Kerianne Strachan is Vice-Chair of IPLAC’s Advertising and Internet Committee, and an associate at Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery, practicing trademark prosecution, copyrights, and brand management.
Kerianne studied Marketing and Finance at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and learned the important roles that advertising and branding play in the success of a business. This understanding helped Kerianne in her legal coursework at Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, as she pursued her studies and focused on intellectual property law. After she graduated, she was excited to begin her legal career in intellectual property and move to Chicago, where she started working at her current firm, Fitch Even.
“Marketing and trademarks go hand-in-hand,” Kerianne explains. “A company relies on its branding and logos in order to ensure that customers will acknowledge the company as the exclusive source of its goods and services in the marketplace and associate its trademarks with the quality goods and services it offers. Trademark protection is how companies can secure their branding and prevent third parties from the unauthorized use of their marks for similar products or services. Such trademark protection further enhances the marketing strategies of companies and contributes to the strength and value of their brands.”
Kerianne joined IPLAC after moving to Chicago. She was no stranger to moving to a brand new city, and aimed to build a network of lawyers and practitioners in her field of law. She also valued having mentors who could help her in her practice as a young attorney. “The intellectual property community in Chicago is such a tight-knit group. When you go to one IP-specific event, you’re going to see at least one familiar face from another similar program as well.”
About a year ago, Kerianne decided to take the steps toward leadership in an IPLAC committee. “I think the Advertising and Internet Committee touches on all areas of IP and business, as well as advancements in technology that may affect such areas. The events that we plan are geared towards everyone in the IP and business worlds, not just individuals who work in advertising. The topics we aim to discuss are designed to provide attendees with up-to-date information that may affect their practices or clients’ businesses in some way.”
Kerianne also adds that staying up to date on the latest case law as an attorney is important to her practice. “Being in IPLAC provides me with a variety of resources that keep me informed about developments in intellectual property. As an IPLAC member, I am grateful to be a part of an organization that is committed to contributing to the growth of its professionals, as well as the advancement of IP law.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Advertising and Internet Committee, be on the lookout for their upcoming spring events, both social and academic, to be announced soon!