Kathryn Kent is a justice-minded litigation attorney whose practice focuses on trademark and copyright infringement, consumer protection, unfair competition, false advertising, First Amendment issues related to IP, and regulatory compliance.

In her 20+ years of practice, Kathryn has focused on protecting intellectual property assets, advising on regulatory compliance, and legislative/government relations. She began working on regulatory compliance, unfair competition, and advertising claims while interning with Vermont’s Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Anti-Trust division and the Vermont Legislature to create policies and laws with national reach and implications.

Today, Kathryn offers clients her significant experience in identifying strategies and game-changing approaches to legal challenges they face in federal court or before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Prior to coming to Gerben Perrott, PLLC, Kathryn was a founding partner at a boutique law firm, where she devoted a significant part of her practice to federal and state litigation in the areas of trademark and copyright infringement, as well as unfair competition, false advertising, and related business law litigation.

Kathryn is an elected Fellow of the American Bar Association, an honor reserved for only 1 percent of the lawyers in a given state. She has also been recognized for her leadership in the American Bar Association and the ABA-IPL Section, as well as her accomplishments in the legal field. She remains involved in trademark policy advocacy and actively supports the work of the American Bar Association.

When not working, Kathryn is looking for the first chance she has to escape to one of the sparkling lakes of Vermont for kayaking, swimming, and floating around the lake with her kids and family. She also enjoys quiet walks with her border collie “Pilot” and remains enamored with the everyday beauty of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains that surround her home. If it is sunset, you will find her racing to the closest view whenever possible to reflect and give thanks for another day.

Experience

• Defended a coffee company in a trademark infringement lawsuit arising from prior use of the colloquial term “Woodchuck”.  Achieved a favorable settlement for the client after mediation. Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC v. Woodchuck Coffee Roasters, LLC | United States District Court for the District of Vermont
• Represented an award-winning sports photographer against a media company in a copyright infringement case for unauthorized use of photos. Achieved a favorable settlement for the client early in litigation. Justin Cash Photography v. Seamans Media Inc | United States District Court for the District of Vermont
• Obtained a successful jury verdict resulting in recovery of the client’s damages, as well as recovery of attorney’s fees in a case arising from misleading and deceptive representations in advertising. After prevailing on motions for reconsideration and all post-trial motions, this case was appealed to the Second Circuit, where the client’s jury verdict was upheld. Centrella et al v. RitzCraft Corporation of Pennsylvania | United States District Court for the District of Vermont, affirmed by Second Circuit Court of Appeals
• Achieved an early settlement for the Plaintiff, successfully enforcing its long-held rights to the “Holy Cow” trademark. MG Financial, LLC v Frozen Solutions U.S. LLC et al | United States District Court for the District of Vermont
• Responsible for presenting oral arguments before a federal magistrate during court-mandated mediation hearings. Provided written arguments and trademark counsel to the litigation team and client. The case settled favorably for the client. RWZ MacDonald et al v. WGBH Educational | United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Successfully defended defendant’s rights to continue use of its ‘D’ mark on its tactical military gear and settled favorably without protracted litigation in an opposition proceeding before the TTAB.

Professional Contributions

• ABA-IPL Trademark Legislation Committee, Vice Chair (September 2019 – August 2021)
• ABA-IPL Trademark Litigation Committee, Chair (September 2017 – August 2019)
• USPTO Operations Relating to Trademarks & Ex Parte Trademark Practice Committee, Chair (September 2014 – August 2016)
• Trademark State Legislation Sub-Committee, Chair (September 2011 – August 2015)

Speaking Engagements

• CLE Presentation | Interstate Commerce and Trademark Law (2018)
• ABA-IPL West Coast Annual Meeting | (Trademark Panelist) Recent Trademark Cases: Use and Federalism Issues (2017)
• ABA Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference | Building Your Trademark Toolbelt: Letters of Protest and Requests to Make Special (Spring 2021)
• VBA Intellectual Property Law Conference | (Copyright Panelist) International Distinctions in Select Areas of Copyright Law (2013)
• Live CLE Presentation | Trademark, Copyright, and Patent Law Fundamentals (2012)

Recognitions

• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, American Bar Association Section of IP Law (2015)
• Outstanding Leadership Contribution Award, American Bar Association Section of IP Law (2015)

Education

Vermont Law School

Juris Doctor, (2006)

Northern University of Vermont

Bachelor of Arts (History), magna cum laude (2002)

Bar Memberships

Admitted to practice law in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Admitted to practice law in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Admitted to practice law in the state of Vermont.

Admitted to appear before the Federal District of the District of Vermont.

Admitted to appear before the Federal District of the Eastern District of New York.

Admitted to appear before the Federal District of the Southern District of New York.