Rachel Nicholas partners with clients on trademark, copyright, publicity rights, and social media matters. Rachel helps clients overcome the challenges found in selecting, clearing, registering, and enforcing their trademarks and copyrights in the U.S. and internationally. She represents clients of all sizes and across a variety of industries, including a federal government agency, one of the world’s top hotel chains, and a major league sports team. She also provides counsel to local nonprofit organizations and startups.
Rachel regularly performs U.S.-based and international trademark clearance, prosecution, maintenance, and portfolio management, and has represented clients in proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She also routinely negotiates, drafts, and counsels clients on intellectual property-related agreements, including consent agreements, assignments, and licenses.
Honors & Awards
- World Trademark Review, WTR 1000, The World's Leading Trademark Professionals, 2024
- Southwest Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2023-2024
- Top Lawyers, Phoenix Magazine, 2022, 2024
- Phoenix Business Journal, Valley's Next Generation of Legal Leaders, January 2021
Thought Leadership
- Presenter, "Influencing & Law - Now that's INTAresting!," International Trademark Association, November 7, 2024
- Quoted, "Social Media Stars Lock Down IP Rights to Cash in on Virality," Bloomberg Law, October 9, 2024
- Presenter, "AZ Last Chance CLE," June 27, 2024
- Presenter, "State of Affairs for Intellectual Property in Sports," Sports Lawyers Association Podcast, June 16, 2024
- Presenter, "NCAA First Ever NIL Era Sanction," Sports Lawyers Association Podcast, June 28, 2023
- Presenter, "The Current State of NIL Regulation in College Athletics and Potential Policy Changes," Sports and Entertainment Law Journal Symposium, Arizona State University, February 3, 2023
- Co-Author, "United States: Trademark Procedures and Strategies," World Trademark Review Yearbook 2022/23 Global Guide - United States, October 21, 2022
- Co-Author, "What You Need to Know About NFTs and IP," DRI For the Defense, May 5, 2022
- Co-presenter, "NFTs - What Are They? Are There IP Issues I Should Know About?" DRI - Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation Super Conference, March 23, 2022
- Co-presenter, “Virtual-World Patents and Trade Marks in the United States: Updates on U.S. Patentable Subject Matter and Trademarks in Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs),” Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, 2022
- Presenter, "Legal Issues of Social Media," California Fashion Association, October 26, 2021
- Panelist, "What You Need to Know About NFTs, But Were Too Afraid to Ask," eSports Business Summit, October 20, 2021
- Presenter, "Use of Online Images: Copyright Basics and Best Practices," Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Webinar, September 16, 2021
- Co-Author, "Trademark Procedures and Strategies: United States," World Trademark Review Yearbook 2021/2022, July 29, 2021
- Presenter, "Arizona Last Chance CLE," June 28, 2021
- Co-Author, "How Best to Protect Unregistered Rights in the United States," World Trademark Review, March 16, 2021
- Co-Author, "Social Media and the Right of Publicity: What Advertisers Need to Know," World Trademark Review, December 12, 2020
- Co-presenter, "Trademarks and Copyrights in the Time of COVID: How our 'New Normal' has Impacted Enforcement and Compliance Strategies - Sports Edition," Sports Lawyers Association, Webinar, October 1, 2020
- Presenter, "Arizona Last Chance CLE," June 28, 2019
- Presenter, "Phoenix: 2017 AIPLA Women in IP Happy Hour," May 4, 2017
- Co-presenter, "Real-life Examples of Common Copyright Missteps," Kraemer Copyright Conference, June 6-7, 2016
- Presenter, "IP Issues That Small Businesses May Encounter," NAWBO University, March 2, 2016
