Maria R. Sinatra

Counsel
Sinatra Maria
Maria Sinatra focuses her practice on offensive and defensive Lanham Act and Copyright Act litigation in federal courts throughout the country. Maria has experience with disputes involving anti-counterfeiting actions, trademark and trade dress infringement actions, trademark dilution claims, false advertising issues, and copyright infringement litigation. She regularly advises clients on brand management issues, including how to secure, protect, and police trademark rights.

Maria brings years of drafting and litigation experience to her practice, and she has handled all aspects of federal litigation, from the drafting of initial pleadings to discovery, and through jury trial. On multiple occasions, Maria has assisted with obtaining emergency relief on behalf of clients, including obtaining ex parte seizure orders, temporary restraining orders, injunctive relief, and asset freezes.

Prior to joining Venable, Maria served as an intern at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York County District Attorney’s Office. In those positions, she assisted with misdemeanor and felony criminal prosecutions. 

Experience

Representative Matters

Federal Litigation Matters

  • Represented U.S. consumer products companies in anti-counterfeiting matters, including obtaining ex parte seizure orders in U.S. district courts throughout the country to obtain and successfully execute seizure orders on infringers at various locations, including warehousing facilities
  • Represented U.S. consumer products companies in anti-counterfeiting and trademark infringement matters, obtaining injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions in U.S. district courts across the country
  • Represented a global entertainment and apparel company in obtaining judgment against trademark counterfeiters involving fraudulent activities concerning NFT and digital asset technology
  • Represented a consumer products company in a trademark dispute against a customer involving sale of products outside of the trademark owner’s product quality controls
  • Defended a consumer products company in a copyright dispute involving allegations of unauthorized use of photographs on social media
  • Defended a national retailer against trademark infringement claims brought by a trademark troll

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Disputes

  • Represented a consumer products company in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) cancellation action against a trademark troll to recoup a trademark involving respirator masks
  • Represented a fitness company in TTAB opposition proceedings against applicants of confusingly similar trademark applications

UDRP Enforcement Matters

  • Represented consumer products, fitness, and nonprofit companies in Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) enforcement actions against registrants of unauthorized domain names

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. Fordham University School of Law 2016
    • Articles and notes editor, Fordham Law Review
    • Kaufman associate editor, Fordham Law Moot Court
    • Intern, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York County District Attorney’s Office
  • B.S. Business Administration summa cum laude Boston University School of Management 2013
    • Dean's Scholarship
    • Dean's List
    • School of Management Honors Program

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • New Jersey

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Member, International Trademark Association
  • Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member, Recent Graduate Committee, Fordham University School of Law
  • Member, New York Intellectual Property Law Association

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2024
  • Super Lawyers, Rising Star, New York Metro, 2023

Community
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Pro Bono

  • Represented and successfully obtained asylum for an individual under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)