Professionals

Practice Areas

Honors

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
Photo of Michelle P. Ciotola

Michelle P. Ciotola

Partner, Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Practice, Co-Chair of the Consumer Products Practice
Hartford
860.286.2929, ext. 1229
Email

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 Asociacion InterAmericana de la Propriedad 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

Publications

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

Events

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