Professionals
Practice Areas
- Artificial Intelligence Practice
- Strategic IP Portfolio Development and Management
- Trademark and Copyright Practice
- Trademarks and Trade Dress
- Copyright
- Advertising and Marketing Law
- Internet Law
- Right of Publicity
- Trademark and Copyright Litigation
- Trademark Litigation
- Copyright Litigation
- Unfair Competition and False Advertising
- Anti-Counterfeiting
- Consumer Products Practice
- Due Diligence in IP Acquisitions
- IP Transactional
- Licensing
- Transfers, Mergers, Acquisitions, Bankruptcies and Securitizations
- Opinions
Honors
- Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2024
- Best Lawyers Women in the Law, 2024
- Best Lawyers, 2023-2025
- The Top 25 Women in Business, Hartford Business Journal, 2022
- New Leader in the Law 2019, Connecticut Law Tribune's Connecticut Legal Awards
- Connecticut Rising Stars, Intellectual Property, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2009-2011, 2013-2016
- New Leaders in the Law, November 2013, The Connecticut Law Tribune
Admissions
- State of New York, 2008
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 2007
- State of Connecticut, 2006
Education
University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, J.D., concentration in Intellectual Property, 2006
University of Connecticut, B.A., Political Science & History, cum laude, 2003
Teaching Positions
- Adjunct Professor, Western New England University School of Law, Copyright Law
Michelle P. Ciotola
As Partner and Chair of Cantor Colburn's Trademark & Copyright Practice Group, Michelle Ciotola concentrates her practice on counseling, protecting and enforcing trademark, trade dress, copyright, and related intellectual property rights, as well as counseling clients in unfair competition, Internet, advertising, and promotions law.
She assists clients in the development and exploitation of their trademark portfolios, including clearance of marks; prosecution of trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and identifying important overseas jurisdiction and filing or coordinating with local counsel for protection and enforcement of marks in those jurisdictions. Michelle develops strategies for the enforcement of her clients’ intellectual property rights, including preparing demand letters, negotiating settlement agreements, handling opposition and cancellation actions before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and coordinating and overseeing litigation with local counsel around the world. She also develops strategies for enforcement of her clients’ intellectual property rights online, including handling Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceedings. Michelle files and prosecutes applications for copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office and advises clients on copyright law. She represents clients in trademark due diligence. She drafts and negotiates a wide range of intellectual property agreements, including assignments, licenses, and trademark consent and coexistence agreements.
Michelle attends and speaks at the world’s leading trademark industry association gatherings, including the International Trademark Association (INTA), MARQUES, the European brand owner association, European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) and the Asociación InterAmericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (ASIPI).
Experience Highlights
Partner and Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Practice, Cantor Colburn LLP, 2022 - present
Partner and Vice Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Practice, Cantor Colburn LLP, 2016 - 2021
Counsel, Cantor Colburn LLP, 2015 - 2016
Associate, Cantor Colburn LLP, 2006 - 2014
Legal Internship, LEGO Systems, Inc., January 2006 - May 2006
Author of a chapter on trademark law for the textbook Intellectual Property as an Emerging Asset Class: Strategy and Management, published by the IP Educational Institute.
News
Cantor Colburn has been named a Tier 1 firm in Hartford for Patent Law, Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Litigation - Patent, and Litigation - Intellectual Property Practice in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
- September 15, 2024
Cantor Colburn is proud to sponsor The Cove Center for Grieving Children and Families Farmington Memorial Walk & Kids' Fun Run on September 15, 2024 in Farmington, Connecticut. Trademark & Copyright Practice Chair Michelle Ciotola is board member of The Cove, a safe place for kids to come together with other grieving kids to share their stories and their feelings with others.
Dress for Success Hartford holds its annual Capital Catwalk event on October 28, 2024. Cantor Colburn is proud to be a returning Catwalk Sponsor and strongly supports Dress for Success’s mission of investing in the ability of a woman to become and remain gainfully employed.
- Best Lawyers
Cantor Colburn is proud to announce that the following attorneys are recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers: Christopher C. Boehm, David Bomzer, Alison Caless, Michael A. Cantor, Michelle P. Ciotola, Philmore H. Colburn II, Steven M. Coyle, Nicholas A. Geiger, Charles F. O'Brien, Roberta L. Pelletier, Leah M. Reimer, Ph.D., David E. Rodrigues, Ph.D., Michael J. Rye, Bryan D. Zerhusen, Ph.D., Susan M. Zerull. Michael Cantor is a Best Lawyer Lawyer of the Year.
- June 11, 2024
The Best Lawyers in America has named Cantor Colburn's Ali Caless, Michelle Ciotola, and Susan Zerull to its 2024 Women in the Law, published in the Spring 2024 edition. It includes all the women lawyers recognized in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers in America.
- August 17, 2023
Cantor Colburn is proud to announce that the following attorneys are recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers: Michael Cantor, Michelle Ciotola, Phil Colburn, Steve Coyle, Todd Garabedian, Ph.D., David Rodrigues, Ph.D., Mike Rye, and Susan Zerull. Ali Caless is Best Lawyers: One to Watch.
- The Trademark Lawyer 2023, Issue 3July 1, 2023
In her article, "Penguins, Grogu, and the color orange," appearing in the Trademark Lawyer Magazine in Issue 3, 2023, Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Trademark & Copyright Chair at Cantor Colburn LLP, evaluates the ever-evolving debate surrounding AI-created works according to US Copyright Law from both a use and generation perspective. Michelle leads the #8 trademark practice in the U.S. and is a frequent speaker on intellectual property and artificial intelligence issues.
- March 16, 2023
On March 16, 2023, the United States Copyright Office (USCO) issued a Statement of Policy titled “Copyright Registration Guidance: Works Containing Material Generated by Artificial Intelligence,” which clarifies the USCO’s practices for examining and registering works that contain material generated using Artificial Intelligence technology. Cantor Colburn offers this Client Alert to examine the issues and what this means for you.
- February 1, 2023
Cantor Colburn's Client Alert regarding “spoofed” calls from scammers impersonating U.S. Patent and Trademark Office staff. This alert offers guidance in how to prevent being spoofed and what to do if you believe you may have been.
- IPLS ProceedingsJanuary 19, 2023
Michelle Ciotola, Nancy Kennedy, and David Kincaid's article, "Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and NFTs: Metaverse Technologies in US Trademark Applications," appears in IPLS Proceedings, a publication of the State Bar of Michigan's IP Section.
- NFTs, Cryptocurrency & the Metaverse Supplement, The Trademark Lawyer MagazineNovember 1, 2022
"Enforcement in the Metaverse," by Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid is published in The Trademark Lawyer Magazine's special supplement, NFTs, Cryptology & the Metaverse, November 2022. Michelle chairs the firm's Trademark & Copyright Practice Group and David co-chairs the firm's Artificial Intelligence Practice Group.
- The Trademark LawyerJuly 12, 2022
Michelle Ciotola's article, Awaiting Clarity in Fair Use, appears in The Trademark Lawyer Magazine, Issue 3, 2022.
- May 4, 2022
Congratulations to Michelle Ciotola and the incredibly talented, inspiring 2022 class of honorees at the Hartford Business Journal's Top 25 Women in Business.
- The Trademark LawyerIssue 2, 2022
Cantor Colburn Partners Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid evaluate the expectations for how the USPTO will handle IP due diligence for NFTs - an exciting, if not emerging, technology, in their article, "Don't forget the NFTs: IP due diligence for emerging technologies," published in The Trademark Lawyer Magazine, Issue 2, 2022. Read it here.
- April 7, 2022
Cantor Colburn’s Women’s Initiative hosted the Hartford Area AIPLA Women in IP Global Networking Event on April 7, 2022 at Parkville Market in Hartford.
- November 17, 2021
On November 17, 2021, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) finalized a series of new rules implementing the provisions of the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA). Many of these new rules have significant impact to trademark stakeholders. Five of the most important changes are discussed in this Cantor Colburn Client Alert.
- April 14, 2021
Partner and Trademark & Copyright Vice Chair Michelle Ciotola, Sofya Nadgorny of Warner Music Group and Stacy Stewart of Coty, Inc. co-authored the white paper, Trademark Modernization Act - Summary, for trademark practitioners. The authors spoke at the Global Trademark Forum on April 14, 2021.
- December 22, 2020
As the deadline for Brexit approaches, it seems unlikely that a further trade deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union will occur. Therefore, existing guidance on United Kingdom and European trademark and design rights continues unchanged and is summarized in this Cantor Colburn Client Alert.
- May 28, 2020
Michelle Ciotola was a panelist for the webinar, "Global Trademark Portfolio ... expert tips to lower cost and risk," presented by Novagraaf. Also on the panel: Novagraaf’s Alastair Rawlence and Toon Simons, and Warner Music Group's Sofya Nadgorny.
- May 28, 2020
Cantor Colburn copyright attorneys presented a webinar on copyright law for artists, called, "Creativity and the Law: A Webinar for Artists on What Every Artist Should Know About Copyright," on May 28, 2020. This webinar was in partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council to explain how art is protected by copyright law. Michelle Ciotola, Ali Caless, Benjamin Cantor and Crysta Lemon Schmidt presented.
- July 22, 2019
Supreme Court Finds New Protection for Trademark Owners Who Wish to Obtain Immoral or Scandalous Trademarks.
- February 19, 2018
Cantor Colburn partner Michelle Ciotola was quoted in the article "CT lawsuit tests Google's keyword search ad treatment," (Hartford Business Journal, February 19, 2018) about the lawsuit filed by Edible Arrangements against Google, in which Edible Arrangements demands $209 million in damages and other penalties for trademark infringement and unfair competition and trade practices. Ciotola is chair of the firm's Trademark & Copyright Department.
- October 23, 2016
On October 19, 2016, more than 30 artists attended a seminar on “Creativity and the Law,” presented by members of Cantor Colburn’s Trademark & Copyright Department. Working with the Greater Hartford Arts Council, a nonprofit supporting arts organizations for more than 45 years, these artists were invited to a seminar about the basics of copyright protection as it relates to their art and livelihood.
- June 30, 2016
Cantor Colburn is pleased to announce the election of Michelle Ciotola to Partner, effective June 15, 2016. Michelle will also become the firm’s Trademark & Copyright Department Vice Chair.
- Law 360June 17, 2016
Michelle Ciotola comments in IP Law 360 on the significance of the Supreme Court's June 17, 2016 ruling in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons.
- July 23, 2015
Michelle Ciotola, an attorney in Cantor Colburn LLP’s Trademark & Copyright Department, was selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Top Attorneys of North America edition of The Heritage Registry of Who’s Who, a biographical publication that selects and distinguishes leading professionals throughout North America who have attained a recognizable degree of success in their field of endeavor and thereby contribute to the growth of their industry and profession.
Ms. Ciotola, who was promoted to Counsel at the firm this January, concentrates her practice on counseling, protecting and enforcing trademark, trade dress, copyright, and related intellectual property rights, as well as counseling clients in unfair competition, Internet, advertising, and promotions law.
- The Connecticut Law TribuneApril 20, 2015
Michelle P. Ciotola co-authored the article "Fuzzy Jury Instructions Affected 'Blurred Lines' Case, High-Profile Dispute Reveals Nuances in Music Copyright Laws," published in The Connecticut Law Tribune on April 20, 2015. The Marvin Gaye estate won a $7.4 million judgment after months of legal drama regarding the Robin Thicke / Pharrell Williams song “Blurred Lines,” which they claimed was stolen from Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up.” Pelletier and Ciotola's article highlights the importance of properly instructing a jury in the intricacies of Copyright Law.
- January 22, 2015
Trademark Counsel Michelle Ciotola comments in IP Law 360 on the significance of the Supreme Court's January 21, 2015 ruling in Hana Financial Inc. v. Hana Bank. The court unanimously ruled that so-called trademark tacking is a factual question that should be dealt with by juries.
- July 11, 2014
Hartford, Conn. — Cantor Colburn will host the September 2014 International Trademark Association (INTA) Trademark Assistant (TMA) roundtable, The Office Action: A Challenge or a Cinch?, in the firm’s Hartford office on September 11th.
- October 10, 2013
Cantor Colburn LLP has been recognized by 10 different organizations and publications- which heralded 14 attorneys in particular- for excellence in their work in 2013. The Legal 500 has applauded the firm for its “solid reputation in the market of providing an excellent level of service, and having an excellent value for money.” From accolades for the firm as a whole to specific recognition of Cantor Colburn attorneys in diverse practice areas within the field of intellectual property, the firm has enjoyed an abundance of recognition in 2013.
Events
- December 2, 2024Webinar
Cantor Colburn trademark attorneys Michelle Ciotola and Ali Caless and Warner Music Group Vice President, Senior Trademark & Domain Name Counsel Sofya Nadgorny will be panelists for the webinar "Trademark Enforcement Outside the Courtroom: Customs, Watches, and Leveraging Online Platform Solutions: Exploring Options for Early, Effective, and Budget-Conscious Strategies" on December 2, 2024, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET, presented by Strafford.
- November 12, 2024New Orleans
The INTA 2024 Leadership Meeting will take place November 12-15, 2024 in New Orleans. This annual conference brings together INTA’s volunteer leaders and committee members to advance the Association’s support of trademarks and related intellectual property. Michael Cantor, Phil Colburn, Michelle Ciotola, Ali Caless, Ben Cantor, Sara Colburn, Soomin Kim, and Crysta Lemon are attending the conference and serve on INTA committees.
- November 2, 2024
Cantor Colburn's Eric Baron, Nick Herrel, and Michelle Ciotola will participate in a Connecticut Invention Convention,(CIC) event, Push For Entrepreneurship, a fitness fundraising event to raise money to help the CIC, a 501c(3) charity supporting more than 11,000 young inventors in the state.
- October 28, 2024
Cantor Colburn is proud to be a returning sponsor of the Dress for Success Hartford Capital Catwalk 2024 on October 28, 2024. Dress for Success’s mission is to invest in the ability of a woman to become and remain gainfully employed and thereby provide for herself and her family and with that financial independence, build strong communities and collectively contribute towards a stronger global economy.
- October 23, 2024Cantor Colburn's Hartford Office
Cantor Colburn hosts the INTA Roundtable discussion, "Enforcement: AI & Fair Use," on October 23, 2024 in its Hartford office. Trademark & Copyright Practice Chair Michelle Ciotola will facilitate the discussion, which will cover artificial intelligence (AI) and the Fair Use Doctrine; recent precedent and pending cases regarding company rights in AI, and happenings at both the state and federal levels of government with respect to enacting AI-related legislation. Registration in advance is required at https://www.inta.org/inta-events/.
- September 24, 2024Stockholm
Michelle Ciotola, Thomas Mango, and Alison Caless, attorneys in Cantor Colburn's Trademark & Copyright Practice Group, will attend The MARQUES 38th Annual Conference, September 24-27, 2024.
- August 20, 2024Strafford CLE Webinar
Michelle Ciotola will be panelist for the CLE webinar "Trade Dress Rights Enforcement: Prosecuting Infringement Claims: Proving Protectable Trade Dress and Likelihood of Confusion, Defeating Defenses," on August 20, 2024, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET, presented by Strafford.
- June 19, 2024Antwerp, Belgium
Trademark & Copyright Practice Partner Michelle Ciotola and Associate Ben Cantor will attend the ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) 42nd Annual Conference on June 19-21, 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium. Ben is Vice-Chair of the ECTA Programme Committee.
- May 18, 2024Atlanta
The International Trademark Association (INTA) 2024 Annual Meeting will take place in Atlanta from May 18-22, 2024. Thousands of intellectual property professionals from around the world will attend, including a large delegation from Cantor Colburn.
- April 18, 2024
The Women’s Initiative employee resource group (ERG) at Cantor Colburn LLP hosted the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Hartford gathering for the Women in IP Global Networking Day. Our gathering was one of a hundred around the world taking place on April 18, 2024 celebrating women in IP. Dean Eboni Nelson of University of Connecticut School of Law hosted us at the beautiful UConn Law campus in Hartford and spoke to the group on this year’s theme, Cultivating Leadership.
- March 20, 2024New York City
Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Practice Group at Cantor Colburn, will attend The Business of AI on March 20-21, 2024 in New York City, presented by INTA, the International Trademark Association. This conference offers programming to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between Artificial Intelligence (AI), Intellectual Property (IP) rights, and brand management, with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies and how they practically impact the protection, enforcement, and commercialization of intellectual property assets.
- October 17, 2023Hartford, Washington, D.C.
On October 17, 2023, INTA Roundtable Discussions on the Commercialization of Brands will take place all around the country. Trademark attorneys Michelle Ciotola and Ali Caless and practice manager and senior paralegal Crysta Lemon will attend the Hartford event and Farzad Panjshiri will attend the Washington, D.C. event.
- September 10, 2023Boston
The Intellectual Property Owners Association 2023 Annual Meeting takes place September 10-12, 2023 in Boston.
- Michelle Ciotola Presents at Annual JPPCLE Event on Extraterritoriality of U.S. Trademark ProtectionSeptember 7, 2023New York City
Cantor Colburn Trademark & Copyright Practice Chair Michelle Ciotola is a featured speaker at the Joint Patent Practice Continuing Legal Education’s (JPPCLE) annual one-day seminar that gathers legal industry professionals to discuss recent cases, legislation, and regulations involving intellectual property law and practice. Michelle will be on the Supreme Court and Legislative panel, speaking on Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic Int'l, Inc. - Extraterritoriality of U.S. Trademark Protection: How Far Does it Go?
- July 20, 2023New York City
Michelle Ciotola will attend the New York Intellectual Property Law Association's Half-Day CLE Program, "Hot Topics in Trademark & Copyright Law" on July 20, 2023 in New York City. Michelle chairs Cantor Colburn's #8 ranked trademark & Copyright Practice Group.
- June 10, 2023UConn Storrs Campus
The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) Finals take place Saturday, June 10, 2023 at UConn's Storrs campus. During the judging of the student inventions, parents are invited to a presentation by Cantor Colburn attorneys Michelle P. Ciotola, chair of the Trademark & Copyright Practice, and Brad Lawrence, co-chair of the Electric Engineering Practice, called, "Options & Realities - Protecting Your Kids' IP." Eric Baron, patent attorney and chair of Cantor Colburn's Artificial Intelligence Practice, chairs the CIC board of directors, and will present the Cantor Colburn award for the Most Patentable Invention to a student inventor at the ceremony after the judging. Ali Caless and Jim Merrick are Volunteer Judges.
- May 16, 2023Singapore
Michael Cantor, Phil Colburn, Michelle Ciotola and Dan Drexler will be joining trademark, brand professionals, and intellectual professionals from around the world at the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) in Singapore in May 2023.
- January 31, 2023CLE webinar
Michelle Ciotola will be panelist for the CLE webinar "Sustainability in Trademarks: Leveraging Marks to Convey Eco-Friendly Brands, Avoiding Potential Pitfalls" on January 31, 2023, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET, presented by Strafford. She will be part of a panel discussing the impact of sustainability on brands and how they message their eco-friendly brands and offer best practices for brand owners to consider when using marks to communicate the brand's eco-friendly initiatives.
- December 6, 2022webinar
Cantor Colburn attorneys Michelle Ciotola and Ali Caless and Warner Music Group Vice President, Senior Trademark & Domain Name Counsel Sofya Nadgorny will be panelists for the webinar "Trademark Enforcement Outside the Courtroom: Customs, Watches, and Leveraging Online Platform Solutions: Exploring Options for Early, Effective, and Budget-Conscious Strategies" on December 6, 2022, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET, presented by Strafford.
- November 15, 2022Miami, Florida
The INTA 2022 Leadership Meeting will take place November 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida. This annual conference brings together INTA’s volunteer leaders and committee members to advance the Association’s support of trademarks and related intellectual property. Michael Cantor, Phil Colburn, Michelle Ciotola, Ali Caless and Ben Cantor are attending the conference.
- October 19, 2022New York City
Michelle Ciotola will attend World Trademark Review's live back-to-back USA 2022 conferences in New York City: Brand Protection Online on October 19, 2022 and Managing Trademark Assets USA on October 20, 2022.
- October 12, 2022Hartford, Connecticut
Ali Caless and Michelle Ciotola will attend The Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls event, "Cocktails for Community," at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on October 12, 2022.Cantor Colburn is proud to sponsor the event and support the nonprofit's mission to empower low-income women, women of color, and first-generation college students to earn a college degree.
- September 20, 2022Madrid
The 36th MARQUES Annual Conference will focus on celebrating marks. Cantor Colburn trademark attorneys Michelle Ciotola, Tom Mango, and Ali Caless will attend.
- September 12, 2022Dallas
Michelle Ciotola will speak on "Developing and Implementing a Brand Protection Strategy" at IP Watchdog LIVE 2022 in Dallas in September 12, 2022.
- May 24, 2022New York City
Michelle Ciotola will attend the Managing IP Intellectual Property and Innovation Summit taking place on May 24, 2022.
- April 30, 2022Washington, D.C.
INTA’s Annual Meeting Live+ is in-person and virtual. Taking place over April 30–May 4, 2022 in Washington, D.C., the annual conference of the International Trademark Association brings together the most influential brand and intellectual property professionals from across the globe and across industries.
- April 22, 2022
Michelle Ciotola is panelist in the webinar, Brands in the Virtual World, hosted by S. Majumdar & Co. Patent & Trademarks, and features panelists from leading law firms in Japan, France, and India.
- April 7, 2022Hartford, Connecticut
Cantor Colburn is pleased to host the AIPLA's Women in IP Law Virtual Global Networking event on April 7, 2022. The event, Power Happy Hour: Finding Balance, Building Community, will feature a short discussion around the important issue for women of feeling empowered and engaging in community.
- March 9, 2022
Michelle Ciotola, Chair of the Cantor Colburn Trademark & Copyright Practice, will speak at the Connecticut Bar Association CLE Webinar, NFTs, Fine Art, and Software: The Many Faces of Copyright Fair Use on March 8, 2022.
- November 16, 2021New York City
Michelle Ciotola, Phil Colburn will attend the INTA In-Person Mini-Conference in New York City on November 16, 2021.
- November 15, 2021virtual
INTA's 2021 Annual Meeting will be virtual and take place November 15-19, 2021.
- October 22, 2021virtual
Cantor Colburn is a sponsor of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Luminary Luncheon on October 22, 2021, a virtual event. The luncheon will feature women and girls who have benefited from the foundation's work, community partners, and leaders.
- October 21, 2021Vienna, Austria
Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Vice Chair of Cantor Colburn's Trademark & Copyright Department, will attend the ECTA's 39th Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria. ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) promotes the knowledge and professionalism of members and owners alike in the fields of trade marks, designs, copyright and other IP rights within the European Union.
- September 14, 2021The Hague, The Netherlands
The MARQUES Annual Conference takes place on September 14-17, 2021 in The Hague, The Netherlands.
- May 4, 2021
Thousands of women IP professionals are gathering virtually on Tuesday, May 4, 1:30-2:30 PM to discuss themes of optimism and hard work from Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming. Cantor Colburn is proud to host a discussion group hosted by partners Jenae Gureff and Michelle Ciotola. RSVP: contact@cantorcolburn.com.
- April 14, 2021
Partner and Trademark & Copyright Vice Chair Michelle Ciotola will speak on the Trademark Modernization Act at The Managing IP annual Global Trademark Forum on April 14, 2021.
- September 30, 2020Hartford, Connecticut and Beyond
Cantor Colburn is hosting an AIPLA women's networking and bourbon tasting event via Zoom on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 6-7 PM EST, “Building Bonds Over Bourbon: Conversations with IP Colleagues.” Our program will enhance networking skills: we’ll have a bourbon tasting, learn and practice techniques for building relationships, and discuss IP issues in breakout groups.
- May 28, 2020
- May 28, 2020
Cantor Colburn copyright attorneys will present the complimentary webinar, "Creativity and the Law: A Webinar for Artists on What Every Artist Should Know About Copyright," on May 28, 2020 at 5:30 PM in partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Michelle Ciotola, Ali Caless, Benjamin Cantor and Crysta Lemon Schmidt will review copyright law and how artists can protect their creative works.
- December 3, 2019Hartford, Connecticut
Alison Caless will participate on an IP Ethics CLE panel for the IP section of the Connecticut Bar on December 3, 2019; 2 CLE Ethics credits are available in CT and NY. Alison is a member of the CBA's IP Section.
- November 19, 2019Austin, Texas
The INTA 2019 Leadership Meeting will take place November 19-22, 2019 in Austin, Texas. This annual conference brings together INTA’s volunteer leaders and committee members to advance the Association’s support of trademarks and related intellectual property. Michael Cantor, Phil Colburn, and Michelle Ciotola will be attending the conference.
- October 27, 2019Lima, Peru
Michelle Ciotola will attend the Annual Meeting of the Asociación Interamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (“Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property” or “ASIPI”) in Lima, Peru, October 27-30, 2019.
- September 17, 2019Dublin, Ireland
Michelle Ciotola, Tom Mango, and Ali Caless will attend The MARQUES 33rd Annual Conference that takes place on September 17-19, 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. This year's conference theme is "Brands Confronting Change."
- May 18, 2019Boston, Massachusetts
The 141st annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) will take place in Boston, Massachusetts from May 18-22, 2018. Nearly 10,000 intellectual property professionals from around the world will attend, including a large delegation from Cantor Colburn.
- January 30, 2019Cantor Colburn's Hartford Office
The Copyright Team at Cantor Colburn will present, “Creativity and the Law: What Every Artist Should Know About Their Creations,” presented in partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council. This session is a copyright basics seminar for artists in all media.
Presenting are Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Trademark & Copyright Department Vice Chair, Associates Ali Caless and Ben Cantor, and Senior Trademark paralegal Crysta Lemon Schmidt.
- November 25, 2018Rio, Brazil
Michelle Ciotola will attend ASIPI Rio 2018. She is a partner and Vice Chair of Cantor Colburn's Trademark & Copyright Department. She is an active member of INTA, ECTA, and MARQUES, and her practice encompasses all aspects of trademark and copyright law. ASIPI is the Asociación Interamericana de Propiedad Intelectual.
- November 6, 2018New Orleans, Louisiana
The INTA 2018 Leadership Meeting will take place November 6-9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It brings together INTA volunteer leaders once a year to advance the Association’s objectives and goals.
- November 3, 2018The Society Room, Hartford
Cantor Colburn is proud to be a Magic Moments Sponsor of the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, Start Something Big Gala being held at The Society Room at 6:00PM
- September 18, 2018Paris, France
Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Trademark & Copyright Department Vice Chair, Thomas Mango, Trademark Litigation Partner, and Alison Caless, Trademark Associate, will attend The MARQUES 32nd Annual Conference that takes place on September 18-21, 2018 in Paris, France. This year's conference theme is "Branding Style: Appearance, Aesthetics and Éclat." Many sessions will focus on topics such as branding, design and luxury goods.
- June 13, 2018Athens, Greece
Michael Cantor, Co-Managing Partner, and Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Vice Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Department, will attend the ECTA's 37th Annual Conference in Athens, Greece. ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) promotes the knowledge and professionalism of members and owners alike in the fields of trade marks, designs, copyright and other IP rights within the European Union.
- May 19, 2018Seattle, Washington
The 140th annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) will take place in Seattle, Washington from May 19-23, 2018. Nearly 10,000 intellectual property professionals from around the world will attend, including a large delegation from Cantor Colburn.
- December 5, 2017Hartford, Connecticut
Cantor Colburn's copyright attorneys are pleased to partner with the Greater Hartford Arts Council and present a copyright basics seminar for artists in all media. This session will inform artists about the rights and protections available to them regarding their creations.
- November 7, 2017Washington, D.C.
The 2017 INTA (International Trademark Association) Leadership Meeting, November 7-10, 2017 in Washington, D.C., brings together INTA volunteer leaders once a year to advance the Association’s objectives and goals. It offers them an advanced-level educational program and the opportunity to conduct business and network with colleagues from around the world.
- September 19, 2017Prague, Czech Republic
Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Trademark & Copyright Department Vice Chair, will attend The MARQUES 31st Annual Conference that takes place on September 19-22, 2017 in Prague, the Czech Republic. This year's conference theme is "Brands and Culture."
- July 19, 2017New York, NY
The New York Intellectual Property Law Association presented Hot Topics in IP Law, Trademark Ethics 101: Investigations, Advance Consents and Terminating Client Relationships at the Princeton Club in New York City on July 19, 2017. Gerard F. Rogers, Chief Administrative Judge of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, spoke at the event.
- June 28, 2017Budapest, Hungary
Michelle P. Ciotola, Partner and Vice Chair of the firm's Trademark & Copyright Department, attended the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) 34th Annual Conference in Budapest, Hungary, on June 28, 2017.
- May 20, 2017Barcelona, Spain
The 139th annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) took place in Barcelona, Spain from May 20-24, 2017 and was attended by more than 9,500 trademark professionals including a large delegation from Cantor Colburn.
- November 15, 2016Hollywood, Florida
The 2016 INTA Leadership Meeting, November 15-18 in Hollywood, Florida, brings together INTA volunteer leaders once a year to advance the Association’s objectives and goals. It offers them an advanced-level educational program and the opportunity to conduct business and network with colleagues from around the world.
INTA is a global association of trademark owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property in order to protect consumers and to promote fair and effective commerce.
- October 19, 2016Hartford, Connecticut
Cantor Colburn presents a seminar for artists on copyright law through our partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council, entitled "Creativity and the Law." Cantor Colburn attorneys will show the importance of using intellectual property law, especially copyright law, to protect artists.
- July 27, 2016Alicante, Spain
Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Trademark & Copyright Department Vice Chair, will attend The MARQUES 30th Annual Conference that takes place on September 20-23, 2016 in Alicante, Spain. This year's conference theme is BRANDS versus TRADEMARKS - TRADEMARKS versus BRANDS. Many of the sessions will address different aspects of this question, focusing on the legal issues and challenges of brands vs trademarks.
- International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual MeetingMay 21, 2016Orlando, Florida
- November 17, 2015Panama City, Panama
The INTA Leadership Meeting brings together INTA volunteer leaders once a year to advance the Association’s objectives and goals.
- September 14, 2015Vienna, Austria
Michelle Ciotola, Counsel in the firm's Trademark & Copyright Department, will attend the 29th MARQUES Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria in September 2015. The theme of the conference is “Mind the Brand! Psychology of Brands.”
- June 10, 2015Hamburg, Germany
Cantor Colburn Trademark Counsel Michelle P. Ciotola will attend the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) 34th Annual Conference in Hamburg, Germany on June 10, 2015.
- May 4, 2015San Diego, California
Trademark Counsel Michelle Ciotola gave a presentation entitled “What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School about Trademark Law” during the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting 2015 Career Development Day.
- May 2, 2015San Diego, California
The 137th annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) takes place in San Diego, California and will be attended by more than 9,500 trademark professionals including a large delegation from Cantor Colburn.
- INTA Leadership Meeting 2014November 11, 2014Phoenix, Arizona
- September 11, 2014Hartford, CT
Cantor Colburn will host the September 2014 International Trademark Association (INTA) Trademark Assistant (TMA) roundtable, The Office Action: A Challenge or a Cinch?, in the firm’s Hartford office on September 11th.
- May 6, 2013Dallas, Texas
Trademark Counsel Michelle Ciotola gave a presentation entitled “What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School about Trademark Law” during the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting 2013 Career Development Day.
- INTA 135th Annual MeetingMay 4, 2013Dallas, Texas
- International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting 2012May 5, 2012Washington, D.C.
- Speaker, "Patent, Trademark and Copyright Overview"March 2012Women’s Enterprise Development Center, White Plains, NY
- International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual MeetingMay 14, 2011San Francisco, California
- Moderator, International Trademark Association Panel Discussion: Careers in Trademark LawMay 2011International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA
- Facilitator, International Trademark Association Working Lunch for Law StudentsMay 2011International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA
- Speaker, International Trademark Association Panel Discussion: Careers in Trademark LawMay 2010International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
Speaker, International Trademark Association What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School About Trademark Law, International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, May 2013
Facilitator, International Trademark Association Working Lunch for Law Students, International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, May 2013
Organizer, International Trademark Association Career Development Day, International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, 2013
Facilitator, International Trademark Association Working Lunch for Law Students, International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, May 2012
Professional Affiliations
European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA)
- Law Committee
Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
- Leadership Development Committee, Member, 2023
International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Leadership Development Committee, 2023-2025
- Academic Committee, 2022-2023
- Student Members Subcommittee, Subcommittee Chair, 2022-2023
- Academic Committee, 2020-2021
- Student Members Subcommittee, 2020-2021
- Programming Subcommittee, Subcommittee Chair, 2018-2019
- Young Practitioners Committee, 2018-2019
- Programming Subcommittee, 2016-2017
- Young Practitioners Committee, 2016-2017
- Academic Committee, 2014-2015
- Student Members Subcommittee, Subcommittee Chair, 2014-2015
- Academic Committee, 2012-2013
- Academic Committee, 2010-2011
MARQUES - The Association of European Trade Mark Owners
- Intellectual Asset Management Team 2019-present
American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
Connecticut Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
New York State Bar Association
New York Intellectual Property Law Association
Community/Civic Involvement
Connecticut Invention Convention, Board Member, 2023-present
The Cove Center for Grieving Children, Board Member, 2022-present
5th grade student mentor, IPO Education Foundation, TryEngineering Together, 2021-2022
Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury, Board Member, 2014-2016