Intellectual Property Lawyer Update

Michael B. Chesal was instrumental in the recent passage by the Florida legislature of a bill strengthening trademark protections for Florida businesses and trademark owners. The revisions to the Florida Trademark Act, signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush in June, harmonize state and federal law, streamline the application process, and provide for attorneys’ fees for the prevailing party in litigation. Chesal worked closely with John Malloy III, chairman of a committee on the Model State Trademark Bill of the International Trademark Association, in providing technical and other support to the legislature.

In March, Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin celebrated the grand opening of its full-service offices in Boca Raton, one of the fastest-growing business centers in South Florida.

Michael E. Tschupp, a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, joined Kluger, Peretz in June. Michael, who earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001 and holds a B.S. in biology, has extensive experience in patent litigation as an attorney with two major law firms in New York City.

William R. Trueba was sworn in as President of the Florida International University Alumni Association on June 1.

Jorge Espinosa spoke on “Intellectual Property: the Hidden Asset,” at a required training seminar for panel trustees in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, presented by the Region 21 Bankruptcy Trustee Association and the Office of the United States Trustee. Espinosa spoke at the Atlanta and the Miami sessions, both in June. Leora Herrmann and Michael B. Chesal presented “Licensing in Action: A Live Legal Negotiation” at the art and design licensing show Surtex at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in May.

Leora Herrmann authored an article entitled "Counterfeit Crackdown" in the June issue of WorldCity magazine, and has an article on how to select a trademark in the June issue of the Insurance IP Bulletin.