Christine (Beaman) Rankin Email & Phone Number

Greensboro

Oversee the Global Trademark, Patent, Copyright and Licensing Portfolio of the Wrangler, Lee and Rock and Republic Apparel Brands

Practice focused on intellectual property matters with a special emphasis in the areas of licensing and trademark prosecution. Regularly assists clients with respect to the following types of matters:• Management and implementation of worldwide licensing programs, including drafting and negotiating domestic and international license agreements • Trademark prosecution and management, including performing trademark clearance analysis, counseling clients on the adoption of trademarks domestically and worldwide, prosecuting trademark applications in the United States and internationally, and assisting clients in domestic and international enforcement of trademarks.• IP transactions, including advising clients regarding intellectual property issues in connection with divestments, mergers and acquisitions; draft and negotiate assignment agreements relating to the transfer of intellectual property, joint development agreements, distribution and service agreements, consultant and referral agency agreements, non-disclosure agreements and design agreements.• Internet and cyberlaw, including recommending appropriate actions to take with respect to cybersquatting and Internet domain name disputes, including litigation avoidance strategies.

Provided legal advice to CEO, CFO and other executive and business team members relating to all intellectual property matters, as well as corporate, commercial, employment, strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions and Internet issues. • Managed all internal legal and intellectual property matters relating to the acquisition of YellowPages.com by a joint venture arrangement between BellSouth and SBC that closed in November 2004. After the merger, worked on the transition team that integrated the Internet divisions of all three companies. • Established and implemented corporate web advertising policy and website user terms and conditions with the purpose of mitigating risk associated with keyword advertising and all third party content placed on yellowpages.com website; conducted legal review of advertising and marketing materials and other content posted on website; and advised company on branding strategies.• Ensured company’s compliance with federal and state laws and regulatory requirements, including but not limited to deceptive advertising laws, CAN SPAM legislation, privacy laws and employment regulations, and crafted pragmatic departmental policies. • Directed successful litigation against an international internet scam campaign infringing upon the company’s core brand. • Negotiated, drafted and advised company in connection with a variety of commercial transactions including various sales, license and distribution agreements, sales commission agreements, severance agreements, outsourcing agreements and other general business matters.

J.D.

Activities and Societies: University of Cincinnati Law Review, MemberAttended last year of law school at The Ohio State University Moritz.

Bachelor Of Business Administration (B.B.A.)