Melanie Lavacca

Responsible for filing, prosecuting and maintaining post registration of all U.S. trademarks, various state trademarks/service marks, and copyright deadlines for Harris Beach's main office along with two remote office locations. Specifically, management of all trademark, TTAB and copyright matters along with all Federal and State deadlines. I trained and supervised three Syracuse trademark administers remotely. Additionally, I supervised and implemented the new CPI docketing system for trademark matters for use in all offices firm wide. Responsible for transforming main office into paperless environment. Transformed office into a paperless office environment. Preparation of all Federal and state trademark and U.S. Copyright applications and file same online. Docket and monitor deadlines for all the above and generating and docket due date reports for Rochester and Syracuse office attorneys.

Responsible for transforming main office in Rochester and Syracuse office into paperless environment. Handled filings and maintenance of copyrights, trademarks and patents, both domestic and foreign. Electronically filed and tracked deadlines all TTAB proceedings with USPTO, EPO and foreign government offices. Received Paralegal of the Year Award. Supported three trademark attorneys in Rochester and Syracuse and one patent attorney.

Preparation of electronic filing, prosecution, and maintenance of US and foreign patent applications. Gathered and organized patent family histories for use with preparing Information Disclosure Statements. Prepared assignments and powers of attorney. Handled annuities for issued patents. Prepare and file all trademark applications, prosecution and post registration documentation. Communicated with attorneys, clients, USPTO and foreign counsel in connection with deadlines and requirements for meeting same. Docket all trademark deadlines. Prepared docket reports for attorneys and followed up periodically to meet deadlines.

Compute and determine docket system deadlines for all trademark prosecution matters and maintain database. Responsible for organization of transcripts, discovery documents, pleadings and responses. Prepare appropriate state and federal affidavits/certificates of service. Interact with State and Federal court systems. Conduct various on-line searches used Nexis/Lexis. Assist in discovery and review of confidential documents for production. Legal research including: checking citations, shepardizing cases, cite check memoranda of law, and draft interrogatories. Enter document information for discovery purposes in Concordance. Prepare, organize and mark trial exhibits. Draft complains pursuant to ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. Conduct extensive due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.