McNees adds K&L Gates trademark attorney

Firm’s latest addition joins as of counsel, bringing a decade of expertise | Specialises in trademark services including portfolio management and trademark registrations | She also brings patent experience, having prosecuted patents before the USPTO.

McNees has added trademark attorney Cara Pinto to its Pittsburgh office.

Bringing nearly a decade of experience, Pinto joins as an of counsel attorney in the firm’s IP group.

Prior to joining McNees, Pinto was an associate attorney at K&L Gates' Pittsburgh office. She also gained experience from a previous role at IBM.

Her expertise includes comprehensive trademark-related services, such as portfolio management, clearance, prosecution, and enforcement.

With clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations, Pinto’s work spans across all industries.

Brian Gregg, the co-chair of McNees' IP group, said: “We are eager to have Cara join our team in Pittsburgh to support the growing needs of our intellectual property clients regionally, nationally and globally.”

He added that the new recruit will allow the firm to be “well-positioned” to help businesses protect their brands and maintain a competitive advantage.

Pinto supports clients in the selection and registration of trademarks in the US and abroad, proper trademark usage, opposition and cancellation proceedings, filing trademark applications and overseeing post-registration maintenance.

Pinto's experience extends to providing counsel on privacy policies and terms of use agreements.

She is also a registered patent attorney and prosecuted patent applications before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Pinto has successfully managed utility and design patent applications and has experience with respect to surgical techniques and medical devices, also offering clients guidance on patent portfolio development, maintenance and enforcement.

She has managed trademark portfolios for a global company with 1,800+ trademarks worldwide, managed portfolios for clients in diverse industries like automobiles and beverages, and led patent portfolio strategies for a Fortune 100 firm.

With Pinto’s addition, McNees’ IP team now includes 16 attorneys, paralegals and specialists who serve clients worldwide from offices throughout Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

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