LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

2000–         Jane Osborne McKnight, PLC, Shelburne, Vermont

General corporate representation and commercial litigation in state and federal court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Employment law counseling and defense.

Prosecution of trademark and copyright applications, intellectual property licensing and counseling. Administrative law practice before local, state, and federal interstate agencies. Mediations and arbitrations, including AAA arbitration. Appeals to the California Court of Appeals (Second Appellate District), California Supreme Court, Vermont Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Provided intellectual property law assistance to California and New York counsel.

1997- 2000         Director, Merritt & Merritt, Burlington, Vermont

General commercial litigation in state and federal court. Successfully challenged Northeast Dairy Compact Commission in USDC on behalf of The Organic Cow, LLC. Represented Community Products, Inc. (“Rainforest Crunch”) in chapter 11 reorganization (plan confirmed). General contract and business tort disputes. Intellectual property litigation, including copyright, trademark, and patent infringement and trade secrets litigation. Employment law counseling and litigation. Experienced in mediation, arbitration, and other ADR.

1991-1994     Senior Judicial Attorney, California Court of Appeal

Reviewed, analyzed, researched and drafted opinions, consulted on writ petitions and post-hearing procedures. Primary author of over 100 appellate opinions, including 13 published opinions, and participated in preparation of several hundred additional opinions. Concentrated on complex, multi-issue, civil and criminal appeals.

1987-1991     Partner, McKnight & Osborne, Los Angeles

Business litigation firm. Engaged in a variety of commercial disputes in state and federal court, including: defending First Western Bank in wrongful termination action; representing secured and unsecured creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court; representing Bank of Boston in receivership of prominent L.A. law firm and general collections; co-chair of creditors' committee in Pure Sweat Chapter 11 proceeding. Experienced in all facets of pre-trial, trial, post-trial and appellate procedure.

1984-1987     Associate Attorney, Troop Steuber Pasich & Tobey, Los Angeles

Litigation Department. Prosecuted copyright/trademark piracy actions for major motion picture studios (20th Century Fox, Tri-Star Pictures, Columbia Pictures) and Motion Picture Association of America; represented financial institutions in variety of contract/business tort matters and bankruptcy proceedings. Arbitrated $9 million rescission claim arising from asset purchase agreement before 3-judge AAA panel. Successfully defended savings and loan at trial of negligent supervision of employee claim.

1982-1984     Associate Attorney, O'Melveny & Myers, Los Angeles

Successfully defended claim for breach of real estate development agreement. Assisted in defense of Occidental Petroleum at three-week jury trial in Central District of California, obtaining defense verdict. Variety of law and motion and discovery matters. Assisted Bank of America in $100 million class action arising from trust department accounting practices.

EDUCATION

1979-1982 School of Law, University of California at Los Angeles, J.D.

1975-1977 Harvard University, M.C.R.P. (City and Regional Planning).

1971-1975 Boston College, A.B. (Political Science and Communications).

HONORS

Order of the Coif (top 10% GPA), U.C.L.A.

Articles Editor, U.C.L.A. Law Review.

First Prize ($500), Nathan Burkan Memorial Copyright Law Contest sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Selected to serve as legal research and writing instructor.
Phi Beta Kappa.

A.B. degree received summa cum laude.

Order of the Cross and Crown, Boston College.

First woman since 1863 to receive the Fulton Medal (best upperclass debater), Boston College. Also Gargan Medal (best underclass debater); Second prize, Leonard Speaking Contest; First Place, New England Forensic League, Persuasive Speaking. Numerous intercollegiate debating awards.

ADMISSIONS

Admitted to practice in California, December 1982; active member in good standing. Also admitted to Central (1983), Southern and Eastern (1985) Districts of California. Appeared pro haec vice Surrogate's Court, New York County, New York, 1987. Admitted to practice in Vermont, June 1997; active member in good standing. Admitted to District of Vermont (1997) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2002).

CLERKSHIPS

Externed full-time (1981) for late Hon. William P. Gray, Central District of California. Offered one-year clerkship.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

Senior Environmental Planner, Pacific Environmental Services, Santa Monica, Ca., 1977-1979. Performed environmental impact analyses and emission inventories for U.S. EPA. Prepared EIRs in connection with local projects. Delivered paper to American Pollution Control Association. Testified before Florida legislature regarding economic impact of Clean Air Act compliance.

PRO BONO

Judge pro tem, Small Claims Department, Los Angeles Municipal Court, 1992-1996.

LEGAL WRITINGS

"The Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Protection for Victims of Weight Discrimination," 29 U.C.L.A. Law Review 947 (1982).

Copyright Protection for Artistic Elements of Useful Articles: A Review and Proposal," First Prize Paper, Nathan Burkan Memorial Copyright Law Contest.

Modern Law of Employment Contracts, Bakaly & Grossman (Law & Business, Inc., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich: 1983) [research assistant/contributor].

MEMBERSHIPS

American Intellectual Property Law Association; Vermont Bar Association; Chittenden County Bar Association; California State Bar, member of the Intellectual Property, Litigation, and Labor and Employment Sections.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

The Organic Cow, LLC;
H.P. Hood Co., Inc.;
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.;
Select Design, Ltd.;
Glebe Mountain Ski Associates, Inc.;
Horizon Organic Dairy, Inc.;
Loong Chat’s Kitchen;
Asiana House;
Club Metronome;
Jazzatings;
Outback Kitchens, Inc.;
Page Designs, Inc.;
Peak Enterprises, Inc.;
Nathaniel Electronics, Inc.;
Isadora;
Rox Asphalt Paving;
Market Your Idea, LLC.