Scott M. Kline

Mr. Kline is Texas native and a 1985 summa cum laude graduate of Yale College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation from Yale, Mr. Kline attended Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1988. Since then, Mr. Kline has spent his career as a lawyer, entrepreneur, VC Investor and business executive in technology and telecommunications.

Mr. Kline has helped build and manage a diverse range of technology business, including Internet portals and distance learning companies. His leadership has been chronicled in publications such as the New York Times, the Financial Times, Business Week, and in a joint case study published by the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mr. Kline has published numerous articles on legal, technology and educational issues, and has served as a contributor on educational projects including the Houghton Mifflin English Grammar and Composition textbook. He also has testified on education and technology issues before the U.S. Congress. Mr. Kline serves on the Board of Directors of The Gladney Center of Adoption, The University of Texas Review of Litigation, The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, The Yale Record Corporation and as an Advisor and Venture Mentor to the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute. He is also a Fellow of Yale’s Berkeley College.

Education

Harvard Law School

JD, 1985 – 1988

Yale University

BA, Political Science and Economics, 1981 – 1985

Honors and Awards

  • Texas Superlawyer (as noted in Texas Monthly) 2005-2014
  • Texas Corporate Counsel Superlawyer 2007-2013
  • Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, Dallas Bar Association;
  • Testified before US Congress as expert on technology and education issues.
  • Named one of “Americas Best Lawyers” by Forbes Business Channel

Community & Leadership

  • Fellow at Berkeley College, Yale University
  • Board Member, Yale Record Corporation
  • Board Member, University Library Council, Yale University
  • Leadership Council Board Member and Special Advisor to the Dean, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University
  • Board Member, The University of Texas Review of Litigation
  • Advisor and Venture Mentor, Yale Entrepreneurial Institute

Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
  • State Bar of Texas

Michele Schwartz

Ms. Schwartz is a 1985 graduate of Haverford College where she was a varsity athlete in volleyball and lacrosse. She earned her J.D. in 1988 from Cordozo Law School at Yeshiva University in New York. She is a Chambers-rated specialist in intellectual property law with an emphasis on trademarks and copyrights, and has represented some of the leading clients in this legal area, including Ringling Brothers and the Estate of Marilyn Monroe.

Michele’s practice focuses on intellectual property with an emphasis on trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, advertising, unfair competition, rights of publicity and domain names. She provides counseling with respect to intellectual property affected by mergers, acquisitions, assets and stock purchases, and creditor/debtor insolvency, and she licenses and securitizes intellectual property involved in such transactions. She regularly conducts clearance and due diligence reviews with respect to intellectual property portfolios. She also manages the international trademark and copyright portfolios of clients in a variety of industries, including food and restaurant, vending machinery, medical device, industrial parts, freight transportation, gaming, education, software, lighting, textile, entertainment and consumer products.

She has extensive practice experience prosecuting trademarks before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in international forums, advocating for clients in disputes with government examiners and other parties. Michele has also appeared before federal courts and tribunals, representing clients in various intellectual property controversies.

Michele began her practice in New York in 1988 and moved to Texas in 2000. She has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property in Texas Monthly magazine numerous times.

Education

JD, 1988, Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

BA, 1985, Haverford College

Industries

  • Art, Museum and Cultural Property
  • Banking/finance
  • Finance
  • Hospitality and Hotels
  • Manufacturing and Sales
  • Restaurant
  • Sports/Entertainment
  • Technology

Practices

  • Copyright Litigation
  • Copyrights
  • Intellectual Property and Technology
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • IP Counseling and Licensing
  • Patents
  • Securing and Maintaining Trademarks and Brand Names
  • Trade Secret/trade Dress Litigation
  • Trade Secret/trade Dress
  • Trademark Proceedings and Litigation
  • Trademarks

Admissions

  • New Jersey 1988
  • New York 1989
  • Texas 2002
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the District of New Jersey

Insights

  • What’s in a Tweet? IP and Technology Development – October 2011 (October 25, 2011)
  • Limited Time to Block Use of Your Mark in New Adult Entertainment Internet Domain (September 20, 2011)
  • On Your Mark, Get Set, GO! – ICANN Opens The Internet to Unlimited Generic Top-level Domains IP and Technology Development – July 2011 (July 21, 2011)
  • Facebook Wars: In The Age of Social Media, a Trademark Registration Is More Important Than Ever Domains IP and Technology Development – April 2011 (April 29, 2011)
  • A New Kind of Cybersquatting (June 12, 2009)
  • Protecting Your Intellectual Property Straightline (July 1, 2008)

Professional Recognition

  • Texas Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly
  • Profiled as one of the leading lawyers, Chambers & Partners USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers

Briefings, seminars & Speeches

  • Guest Lecturer, “Trademarks: The Most Important Intellectual Property,” Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (September 14, 2016)
  • Guest Lecturer, “Trademarks: The Most Important Intellectual Property,” Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (January 6, 2016)
  • “The Red Sole: The Recognition of Non-Conventional Trademarks. The Implications of the Second Circuit Decision in Louboutin v. YSL” (November 27, 2012)
  • “What’s So Intellectual About This property?” Dallas Area Paralegal Association General Membership Meeting, Dallas TX (May 17, 2011)
  • Panelist, “Strategies to Leverage Workplace Power,” NAWL Annual Meeting, New York, NY (July 22, 2010)

Affiliations

  • Yale University Library Council
  • International Trademark Association
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of New York
  • State Bar of New Jersey

Emily Levinstone

Emily Levinstone will graduate from Duke University in May 2017. While finishing her studies she has joined Quill Partners as an analyst. Emily is an accomplished classical singer and actor, having performed all over the country, including Carnegie Hall. At Quill Partners, Emily focuses on consumer goods and technology. She appeared as a contributor on CNET as early as 2008.

Education

Duke University, Durham, NC

• Major: Music, concentration in vocal performance; Minor: Theater Studies
• Programs: Duke Neurohumanities in Paris (Summer 2016), Duke in New York Arts & Media (Summer 2014)

Work Experience

KMFA Classical 89.5, Development and Programming Intern, Austin, TX

  • Compiled, entered, and analyzed viewership and fundraising data for Director of Development
  • Uploaded CDs into programming software for broadcasting

Long Center for the Performing Arts, Education and Development Intern, Austin, TX

  • Intern for Summer Stock Austin, a musical theater summer program sponsored by the Long Center
  • Contacted local businesses for fundraising and worked with patrons to facilitate donations
  • Submitted a grant proposal on behalf of Summer Stock Austin

Zamir Choral Foundation (non-profit organization), Intern and Fellow, New York, NY

  • Selected as 1 of 3 North American Jewish Choral Festival (NAJCF) fellows
  • Organized music, notes and schedules for over 600 NAJCF attendees prior to the NAJCF
  • Conducted talk on future of Jewish choral music to group of 30 young adult NAJCF attendees
  • Performed special pieces of music in honor of the 25th anniversary of the NAJCF

Congregation Beth Elohim, Music Intern, Brooklyn, NY

  • Compiled pieces of music for major religious services
  • Performed in Shabbat services with head cantor

Temple Emanu-El, Student Music Teacher, Dallas, TX

  • Taught music to groups of 100 students at a time, grades K-9
  • Performed every Sunday for religious school students and their families

Leadership and Activities

• President, Duke Players, student theater organization in the Department of Theater Studies
• Assistant Stage Manager, Assistant Music Director, Actor, Manbites Dog Theater
• Performer, Duke Theater Studies; Duke Players; Duke Opera Workshop; Duke Collegium Musicum • Teen Leader and Soloist, HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir
• Performer, Washington National Opera Institute for Young Singers
• Performer, Interlochen Center for the Arts Vocal Soloist Studies program
• President, Booker T. Washington HSPVA Choir
• President, Booker T. Washington HSPVA National Spanish Honor Society
• Secretary, Booker T. Washington HSPVA Student Council
• Private Voice Student, mezzo-soprano