Jennifer Debrow

Jennifer manages global trademark portfolios for a number of well-known brands and regularly advises clients on intellectual property in business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. She brings extensive experience to her practice, including advising clients on trademark registration, enforcement, and licensing.

Jennifer is particularly skilled in assisting clients with brand development and providing strategic advice for selecting and protecting trademarks domestically and internationally. She develops and implements global filing strategies to maximize brand protection in a cost-effective manner. Jennifer’s network of foreign counsel spans the globe, allowing her to guide clients in expanding globally and protecting their intellectual property in crucial jurisdictions.

Jennifer’s client base spans a wide range of businesses, from emerging entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies. She possesses extensive knowledge and experience in trademark selection and brand protection for food and agribusiness companies, including protection and registration of product configuration and trade dress.

In addition to her trademark expertise, Jennifer provides counsel on a broad range of intellectual property issues, including software and technology licensing, copyright, trade secrets, advertising, and promotions.

• Managed an international trademark portfolio for a Fortune 500 company with more than 3,000 trademarks in over 160 countries.
• Obtained trademark protection for unconventional marks, including trade dress and product configurations.
• Provided due diligence research and advice related to intellectual property assets in connection with mergers and acquisitions.
• Advised medical cannabis company on trademark registration and enforcement strategy.
• Negotiated software and technology license agreements on behalf of licensors and licensees, including the negotiation of a multi-year software and services agreement valued at $50 million.
• Drafted and negotiated a wide range of commercial contracts for clients, including professional services and consulting agreements, distribution and supply agreements, terms and conditions, licensing agreements, and nondisclosure agreements.

Speeches

• Co-presenter, “Updates on the Trademark Modernization Act and Best Practices for Trademark Prosecution and Enforcement,” Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, March 16, 2021.
• Presenter, “International Trademark Registration Using the Madrid Protocol,” King Country Bar Association, IP Section, Sept. 3, 2020.
• Co-presenter, “20 IP Questions Facing In-House Counsel,” Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, Sept. 28 and 29, 2017.
• Co-presenter, “Potential Ethical Pitfalls in a Modern, Cost-Effective Trademark Prosecution Practice,” Advanced Trademark Law 2017: Current Issues, Practicing Law Institute Seminar, May 11, 2017.
• Panelist, “Cost Effective Trademark Practice,” American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) – Front & Center Discussion Series, Nov. 10, 2016.
• Presenter, “Building Brand Equity for Food & Agriculture Products,” North American Food & Agriculture Symposium, March 18, 2016.
• Presenter, “Negotiating Master Services Agreements,” TechLaw, March 10, 2016.
• Presenter, “Mastering Section 2(f) of the Lanham Act: Strategies for Asserting Acquired Distinctiveness,” Mastering U.S. Trademark Registration Practice, Feb. 16, 2016.
• Presenter, “Websites and Apps: How to Handle Privacy and Data Security Concerns,” Midwest Legal Conference on Privacy and Data Security, Jan. 14, 2016.
• Presenter, “Intellectual Property Rights in the United States,” Life Sciences Alley, Feb. 25, 2015.
• Panel moderator, “Enterprise Risk Management,” Middle Market Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, Oct. 2, 2014.
• Presenter, “Protecting Know-How in Distribution Networks,” Brussels Distribution Conference, Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 4, 2013.
• Presenter, “Avoiding the Legal Landmines of Mobile Apps,” MobCon, September 2013.
• Presenter, “Overview of Distribution, Franchise and Agency Laws From a US Perspective,” Vereniging voor Distributie-, Franchise- en Agentuurrecht, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, April 1, 2013.
• Table Topic Moderator, “U.S. and Canadian Trademark Registration Differences,” 2012 International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, May 1, 2012.
• Table Topic Moderator, “Trademarks in Virtual Worlds,” 2012 International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, May 1, 2012
• Presenter, “Understanding Intellectual Property Issues & Opportunities in Virtual Worlds,” ExecSense Webinar, Sept. 1, 2009.
• Presenter, “Social Media and the Medical Practice,” 13th Annual GPM Health Law Conference, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, July 1, 2009.
• Presenter, “Children’s Virtual Worlds,” Online Games Seminar, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 1, 2009.
• Presenter, “Fundamentals of Franchising: Intellectual Property Issues,” American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Austin, Texas, Oct. 1, 2008.
• Presenter, “Copyright, Trademark & Licensing for Social Service Organizations,” Mission Wise webinar, Sept. 1, 2007.
• Presenter, “Fundamentals of Franchising: Intellectual Property Issues,” American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 1, 2007.
• Presenter, “Data Protection Issues in International Franchising,” International Franchise Association/International Bar Association Joint Conference, Washington, DC, May 1, 2007.
• Presenter, “Turning Ideas into Money: Legal and Tax Issues for Commercializing (and Protecting) Intellectual Property,” 8th Gathering of the Social Enterprise Alliance, Long Beach, California, April 1, 2007.
• Presenter, “Intellectual Property,” International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, Washington DC, May 1, 2006.
• Presenter, “Don’t Get Caught in the ‘Net: Legal Issues for Nonprofit Web Sites,” Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, 2004 Nonprofits and Technology Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1, 2004.
• Presenter, “Mastering Section 2(f) of the Lanham Act: Strategies for Proving Acquired Distinctiveness,” Mastering Trademark Registration Practice, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 1, 2004.
• “Browse Wrap Contracts: Implied Assent to Electronic Form Contracts,” co-authored with C. Kunz, J. Ottaviani, E. Ziff, J. Moringiello, and K. Porter, Cyberspace Committee Forum, ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, April 1, 2003.
• “Standing Out in a Crowd: Choosing and Protecting Trademarks,” co-authored with Lori Wiese-Parks, All District Legal Education IP Basics Continuing Legal Education, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 1, 2002.
• “Intellectual Property in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Minnesota Paralegal Association, Intellectual Property Section, Jan. 1, 2002.
• Presenter, “E-Commerce Expansion Issues,” Keys to Explosive Franchise Growth Clinic, St. Thomas University, Nov. 1, 2001.
• Presenter, “Electronic Contracting Strategies,” Cyberspace Committee Forum, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Aug. 1, 2001.
• Presenter, “The Internet: Privacy, Property and Regulation,” The Sedona Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 1, 2001.
• Presenter, “E-Commerce and the Law,” National Association of Educational Buyers (NAEB) Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, May 1, 2001.

Publications

• Co-author, “How Advertising Law Affects Franchisors: Part II,” Franchising World, April 2022.
• Co-author, “How Advertising Law Affects Franchisors: Part I,” Franchising World, November 2021.