Karen Feisthamel
As a partner with KDW with many years of experience, Karen Feisthamel brings a mastery of the creation, selection, acquisition, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property rights. With a strategic and pragmatic approach to trademarks, she serves as an indispensable business partner for KDW clients. Karen’s wide scope of intellectual property knowledge and first-hand understanding of trademark prosecution, makes her a uniquely versatile IP practitioner.
Prior to joining KDW, Karen was senior legal counsel (Intellectual Property) for the CVS Health Corporation where she oversaw and managed all IP issues on an enterprise-wide basis for the Fortune 10 company. In addition to her in-house experience, Karen has practiced intellectual property law at a variety of large firms, primarily focused on trademarks, unfair competition and copyright issues, and has served as a trademark examining attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Role/Title
- Partner
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center JD, 1990
- Brown University, magna cum laude Sc. B (Engineering), 1987
Admissions
- Bar: Rhode Island, Connecticut, District of Columbia
- Other: Registered to practice before the Patent Bar
Practice Areas
- Trademarks
- Copyrights
Industries
- Healthcare
Notable Legal Expertise
- Trademark clearance, selection and protection
- Managing trademark portfolio development and maintenance
- Deal due diligence and related transactional agreements
- Drafting and negotiating licenses, contracts and other agreements
Experience
- CVS Health Corporation, Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property, 2007–2015
- Hinckley Allen & Snyder, LLP, Partner, 2003-2007
- Kenyon & Kenyon, LLP, Counsel, 2001-2003, Associate, 1997–2001
- Blakely, Sokoloff & Zafman, LLP, Associate, 1995-1997
- US Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Examining Attorney, 1992–1995
Publications
- Karen Feisthamel and Michael Hall, “Parent or Subsidiary? Think Twice Before Opting Not to Have the Parent Own the Trademark,” IP Watchdog (July 24, 2016)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Know Your Rights: Protect Your Products’ Design,” Providence Business News (February 2006)
- Co-Authored, “Trade Dress 101: Best Practices for Registration of Product Configuration Trade Dress with the USPTO”, 95 Trademark Reporter 1374 (November-December 2005)
- Co-Authored, “Best Practices for Registration of Product Configuration Trade Dress in the USPTO,” INTA Special Report on Trade Dress (May 2005)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Getting Proper Clearance for a New Business Name,” Providence Business News (August 2005)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Copy Right or Wrong? Use Others’ Work Fairly,” Providence Business News (February 2005)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Using IP Rights to Secure Loans Can Be Tricky Work,” Providence Business News (October 2004)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Avoiding Genericide or How to Keep Your Trademarks Alive,” Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP (April 2004)
- Karen Feisthamel, “But I Paid for it, So Why Can’t I Change It?” Providence Business News (December 2003)
- Karen Feisthamel “Tech Companies Should Learn from Trademark Violations,” Providence Business News (August 2003)
- Karen Feisthamel, “Protecting Product Design in the United States,” Terralex Intellectual Property Newsletter, 8th Edition (June 2003)
- Co-authored, “Protecting Your Intellectual Property,” The Potomac Tech Journal (June 2001)
Suite 103
Cary, NC 27513
