ABOUT ME
Michelle Cooke is a nationally recognized attorney and go-to confidant for companies navigating global market expansion, brand development, and the digital media landscape, as well as those facing complex, multijurisdictional trademark disputes across a gamut of industries.As the leader of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips’ Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement practice, Michelle is responsible for managing and expanding a national business unit, including budgeting, marketing initiatives, and team building. She uses her unparalleled knowledge of the IP and digital media landscape to provide business savvy solutions across global markets. She engages with corporate leadership at her clients to develop long-term strategic programs and to counsel on risk management with a global perspective.
Alongside her pivotal role as a practice leader, Michelle is a member of Manatt’s Board of Directors, and a member of the firm’s Strategic Growth and Recruiting Committee. In addition, she serves as Chair of the firm’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion where she has brought renewed focused to the recruiting and retention of diverse talent through engineering programs and events dedicated to supporting and mentoring young, diverse attorneys and law students.
In addition to her leadership roles at Manatt, Michelle is a member of Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc.’s Board of Directors. She also serves as a member of the Los Angeles Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Section, the International Trademark Association and the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles.
Boards
Director, Board of Directors, Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc.
Select Career Highlights
Represented a company with business interests in beauty, health/wellness, food/beverages, telecommunications, entertainment, education and software operating throughout Asia and Southeast Asia in crisis, which required urgently developing a multi-faceted risk management plan that was executed and integrated across all markets to rebuild all IP assets in order to both rehabilitate the brand and implement a re-branding strategy, as well as restructure software development and digital and online platform development.
Led the analysis and risk assessment of a trademark portfolio, copyright portfolio and online/multimedia assets spanning over 50 countries in a $1.3 billion acquisition in an entertainment-related industry.
Successfully resolved for one of the most recognizable, international multimedia entertainment companies two worldwide trademark disputes involving two of the most valuable film franchises in cinema.
Successfully mapped out and implemented a multijurisdictional trademark enforcement strategy against a competitor for a health and wellness company that distributes in over 70 countries.
Represented a multimedia company in the negotiations, risk assessment and audit in a merger with a television company as to all aspects of intellectual property, digital media, and privacy/cyber security.
Assisted an entertainment company in its evolution to a multimedia platform, including television and an interactive online presence, by crafting policies, agreements, and strategies for brand building, user-generated content, and personal data, as well as formulating internal compliance procedures and audits.
Awards, Honors and Distinctions
Los Angeles Business Journal, Most Influential Women Attorneys, 2017, 2019 – 2020
Los Angeles Business Journal, Most Influential Minority Attorneys, 2016, 2019 – 2020
Chambers USA, , Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (California), Ranked 2014–2020
Chambers Global, Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets—USA, Ranked 2016–2018
Daily Journal, Top Intellectual Property Attorneys in California, 2015–2020
World Trademark Review 1000, California: Prosecution and Strategy, Silver Ranking, 2013–2020
World Trademark Review 1000, California: Enforcement and Litigation, Bronze Ranking, 2017–2020
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.
University of Virginia, B.A.
Contact
mcooke@manatt.com
(O) 310.312.4208