organization of new business entities.
Intellectual Property: Laura’s intellectual property experience includes assistance with registration and enforcement of trademarks and copyrights, drafting and review of software and technology agreements, domain names, internet and e-commerce issues and licensing relationships.
Securities & Corporate Governance: Laura advises public and private companies on a wide range of securities compliance matters, including proxy issues and beneficial ownership reporting.
Antitrust, Trade Regulation & Franchise: Laura has experience in the review of franchise and licensing arrangements and Hart-Scott-Rodino Act compliance.
Emerging Business and Venture Capital: As an advocate for emerging companies, Laura offers advice to help clients navigate legal complexities and drive innovation. The scope of her guidance includes formation of new companies and partnerships, evaluation and registration of intellectual property and drafting of agreements covering key commercial relationships, as well as a range of other services.
Mergers & Acquisitions: Laura assists clients from a variety of industries in completing and negotiating transactions related to the purchase or sale of their businesses.
Alcohol & Hospitality: Laura draws on her expertise to help businesses in the distilled spirits and hospitality industries manage a range of corporate, intellectual property, securities and compliance issues.
Hemp & CBD: For growers, processors, agricultural companies, and retailers of hemp and CBD products, Laura assists with commercial transactions, supply and distribution relationships, corporate matters, and intellectual property protection and enforcement.
Recognition
• Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer for Business, Intellectual Property, 2015-2016
• Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer, International Trade Law and Securities Law, 2012-2014, 2016
• Kentucky Rising Stars® Honoree, 2013-2020
Work Highlights
Information Technology Agreements
SKO reviews and negotiates agreements relating to clients’ information technology systems, including data security, privacy protections and service level agreements.
Related Practices: Business Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property
Acquisition of Multi-National Tobacco Supplier
Represented a major corporation in its purchase of the shares of a multi-national tobacco supplier headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The supplier and its subsidiaries are major suppliers of tobacco to the cigar and smokeless products industry. The transaction involved operations located in Brazil, Cameroon, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Paraguay and The Philippines, with subsidiaries located in those and other jurisdictions.
Related Practices: Business Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property
Merger of Fire, Energy & Security Systems Companies
Represented the owners of an installer and servicer of fire, energy and security monitoring systems for governmental customers in a merger.
Related Practices: Business Services, Mergers & Acquisitions
Trademark Registration
SKO prepares, files and prosecutes trademark applications for clients in a variety of industries including distilled spirits, manufacturing, healthcare, equine, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations.
Related Practices: Business Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property
Stock Split for Publicly-Traded Company
Stock split in the form of a Stock Dividend for an NYSE-listed issuer with two classes of listed stock, including accompanying proxy solicitation, registration with NYSE and public disclosure guidance.
Related Practices: Business Services, Securities & Corporate Governance
News
SKO’s Horsepower in the Hemp Industry is a Lead Story in Business First, Dec. 18, 2019
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 47 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 27, 2019
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 52 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Dec. 11, 2018
Five SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 18, 2016
30 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 2, 2016
Chambers USA Recognizes 24 SKO Attorneys, Feb. 22, 2016
Lea Pauley Goff and Richard G. Griffith named among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 30, 2015
28 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2015, Apr. 1, 2015
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 57 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 24, 2014
33 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 25, 2014
Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 42 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 26, 2013
34 SKO Attorneys Names “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 5, 2013
SKO Names New Intellectual Property Chairs, Oct. 15, 2012
Brown-Forman to Sell Fetzer Vineyards and Related Assets to Viña Concha y Toro S.A., Mar. 2, 2011
Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys Contribute to American Bar Association Model Agreement, Oct. 10, 2006
Seminars
Selecting and Protecting Trademarks: Assumed Names and Domain Names in the United States, University of Kentucky Business Associations Law Institute, Feb. 2009
Protecting Your Intellectual Property, Greater Louisville Inc. Small Business Development Center, 2002
SKO Hemp Seminar, Oct. 29, 2019
Affiliations
• American Bar Association
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Louisville Bar Association
• International Trademark Association
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Women Lawyers Association of Jefferson County
• Greater Louisville Inc. Education Advisory Committee
• Leadership Louisville Center
• University of Louisville Board of Overseers Mentoring Program, mentor, 2008-2011
• Every 1 Reads Initiative, volunteer, 2004-2005
• Focus Louisville, participant, 2004
