ANNE HIARING HOCKING
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Anne Hiaring Hocking has specialized in trademark and copyright law since 1981. She is Adjunct Professor of Trademark, Copyright, and International Intellectual Property Law at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California and Bangkok, Thailand. She has chaired numerous programs on Intellectual Property law topics, and has served as President of the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association and Chair of the State Bar of California Intellectual Property Law Section. She has spoken and moderated numerous International Trademark Law Association and Practicing Law Institute programs. She has written for AmJur on copyright and trademark law topics, as well as presented numerous papers. She received her B.A. in German Literature from Reed College in 1973, Phi Beta Kappa and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1979. In 2006 she received an LLM in International Law from Golden Gate University. She studied at the Albrecht-Ludwigs Universitaet in Freiburg and the Freie Universitaet in Berlin, Germany. She also worked for the Iran Center for Management Studies in Teheran, Iran before attending law school.
After working at two large law firms, she was the IP rights attorney for Pacific Telesis for five years, where she was responsible for all aspects of domestic and international trademark filing and enforcement, and all copyright and trade secret procedures. She founded her own firm in 1990.
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CAROL SMITH
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Carol Smith has specialized in intellectual property law since 1981. She began her legal career as a litigator at several intellectual property law firms in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. In 1995 Carol became in-house counsel at Intel Corporation where she was the director of Intel’s international trademark portfolio and responsible for new brand advice and searches, registration, prosecution and enforcement of Intel’s global trademarks. Carol also represented Intel’s marketing department and enforced the “Intel Inside” co-branding program. Carol subsequently joined Infoseek Corporation in 1997 to become the Associate General Counsel and in 2000 she joined Listen.com, a digital music distributor as the company’s General Counsel. Most recently Carol was Special IP Counsel at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco where she was responsible for strategic patent and technology licensing. Carol’s representative clients include Dolby Laboratories, Listen.com, Infoseek.com, Intel Corporation, Apple Computer, Quantum Corporation, Cordon Bleu, Inc.
In 2009 Carol Smith joined the Law Offices of Anne Hiaring as a partner and together they formed the firm of Hiaring + Smith. The firm provides over 50 years of business and law firm experience to its clients. Anne and Carol provide the firm’s clients with their deep knowledge and expertise in trademark, copyright, rights of publicity and technology law matters.
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Vijay K. Toke
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Vijay Toke is the co-managing partner of Hiaring + Smith. Vijay's practice includes intellectual property and general business litigation, with a particular focus on trademark and copyright. Vijay has represented clients in jury trials in both federal and state court in intellectual property matters as well as other commercial disputes. He also assists clients in handling trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and in inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Vijay's clients include some of the Bay Area's most well-known and acclaimed restaurants, award-winning wineries, retailers, and clothing and jewelry designers. He has also represented clients in disputes over the sale of fraudulent collectible wines.
Vijay graduated from Swarthmore College, where he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biology. He also received a Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.), with a focus on health policy, from California State University at Hayward. Vijay received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Vijay is a frequent writer on topics in trademark and copyright law. He has published articles in, or has been quoted or referenced in, various publications, such as The Financial Times, Managing IP online magazine, the Recorder, the ABA Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Vijay is also a regular presenter on topics in trademark law for the Practicing Law Institute (PLI). Vijay was also named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of intellectual property litigation in 2010.
Vijay is a member of the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Federal Bar IP Section (for whom he serves as Membership Director), and the International Trademark Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Examples of Notable Experience:
- Represented renowned furniture and lifestyle design firm as plaintiff in copyright infringement action against competitor and major wholesale club, resulting in highly favorable result for client
- Represented well-known skate clothing company in trademark infringement dispute with major national retailer, resulting in favorable conclusion for client
- Defended winery in trademark infringement in bench trial, leading to defense judgment
- Represented industry-leader in audio cable industry as plaintiff in a trademark infringement and dilution action in jury trial, leading to late, favorable settlement with defendant
- Defended law firm applicant for trademark registration in inter partes opposition proceeding before the TTAB, defeating plaintiff's motion for summary judgment
- Representing numerous retail and designer clients in copyright and trademark infringement matters involving clothing prints, jean-pocket stitching, and other trade dress
Vijay is an avid amateur chef, and loves to try new and interesting recipes. He is also proficient in Italian and hopes to be fluent one day.
Kathy Dong
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Kathy Dong is an associate at Hiaring + Smith. Her practice involves trademark and copyright prosecution, litigation, and representing Hiaring + Smith clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).Kathy received her double B.A. in Mass Communications and Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005, and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2009. As a law student at Hastings, Kathy was the 2008-09 Symposium Editor for the Communications and Entertainment Law Journal. She placed first in the region and second in the nation at the 2007 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition, and placed third in the nation at the 2009 Cardozo/BMI Entertainment Law Competition. She continues to be involved in moot court as an alumni coach for the Tang and Cardozo/BMI competitions, as well as an adjunct instructor to first-year Moot Court students. Prior to joining Hiaring + Smith, Kathy was an associate at a litigation firm that specialized in unfair competition law.
Kathy speaks Mandarin Chinese and is proficient in Spanish. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys watching film noir, and taking classes in graphic design and photography.
KRISTIN NEWMAN de la VEGA
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Kristin Newman de la Vega is an attorney at Hiaring + Smith, where she has practiced since 2006. She has over six years of trademark experience, which enables her to provide our clients with knowledgeable, focused, and efficient advice concerning a range of trademark matters, as well as several years in copyright advice and counsel. Kristin assists our clients with all aspects of prosecution and enforcement of their domestic and international trademark portfolios, including clearance, preparation of trademark applications, responding to Office Actions, and drafting cease and desist letters. Kristin regularly represents our clients in litigation before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) administrative tribunal, becoming well versed in the TTAB's specialized procedures and substantive legal rules. Kristin also represents our clients in copyright and trademark infringement litigation in the United States District Court.
Kristin received her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of San Diego in 1995 and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2004. Prior to attending law school, Kristin worked first as a Trademark Paralegal at Landels Ripley & Diamond, LLP and then as a Trademark Administrator at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP. While attending law school, Kristin served as a legal clerk at the Marin County Superior Court and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Following graduation, Kristin practiced civil litigation at a small firm in Marin County where she developed extensive experience in all phases of litigation, from pleadings to discovery to trial.
Kristin lives with her husband in Marin County in the city where she grew up. She enjoys all things outdoors, but particularly hiking and finding "untouched" beaches. Kristin also volunteers with Legal Aid of Marin and supports the National Kidney Foundation.
GINGER McCORMICK
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Ginger McCormick is a senior research associate with over 25 years experience in trademark law. Prior to her affiliation with the Hiaring + Smith, she held an executive position with a major Bay Area retailer during which time she directed the company’s International Sales Program and was responsible for its international trademark portfolio (name selection, clearance, protection and enforcement), international anti-counterfeiting and litigation, domestic and international advertising clearance and contract negotiation, domestic and international labeling requirements, merchandising and licensing requirements, and Customs enforcement. She has written for EuroMoney on trade dress and trademark matters, and has been a speaker for the International Trademark Association and is a presenter at UC Davis extension on trademark matters for the wine industry. She holds formal degrees in the fine arts.
Ginger currenly plays piano and flute with two Bay Area chamber ensembles. Her teenage son is likewise involved in music, performing with a symphonic band and a jazz ensemble.
