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Laurie Self is a partner in the Washington office whose practice focuses on US and international intellectual property, information technology and e-commerce law. Her broad-ranging experience encompasses copyright and trademark matters; anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting; IP policy and trade-related matters; and IP and IT licensing and transactions. Ms. Self is co-chair of the firm’s global Trademark and Copyright Group. She practiced in the firm's London office from 1992-1995.
On behalf of her clients, Ms. Self has spearheaded anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting enforcement and law reform campaigns in numerous markets throughout the world, including in Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, and Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union. Her IP enforcement expertise encompasses both on-the-ground civil, administrative and criminal actions against infringers, as well as Internet monitoring and investigative strategies that use state-of-the-art technologies and forensic tools.
Ms. Self regularly advises right holders in a broad range of industry sectors, including software, IT, pharmaceutical and luxury goods, on strategies to strengthen domestic and foreign IP laws and enforcement, including in China and other developing markets, and to ensure compliance with the WTO TRIPS Agreement, the WIPO copyright treaties and other bilateral and multilateral obligations. In that capacity, she has extensive experience working with US and foreign legislators, administration officials and other IP policymakers, and in building and coordinating inter- and cross-industry coalitions to advance the goals of her clients both domestically and internationally.
Ms. Self also has deep expertise in the complexities of in-bound and out-bound IP and IT transactions and has represented both right holders and technology providers on the one hand, and licensees and other end users on the other, in a wide variety of IP, IT, content and media agreements. Her portfolio of transactional experience ranges from licensing, distribution, publishing, broadcasting and development deals to web-based hosting, services and support agreements to joint ventures and other cooperative arrangements. Having worked with right holders and the IT industry for more than 15 years, both within and outside the US, Ms. Self brings to the negotiating table expert knowledge of IP law; industry trends and practices; existing and emerging licensing, service and pricing models; and all other business and legal aspects of IP and technology deals, including complex issues of liability and risk allocation, indemnification, trade secrecy safeguards, privacy, consumer protection and bankruptcy. She also works with clients to develop and implement IP and software asset management programs that maximize the value of proprietary IP assets and minimize the risk of infringing third party rights.
Representative Matters
- On behalf of PhRMA, conducted a comprehensive survey of counterfeiting laws, remedies and enforcement regimes in China, India, Russia, Brazil and Mexico, and developed a framework of legal reforms necessary to combat effectively the escalating counterfeit drug trade.
- On behalf of the Business Software Alliance and Microsoft, devised and launched anti-piracy enforcement and law reform campaigns in markets throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Latin America.
- Conducted a comprehensive IP audit of trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets for a major financial services institution.
- Represented the software industry in obtaining government orders in the US and other markets mandating the use of licensed software within government-controlled agencies and institutions and requiring the deployment of software asset management programs and procedures.
- Advised pharmaceutical manufacturers on the legality under TRIPS of patent-related compulsory licensing measures in Asia, Latin America, and other markets.
- On behalf of a global commodity and agribusiness client, developed a comprehensive set of agreements to license, support and host proprietary software systems throughout the company’s worldwide network of affiliates.
Honors and Rankings
- IP Law & Business, Top IP People Under 45 (2008)
- Recognized in Legal 500 for IP - Non-Contentious/Transactional: IP in Complex Transactions - US and IP: Copyright - Regional - US (2007)
Pro Bono
- National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
- Georgetown Children’s House Endowment to Promote Quality Early Childhood Education
Memberships and Affiliations
- International Trademark Association, China Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement Subcommittee
- ABA, Intellectual Property Section
- Intellectual Property Owners Association, Vice-Chair of the Counterfeiting and Piracy Committee
- Licensing Executive Society
- D.C. Women’s Bar Association
Publications and Speeches
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