Susan Joy Latham

Susan Latham holds a Master of Laws degree in the field of intellectual property and has been an intellectual property litigator for twenty years, focusing her practice on trademark, copyright and unfair competition issues. With that focus, Susan has litigated cases throughout the United States, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Susan’s cases have spanned a wide variety of industries, such as: alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, online dating, skincare, aviation, cosmetics, health and wellness, food products, social media influencers, architecture, finance, pest control, motorcycle accessories, fashion, fragrances, hair care, hotels and resorts, restaurants, television, and test preparation. Susan has also used her analytical skills to develop and file appeals.

Additionally, Susan is a published author whose work has been published by leading scholarly and trade publications, such as: the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal; Thomson Reuter’s Westlaw Journal of Intellectual Property; and Practical Winery & Vineyard.

Susan began her career as a stockbroker in New York City and has also managed the accounting and finances of a graphic design firm, as well as working on the business-side of the advertising department of the iconic fashion retailer Barneys New York. Susan also co-founded and managed a boutique litigation firm. Thus, Susan enjoys a keen appreciation for clients’ business interests and endeavors to keep those interests in mind throughout every representation.

In addition to litigation, Susan also assists clients with the registration and maintenance of their trademarks, trade dress and copyrights. Susan also has experience with the enforcement tools of the U.S. Customs Border Control. While earning her Master of Laws degree, Susan worked in the legal department of the legendary fashion and lifestyle brand, Kate Spade, LLC, to enforce the company’s trademarks and copyrights, including recording the company’s trademarks with the U.S. Customs Border Control in an effort to stop the flow of counterfeits entering the U.S.

Susan is based in Miami but has strong ties to NJ, NYC, and Co. Cork, Ireland. Some of the charities and cultural organizations Susan supports include the Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation and Bound By Beauty. Susan is also a member of the South Florida Irish-American Chamber of Commerce.

Affiliations

Feldman & Latham, LLP (d/b/a Trailblazer), Miami, Florida

Cozen O’Connor, Miami, Florida

Feldman Gale, P.A., Miami, Florida

Lewis & McKenna, P.A., Saddle River, New Jersey

Publications

The Right of Publicity; The American Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section, Advertising & Marketing Law Committee. Guest Speaker providing an overview on the right of publicity and its enforcement · Mar 9, 2023.

International Trademark Association, Bulletins Committee Jan. 2020 – Dec. 2021. Appointed Member of the INTA Bulletins Committee, which is comprised of 7 subcommittees. Its members produce a substantial portion of the Bulletin’s content through research, writing, and verifying the accuracy of articles on Association news and policy, as well as trademark law and practice.

“Trademark Licensing and the ‘Buddy System’,” Westlaw Journal of Intellectual Property. Vol. 25, Issue 5, June 2018.

“Best Practices for Evaluating Trademark Applications, ” Inside the Minds : Recent Trends in Trademark Protection, 2016 ed., Aspatore Books (Thomson Reuters).

Protecting Brands from Theft and Counterfeiting in 2016 and Beyond Live Webcast; The Knowledge Group; June 2, 2016. Participated as a pane list to offer guidance for the best practice s and procedures for companies to protect their brands from theft and counterfeiting.

“On the Rada r: Notorious Counterfeiting and Piracy Markets of 2015,” Corporate Counsel, Feb. 2016 ( 29603/On-the-Radar-Notorious-Counterfeiting-and-Piracy-Markets-of-2015/?mcode= l2026l4998203&curindex=0 ).

Moderator, INTA Roundtable: 2015 U.S. Case Law in Review, Jan. 2016

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“How Recognition of Geographical Areas of Viticultural Significance Affects U.S. Trademarks for

Wine,” PRACTICAL WINERY & VINEYARD JOURNAL, October 2011 (/s/Latham-Article-Practical -Winery-Vine yard- ).

“Newton v. Diamond : Measuring the Legitimacy of Unauthorized Compositional Sampling – A Clue Illuminated and Obscured,” 26 HASTINGS COMM. & ENT. L.J. 119, 2004. Cited by the Sixth Circuit in Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Dimension Films, 2004 WL 1960167 (6th Cir., Sept. 7, 2004).