Education
J.D., Handong International Law School
M.A., Kyrgyz State National University, English Linguistics
B.A., Kyrgyz State National University, English Literature and Linguistics
Admissions
District of Columbia (D.C.) Bar
Tennessee State Bar
Practice
Gulnaz Donahue has extensive experience in all aspects of trademark, unfair competition and copyright law. She counsels clients on the availability and registration of trademarks and secures trademark registrations in the United States and throughout the world. Gulnaz prepares and prosecutes U.S. trademark applications, including extensions of protection of International Registrations to the United States. Gulnaz also counsels clients on proper trademark marking and usage, and prepares corporate trademark usage and marking guidelines for clients. She regularly drafts and negotiates intellectual property licenses and other agreements.
Throughout her career, Gulnaz has coordinated and managed the worldwide recordation of trademark assignments and transfers of trademark ownership. She also represents clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) and Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (“UDRP”) domain name arbitration proceedings.
Gulnaz advises and assists clients on policing and enforcing their intellectual property, which includes preparing and sending cease and desist letters, negotiating settlement agreements, policing online counterfeiting activities, coordinating with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on seizing counterfeit goods, and stopping cybersquatting activities by securing domain names in the name of a rightful owner.
Gulnaz routinely counsels clients on a full range of copyright issues, including copyright protection, registration, and enforcement. She prepares and files Copyright Applications with the U.S. Copyright Office, and utilizes the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s (“DMCA”) Take Down provisions to remove infringing materials from the Internet.
Gulnaz has represented business of all sizes, as well as individuals in a variety of different industries, including food and beverage companies, craft beer breweries, wine and gift accessories, financial institutions, automotive parts and accessories, pharmaceutical companies, communication product technology, clothing lines, jewelry designers, toy and education companies, musicians and artists. Knowing that every client has unique brand identities and business goals, Gulnaz provides practical, well-planned strategies for managing worldwide trademark portfolios. Because of her diverse background, Gulnaz fully understands the dynamic legal landscape in which today’s businesses operate.
Gulnaz is fluent in Kyrgyz, Russian and English. She is conversant in Turkish and French.
Practice Areas
Trademark Practice
Trademark Drafting
Trademark Prosecution
Appeals to the TTAB
Trademark Oppositions
Copyright Practice
Copyright Registration
Copyright Prosecution
Other Practices
UDRP Proceedings
Trademark/Copyright Licensing and Transactions
Clearance and Search Opinions
Settlement Negotiation
*Practice under the supervision of Virginia admitted attorneys.