Christina is an intellectual property (IP) attorney specializing in the areas of trademark, copyright, unfair competition, trade secret, and licensing. With more than a decade of experience, she has significant experience in trademark disputes before the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, as well as domain disputes under the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy.
Christina has first-chair jury trial experience and has represented international and domestic clients in actions concerning patent, trademark, and copyright infringement; Lanham Act unfair competition; trade secret misappropriation; and breach of contract and noncompetition agreements in both state and federal court. She is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of North Carolina and Virginia, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
In addition, Christina counsels clients in:
- Trademark selection, availability, registration, and protection. She conducts trademark availability searches and analyzes infringement issues across a variety of technologies and industries
- Technology transactions and agreements, including conducting IP audits and due diligence
Christina represents businesses of all stages, from start-ups to 100-year-old companies, and across a variety of industries, including technology and web-based, manufacturing and distribution, professional services, banking and financial, retailers, construction, restaurants, health care, craft beer, and franchises.
She earned her Certificate in Intellectual Property Law with distinction from the University of Richmond School of Law and, upon graduation, was awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property by the IP department faculty. During law school, Christina worked as a law clerk in the in-house legal department of a Fortune 500 company and assisted the company in conducting its first IP audit.
Away from work, Christina stays involved with her church and her children's school. She also enjoys spending time traveling, going to the beach, staying active with her two young children, and listening to audiobooks during her commute.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Richmond School of Law, 2009
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communications%2C Public Relations, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2005
Professional Associations
- Mecklenburg County Bar, Young Lawyers Division
- Charlotte Women Attorneys
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Carolina Patent Trademark and Copyright Lawyers Association
- Charlotte Business Journal Leadership Trust Member, 2021
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2024
- Business North Carolina Legal Elite, 2021-2024
Representative Matters
- Successful jury verdict of $95.5 million for retail client in trademark infringement matter against the world's largest retail company as well as an award of attorney's fees and costs
- Favorable settlement for major restaurant chain client in trademark infringement action and related Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceeding
- Trademark counsel to several local craft brewers, including assisting those clients in procuring, protecting, and enforcing trademark rights in the craft beer industry
- Represent large homebuilder in enforcement of its architectural works copyrights against competitor
- Represent medical device company in utility and method patent infringement suit
- North Carolina trademark counsel to major fashion brand supporting the company's brand and anti-counterfeiting efforts
- Represented major department store chain in design patent infringement suit
- Lead associate defending German power company in trade secrets litigation in North Carolina Business Court involving SCR catalyst regeneration technology, including an award of partial summary judgment and a finding of spoliation by the opposing party
- Represented Korean manufacturer of para-aramid fiber in high-stakes federal trade secrets and antitrust litigation