Susan Natland

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property

Global Trademark and Brand Protection

Career

Susan Natland, a Chambers-ranked attorney, is co-lead of the Global Trademark and Brand Protection team and advises clients on all aspects of domestic and international trademark and brand protection and enforcement, advertising law, unfair competition, copyrights and data privacy. She dedicates time to understanding each client’s business and goals to deliver practical, efficient solutions that advance their brand strategies. Known for being responsive, accountable and results-driven, Susan builds trusted relationships as both a legal and business advisor.

Susan's practice covers domestic and foreign trademark selection and clearance, trademark prosecution, ex parte and inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), licensing, trademark audits, domain name disputes, trademark strategy and procurement, counterfeit enforcement, customs matters, entertainment law, rights of publicity and intellectual property issues involving artificial intelligence. She also handles copyright protection, enforcement and litigation and has even attended raids of counterfeit warehouses in China. In addition, she has served as virtual in-house counsel for one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world, adding unique insight into business drivers and goals.

Appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Susan served as chair of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC), where she directly advised the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the USPTO on trademark policy, performance and fee structures. During her tenure, she submitted a report to the President of the United States and established the USPTO’s first-ever stakeholder trademark award.

An active member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), Susan served as chair of the Enforcement Committee, participated in multiple Presidential Task Forces and is a member of the INTA Political Action Committee (PAC) Board. Most recently, she co-chaired the INTA Presidential Task Force “Unlocking IP.” She also contributed to advancing innovation policy through her work on the Advisory Board of Counsel for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) and as vice-chair of the USPTO ChIPs Chapter. She has also taught Advanced Trademark Law at her alma mater, UCLA School of Law.

In addition to her trademark and brand protection work, Susan is a registered patent attorney with the USPTO and holds an IAPP CIPP/US Data Privacy Certification. Her clients range from fast-growing startups to established global brands across industries including entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, automotive, cosmetics, health and wellness, finance, software, telecommunications, e-commerce, consumer goods and sports.

Professional Memberships

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) (2015 to present)

International Trademark Association (INTA) (2000 to present): Political Action Committee: Board Member (2023 to present); INTA PAC Capitol Club: Rotunda (2021 to present); Women’s LeadershIP Initiative Project Team (2024 to present); Academic Committee (2024 to present); Professor and Adjunct Subcommittee (2024 to present)

Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP): Advisory Board of Directors Member (2025 to present)

USPTO Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC): Chair (2021 to 2022); Member (2019 to 2022)