Cliff Kuehn
Cliff Kuehn is an international trademark lawyer focused on the strategic protection and enforcement of global brands. Licensed in California, a registered Irish Trademark Attorney, and a registered EUIPO Professional Representative, he advises clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional trademark matters with a practical, business-oriented approach. His experience includes serving as an IP lawyer and policymaker at the European Union Intellectual Property Office in Spain, giving him deep familiarity with EU trademark systems that informs his work with clients managing portfolios with significant EU exposure and enforcement strategies tied to European markets. His substantial on-the-ground experience spans Europe and Asia, offering a nuanced perspective on cross-border enforcement and portfolio management.
Cliff Kuehn concentrates his practice on global trademark prosecution and enforcement, with an emphasis on developing and executing coordinated brand protection strategies across jurisdictions. He regularly works with in-house counsel and international networks of local counsel to align legal risk, commercial priorities, and enforcement outcomes, particularly for clients in the technology sector and other internationally active industries.
Cliff’s prior experience at the European Union Intellectual Property Office shapes his approach to European trademark matters, including portfolio structuring, opposition and cancellation practice, and the interplay between EU-wide rights and national enforcement. He also advises on the development and deployment of reputation evidence to support enforcement initiatives for globally recognized and rapidly scaling brands. His international IP background, spanning Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and India, further informs his ability to navigate legal and cultural nuances across jurisdictions.
Outside of his practice, Cliff enjoys developing his skills in French patisserie, refining the technical aspects of espresso preparation, and continuing to build proficiency in the German language.
- International Trademark Association
- Internet Committee (2024-present)
- Leadership Development Committee (2020-2023)
- Young Practitioners Committee (2016-2019)
- University Of San Francisco
- Adjunct Faculty, Internet & Intellectual Property Justice Law Clinic (2018-Present)
- Guest Lecturer, EU And US Copyright Law, Global Trademark Portfolio Management, Masters Program In Intellectual Property And Digital Innovation (Magister Lvcentinvs) At The University Of Alicante, Spain, annually since 2023
- Making Cents: A Survey On Legal Billing Practices Leadership Link, International Trademark Association, November 2022
- Panelist, Composite Trademarks: How Different Is Different? AIPPI World Congress (San Francisco), September 2022
- Understanding And Instilling Allyship Principles In The Workplace, Leadership Link, International Trademark Association, August 2020
- Presenter, Bilder Meetup, Strategically Legal – IP & GDPR In Germany and The USA, San Francisco, California, October 2018
- Craft Beer Vs. Big Beer Trademark Suit May Test 9th Circuit’s ‘Irreparable Harm’ Standard, IPwatchdog, March 2018
- Can The Name Of A Fictional, Intergalactic Game Evolve Into A Trademark Protectable In The World Of Mere Groundlings?, IPwatchdog, January 2018
- President Barack Obama – Analysis Of The 2012 Us Elections And The Power Of Brand Image, Intellectual Property Magazine, January 2013
- Change As Quick As A Bullet, Intellectual Property Magazine, April 2013
- 2015 LL.M., Stockholm University, Sweden
- European Intellectual Property Law
- 2010 J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law
- Intellectual Property & Technology Certification
- 2006 B.A., University of California, Irvine
- State Bar of California
- Registered Irish Trade Mark Agent
- EUIPO Professional Representative
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