Fara Sunderji Image

Fara Sunderji

Partner

Dorsey & Whitney

Fara Sunderji is a partner at the international law firm Dorsey & Whitney. She assists clients in the development and execution of all types of trademark law. In addition, Sunderji has extensive expertise in all stages of the brand management process, including trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement and litigation.

Much of Fara’s practice involves working with clients to navigate complex legal issues on social media that implicate federal and state laws in the areas of intellectual property and advertising. She is particularly known for her deep knowledge of promotions law, and regularly helps clients develop sweepstakes, complex contests of skill and user-generated content promotions on social media. Fara also works with clients to review their advertising and marketing materials both in print and online to ensure their ad claims are fair and substantiated. In the area of influencer advertising, Fara frequently counsels clients on the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, conducts training for social media and marketing teams and drafts influencer contracts.

In addition, Fara’s expertise extends to all stages of the brand management process, including trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement and litigation. In the World Trademark Review 1000 rankings for 2022, Fara was heralded by clients and her peers as “a fantastic and thoughtful lawyer when it comes to trademark portfolio management. She is proactive, creative and an expert in wide-ranging matters that impact brands.” Fara also regularly represents clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “TTAB”) and in federal court. Fara’s practice includes representation of clients in a wide array of industries, including alcoholic beverages, snack foods, cosmetics, industrial chemicals, fashion, video games, publishing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.

Recent Articles by Fara Sunderji

Sign the Prenup: What Brands Can Learn From the Kanye West/Adidas IP Breakup

Trust and estate attorneys regularly advise their clients to enter into prenuptial agreements to protect the valuable assets each spouse brings to the marriage as well as how to distribute community property in the event of a divorce. Brand collaborations with celebrities, influencers or other brands are much like marriages, but brand collaborations are even more unlikely to last. Why not plan for the split, whether it be a conscious uncoupling or a Page 6 kind of divorce, with a prenup? The high profile split between Adidas and Ye (fka Kanye West) reminds us that collaboration agreements should not only plan for the best of times, but it is worth setting up the agreement to account for a sudden and troubling end.