Associate
Kaitlyn M. Hunt
Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Counseling & Prosecution, Trademark Litigation
Overview
Kaitlyn Hunt is a senior associate in the Intellectual Property group of Mayer Brown’s New York office. Her practice focuses on litigating complex trademark, trade dress, and trade secret disputes in courts and arbitration tribunals across the country, as well as before the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). Kaitlyn is a trial attorney whom clients turn to for assistance with all phases of litigation, including fact discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting dispositive motions, coordinating with expert witnesses, preparing witnesses for trial, and conducting cross-examinations of witnesses in court. Kaitlyn has represented clients across a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, technology, and entertainment. Prior to joining Mayer Brown’s Intellectual Property group, Kaitlyn practiced in Mayer Brown’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, where she maintained a broad litigation practice and dedicated significant time to federal securities litigation, shareholder derivative litigation, and other complex matters.
Experience
- Represented Capri Sun in a trademark litigation regarding its famous pouch-design trademark. In what the Court described as “novel questions regarding the interplay of contract law and the trademark law defense of functionality,” the Court found that a “No-Challenge” provision in a settlement and license agreement estopped the defendant from challenging the pouch trademark’s validity on grounds that it was allegedly functional, which led to an order striking defendant’s affirmative defenses concerning functionality and a protective order against discovery on functionality. (Capri Sun v. American Beverage Corp. (USDC SDNY)).
- Represented YouTube and its CEO, Susan Wojcicki in a rare dismissal of trademark infringement and false-advertising claims with prejudice at the pleading stage. The court agreed that user-generated content posted on YouTube does not constitute “use in commerce” for purposes of trademark law or “commercial speech” for purposes of false advertising. The court also agreed that, in light of Tiffany v. eBay, YouTube cannot be held liable for indirect trademark infringement based on user-generated content (Lops v. YouTube et al., (USDC D Conn)).
- Represented Nespresso USA in a trademark and trade dress infringement action under the Lanham Act against Peet’s Coffee, Inc., which offered “Nespresso Compatible” capsules for use with Nespresso’s machines. (Nespresso USA, Inc. v. Peet’s Coffee, Inc. (USDC SDNY)).
Education
- St. John's University School of Law, JD
- Fairfield University, BA, cum laude
Dean's List
Admissions
- New York