Overview
Catherine J. Holland is experienced in all aspects of domestic and international trademark, unfair competition and copyright matters.
Her practice includes domestic and foreign trademark selection and searches, trademark procurement and prosecution, inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), intellectual property audits, intellectual property licensing, franchising, domain name disputes, counterfeit goods and customs, copyrights, entertainment law, rights of publicity, and trademark and copyright enforcement and litigation.
Catherine represents clients in a wide range of industries, including the nutritional supplement, software, hardware, motor vehicle, medical device, skincare and aesthetic, fashion and apparel, publishing, entertainment, music, financial, restaurant, and food and beverage industries.
Representative clients include Nutrishop, Paris Blues, Fairtrade Organization, Hockey Monkey, Cutera, Teacher Created Materials, Jean d’Arcel and Robert Lamy. For many years she has represented an international manufacturer of motor vehicles.
In surveys conducted by EuroMoney’s Legal Media Group, Catherine was named one of the “World’s Leading Trademark Practitioners.” She has also been awarded the title “Super Lawyer” in surveys of her peers conducted by Los Angeles Magazine and Super Lawyers magazine. This recognition is limited to only five percent of lawyers in Southern California. In 2009, Catherine was named one of Orange County’s Top Lawyers by OC Metro magazine.
Catherine is an editor and contributor for the firm’s Fashion & Beauty Blog. Catherine joined the firm in 1987 and became a partner in 1991.
Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law (UCSF) (J.D., 1987)
- University of Notre Dame (B.A. English, 1983), University of Innsbruck Austria (1980-81), Dean's List, Andrews Scholar
Representative Matters
Nutrishop, Inc.
Catherine is the lead IP counsel for Nutrishop, Inc., one of the fastest growing chains of retail nutrition stores in the United States. Nutrishop opened its first location in 2003 and is now approaching 200 locations across the nation and in other countries. She has directed all of the company’s intellectual property efforts, including its extensive licensing program and brand enforcement efforts.
MonkeySports, Inc.
Catherine is the lead IP counsel for MonkeySports, Inc., a sports retailer who has experienced explosive growth through on-line sales in the United States and around the world. She has directed the company’s brand enforcement efforts on the internet and in social media around the globe. She has also assisted in the launch of the company’s brand into clothing and nutritional supplements.
Cutera, Inc.
Catherine is counsel for Cutera, Inc., a global innovator in the field of lasers for the medical and aesthetic treatment of face and skin. She has directed the company’s international brand development and enforcement efforts.
Recognition
Awards & Honors
Catherine has received multiple awards and has been honored in both national and international forums for her legal accomplishments:
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Recognized in Lexology Index: IP 2025 guide for outstanding Trademark work
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Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals guide (2024)
- Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in Trademark Law
- Recognized in the 2022 edition of Euromoney’s Expert Guides – Women in Business Law for Trademark/Copyrights
- Recognized in the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 as a “Leading Trademark Lawyer” (2012-2023). In 2017, she was described as “especially adept at juggling franchising and licensing deals, as well as enforcement before the TTAB. Her ability to build rapport with clients is legendary”. In the 2018 guide, clients and peers praised Catherine for her “ability to think deeply about cutting-edge trademark topics”. They commented that “her practical advice takes into account both legal and business considerations” and that she is “personal, easy to get along with and never arrogant – you can always learn a lot from talking to her”. In 2019, she was characterized as a “top-notch IP lawyer” who “constantly delivers high-quality work”. The 2022 guide recognized her for her “particularly strong following in the fashion and beauty industry”. In 2023, she was described as someone who is “counted on as a strategist by many fast-growing businesses whose success hinges on quickly obtaining strong brand protection.”
- Named a “Top Author” in JD Supra‘s 2020 and 2018 “Readers’ Choice Awards” on Trademark Law
- Recognized by Euromoney‘s Legal Media Group (LMG) as a leading Trademark Law practitioner in the “Women in Business Law” guide (2014, 2015 and 2019)
- Named in the “Who’s Who Legal: Trademarks” list by Law Business Research for her expertise in trademark law (2013 – 2019, 2023)
- Recognized in Legal Media Group‘s (LMG) “Best of the Best USA” guide as one of the top 30 trademark practitioners in the United States (2015)
- Recognized in Lawyer Monthly Magazine’s “2015 Women in Law Awards” for her outstanding achievements in the legal profession
- Recognized by American Lawyer Media as a Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law for her outstanding legal work in intellectual property (2013)
- Recognized in surveys conducted by Euromoney’s Legal Media Group of 4,000 practitioners in 70 countries, as one of the “World’s Leading Trademark Law Practitioners” (2014, 2012, and 2006)
- Named by Super Lawyers as one of the Top Women Attorneys in Southern California in the field of intellectual property law (2012 and 2013)
- Awarded the title “Super Lawyer” in surveys of her peers conducted by Los Angeles Magazine and Super Lawyers magazine. This recognition is limited to only five percent of lawyers in Southern California. (2004 and 2007–2013)
- Named one of Orange County’s Top Lawyers by O.C. Metro magazine (2009)
- Awarded the Volunteer Service award by the International Trademark Association (INTA) for outstanding achievement in advancing INTA’s committee objectives. Ms. Holland sponsored the Model State Trademark Bill in California, which was signed into law within one year of introduction. INTA recognized this as a remarkable accomplishment for significant legislation in the state of California. (2008)
- Earned the highest ranking (AV Preeminent) by Martindale Hubbell
Affilliations
International Trademark Association (INTA)
- INTA Bulletins Committee (2020 – 2021)
- Chair – Rights of Publicity Minimum Standards Subcommittee (2016-2019)
- Chair – Legislation and Regulation Committee (2014-2015)
- Vice-Chair – Legislation and Regulation Committee (2012-2013)
- Chair – Model State Trademark Bill Subcommittee (2010-2011)
- Member (1988 – Present)
Orange County Bar Association
- Board of Directors (1997 – 1999)
- Orange County Delegation to the California State Bar Conference of Delegates (1992 – 2000), Chair (1996)
- Entertainment and Sports Marketing Section
- Member (1988 – Present)
Orange County Patent Law Association
- Board of Directors (1992 – 1998)
- President (1997)
- Member (1988 – Present)
American Bar Association
- Franchising Forum
- Women Rainmakers Committee
- Member (1988 – Present)
Notre Dame Club of Orange County
- Board of Directors (2014 – 2020)
- Chair – Notre Dame Women Connect Orange County (2015 – Present)
- Member – Notre Dame Professionals (2011 – Present)
- Member (1987 – Present)
Opera Pacific
- Board of Directors (1994 – 2005)
News & Insights
Articles
Co-Author, “Trademark Parodies – a Transatlantic Comparison in Light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bad Spaniels Decision No. 22-148 of 8 June 2023“, Published in Transatlantic Law Journal (August 2023)
Author, “Trademarks and CBD: How can Nutraceutical Companies Protect Trademarks used on Products containing CBD?“, Published in Nutrition Industry Executive (October 2022)
Co-Author,”Alley Oop or Flagrant Foul? Nike Launches Shot Against Supplier of Fake Sneakers” Published in The Licensing Journal (July 2021)
Co-Author, UNITED STATES: TTAB Knocks Out Mayweather’s Mark, International Trademark Association, Law & Practice Updates (February 2021)
Co-Author, UNITED STATES: .SUCKS Fails as a Trademark, International Trademark Association Law & Practice Perspectives (February 2021)
Quoted in “Trademark Enforcement Campaign By Chicago Restaurant Aloha Poke Draws the Ire of Native Hawaiian Activists,” IPWatchDog, September 2018
Quoted in “The Risks and Rewards of Licensing,” Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, February 2018
Co-author, Social Media: The New Storefront for Fashion, New York Law Journal, August 2017
“Game Winning Shot but No Slam Dunk – Partial Victory for Michael Jordan in Chinese Courts,” The Licensing Journal, March 2017
“Using Pop Culture References in Advertisements? Just Do It Right,” Orange County Business Journal, October 2016
“Trademark Licensing: Social Media and Quality Control,” New York Law Journal, April 2016
“To Tweet or Not to Tweet: Social Media and Intellectual Property Issues,” Orange County Business Journal, October 2015
“Getting the Deal Through: Trademarks 2016,” Law Business Research Ltd., September 2015
Quoted in “Condoms may be key to ‘.sucks’ trademark success, lawyers claim,” World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR), July 2015
“Managing Intellectual Property Assets,” California Business Law Practitioner, Fall 2014
“RGIII trademark dispute over ‘RGIII’,” The Washington Post, April 2013
“Clearing marks in the U.S.: What European practitioners need to know,” 9th Annual Taylor Wessing Brands Forum, London, England, March 2013
“More Than a Brand Name – Monetizing the Unique Aspects of Your Company and Your Products to Increase your Bottom Line,” Orange County Business Journal, November 2012
Contributing thoughts to “The Avengers face a new adversary: trademark professionals”, a blog post on World Trademark Review, September 2012
“Domain Name Mania – Managing the Mayhem” Orange County Lawyer Magazine, July 2009
“Managing Intellectual Property Assets,” Chapter 1 in the multi-volume treatise Intellectual Property in Business Transactions published by the California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2008 – 2014
Co-Authored,”Alley Oop or Flagrant Foul? Nike Launches Shot Against Supplier of Fake Sneakers” Published in The Licensing Journal. (July 2021)
Legal Guide to Intellectual Property, a book published by Entrepreneur Press, 2007
“What Is A Copyright” Orange County Business Journal
Speeches & Seminars
Guest Lecturer, “Protecting your Ideas: An Intellectual Property Primer,” Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California – Irvine (January 2021)
Speaker, “2019 Trademark and Copyright Year in Review,” Orange County Intellectual Property Law Association (OCIPLA), Irvine, CA (February 2020)
Guest Lecturer, “Protecting your Ideas: An Intellectual Property Primer,” Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California –Irvine (January 2020)
Moderator, “INTA Roundtable: Key Federal Court and TTAB Decisions of 2018” – Knobbe Martens, Irvine, CA (February 2019)
Guest Lecturer, “Introduction to Trademarks,” Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California- Irvine (February 2019)
Moderator, “INTA Roundtable: IP Due Diligence in M&A Transactions” – Knobbe Martens, Irvine, CA (April 2018)
Moderator, “INTA Roundtable: Entering Difficult Jurisdictions” – Knobbe Martens, Irvine, CA (April 2017)
Moderator, “INTA Roundtable: Emerging Issues in the Digital Marketplace” – Knobbe Martens, Irvine, CA (October 2016)
Speaker, “Trademark Boot Camp,” Intellectual Property & Technology Law Section, Orange County Bar Association, Newport Beach, CA (February 2016)
Panelist, “Trademark Year In Review,“ Washington in the West 2016, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA), Los Angeles, CA (January 2016)
Moderator, “INTA – USPTO Roundtable: Orange County”, Knobbe Martens, Irvine, CA (May 2014)
Moderator, “INTA – USPTO Roundtable: Los Angeles”, Knobbe Martens, Los Angeles, CA (May 2014)
Panelist, Knobbe Martens IP Impact — Trademark Seminar, Menlo Park, CA (July 2013)
Presenter, “Clearing Marks in the U.S.: What European Practitioners Need to Know”, Taylor Wessing Brand Forum, London, England (March 2013)
Co-Speaker, “Intellectual Property Protection in the Field of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products”, Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), Los Angeles, CA (March 2013)
Guest on the radio program “Southern California Business Focus” where she discussed basic copyright issues