About

Shelby represents trademark, copyright, and domain owners at all phases of the intellectual property lifecycle, with a focus on trademark disputes and litigation in federal courts and at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). She also crafts common-sense prosecution and enforcement strategies to secure strong and practical intellectual property protection. She works with several Fortune 50 companies and an array of national and international business spanning diverse industries including apparel, restaurants/beverages, telecommunications, financial, automotive, construction, education, sports, and media and entertainment. Shelby also represents non-profit organizations and local start-ups.

In addition to securing routine pre-litigation and TTAB settlements, Shelby has helped drive successful outcomes in several complex federal litigations handled by Kelly IP, including:

• Simply Wireless v. T-Mobile (Eastern District of Virginia) – Successful Fourth Circuit appeal on trademark abandonment issue for regional wireless retailer, followed by successful opposition to petition for certiorari at the Supreme Court of the United States
• American Eagle Outfitters and Retail Royalty Company v. Walmart (Western District of Pennsylvania) – Kelly IP obtained permanent injunction to stop #1 Fortune company and its supplier from infringing a #1 denim brand’s iconic back pocket stitch logo
• Just A Honky Tonk v. Oelze and For A Song (Eastern District of Virginia) – Kelly IP preserved the legacy of historic D.C area music venue The Birchmere through a case involving IP and non-IP claims
• American University of Kuwait v. American University (District for the District of Columbia) – Favorably resolved a yearslong trademark registration dispute between universities starting at TTAB and ending in federal court
• Verizon v. McMan (District for the District of Columbia) – Shut down domain cybersquatter and won a monetary judgment for one of the Big Three telecom giants
• Toddy v. Brumate (District for Colorado) – Protected cold brew company’s valuable house mark in case against drinkware retailer

In addition to her practice at KIP, Shelby volunteers with the D.C. Bar’s Small Business Pro Bono Clinic and is a member of INTA, AIPLA, and an LCLD Pathfinder alumnus.

Shelby earned her J.D. with honors from American University Washington College of Law, where she served on the American University Law Review and was Co-President of WCL’s Evening Law Student Association. Prior to her legal career, Shelby managed a neurolinguistic research laboratory at Georgetown University’s Center for Aphasia Research and Rehabilitation where she worked with patients living with various language disorders.

In her spare time, Shelby enjoys playing board games, cooking new recipes, and sampling group workout classes.