Lawyer Bio : Sarah Anne Keefe

Sarah has more than 20 years experience in developing, clearing, registering and protecting trademarks and service marks. Her particular experience is in pharmaceutical trademarks and developing and efficiently maintaining worldwide intellectual property portfolios through the use of technology and web-based information tools.

Sarah is skilled in conducting intellectual property audits and often assists in streamlining portfolios to eliminate unnecessary bulk and expense. She is also experienced in advertising review and clearance, copyright registration and counseling, licensing and other transactional matters, including due diligence and technology transfers.

A significant portion of Sarah’s practice involves the handling of intellectual property disputes, including trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising litigation as well as trademark opposition proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She serves on the International Trademark Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and frequently uses options such as trademark mediation to find quick and creative ways to resolve client disputes.

Sarah has successfully:

• Defended a tobacco brand owner against serious claims of infringement from a brand leader in another industry;
• Protected a well-established furniture brand owner against infringement in related product categories;
• Negotiated favorable trademark licenses allowing for expansion by a regional broadcaster;
• Assisted a famous U.S. brand owner in securing the right to use its own mark abroad;
• Published articles on the significant problems associated with counterfeit pharmaceutical products; counseled pharmaceutical clients in the clearance of brands by focusing on both trademark and regulatory concerns; acted to protect distinctive pharmaceutical trademark against infringement and possible medication and dispensing errors; counseled a big pharmaceutical company on using intellectual property laws to combat gray market and transshipment of pharmaceutical products into the U.S.;
• Presented to a food products company’s marketing staff regarding the importance of selecting and protecting brands.

When not practicing law, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, training her Thoroughbred horses and supporting Miami Hurricane football.