Schottenstein Zox & Dunn

Education

• B.A., Wake Forest University, 1981, magna cum laude with honors, Phi Beta Kappa
• J.D., University of North Carolina, 1984

Bar and Court Admissions

• Ohio, 1984

Honors and Awards

• Martindale-Hubbell AV^® Peer Review Rated  
• The Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property Law, Corporate Law, 2003-2010
• Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), Twelve Women You Should Know, 2010
• Leadership Columbus, Hall of Fame, inducted 2010
• Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Board Leadership Award, 2009
• Who’s Who in America
• Ohio Super Lawyer, Top 50 Ohio Women Lawyers; Top 50 Columbus Lawyers, 2004-2006
• American Cancer Society’s Babe Zaharias Golf and Tennis Classic - Volunteer of the Year, 2007
• Robert S. Crane, Jr. Young Philanthropist Award Honoree, 2001
• Columbus Bar Association Community Service Award, 1997
• Forty Under 40, Business First, 1994
• Ten Outstanding Young Citizens, 1993
• Harry S. Truman Scholar

Practice Areas

Industries

Susan Rector leads SZD's Intellectual Property Practice Group overseeing professional quality of service delivered to clients in this area of law. She has advised publicly and privately held companies in all aspects of intellectual property ownership and has assisted start-up and established businesses to conduct business online or to commercialize technology. Susan has extensive experience with software acquisition and licensing, technology-based companies and the legal issues encountered in conducting business online. She has prosecuted over 450 applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and numerous applications with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Susan also has experience in a wide variety of business transactions, including business formation, restructurings and mergers and acquisitions. She has advised institutional investors in making investments in venture capital funds or other equity investments and has assisted companies to raise debt and equity through the private sale of securities. She also provides ongoing advice and counsel to family and privately-held businesses.

Complementing her practice, Susan serves as partner in charge of marketing and business development. In this role she oversees the firm's marketing strategies and brand development to successfully position the firm within the legal industry.  Susan also serves as the editor of Currents, the firm's newsletter featuring issues and trends in intellectual property and e-commerce law.

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, Science & Technology Law Sections
• American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• Ohio State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Board of Governors, 1998 - 2003
• Columbus Bar Association, Civility Enhancement Program; Grievance Mediation Program
• Columbus Bar Foundation, Past President, Past Board, Fellow
• International Trademark Association, The Trademark Reporter Committee
• American Health Lawyers Association
• Enterprising Women magazine, Advisory Board
• American Advertising Federation
• Ohio TechAngel Fund II and III, Member
• Women Presidents' Organization

Publications

• FTC Endorsement Guides Extended to Bloggers, Executive Counsel, April 2010
• Brand Promotion and Unauthorized Trademark Use in Virtual Worlds, WIPO Magazine, December 2007
• Copyright Issues in a Digital World... From Grokster to Google Print Project, Midwest In-House, January 2006
• Rolling Out the New .Pro Domain, Circle ID, May 7, 2003
• Use of Web Site Audits, Corporate Counsel's Guide to Web Site Agreements, Business Laws, Inc., 2002

Speaking Engagements

• Resources to Take Valuable Technology to Market, OSU Discovery, Innovation & Commercialization Workshop Series, OSU Medical Center and Fisher College of Business - July 30, 2010
• Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the 21st Century, The Advertising Federation, Black Hills Chapter, Rapid City, South Dakota - April 20, 2010
• The Secret of Rainmaking for Women Attorneys - February 23, 2010
• Virtual Worlds, Social Networks, Blogs and More, International Trademark Association's Trademark and the Internet Forum - February 9, 2009
• End of Cyberspace: Blending the Digital with the Physical, Community Research Partners, Change Happens! Seminar - April 28, 2008
• Trademark, Copyright and Other Legal Considerations in the Advertising World, The Advertising Federation of Fargo-Moorhead, ND - April 15, 2008
• Copyright, Contract and Other Legal Considerations for Artists, Columbus College of Art & Design - February 2008
• Legal Issues in an Online World, AdFed Columbus - September 21, 2007
• Legal Considerations for Advertising in an Online, Interactive World, Coastal Advertising and Marketing Professionals, Myrtle Beach, SC - January 18, 2007
• Board Leadership: A Mosaic of Perspectives, The Columbus Foundation - October 25, 2006
• Updates for Corporate Counsel on Intellectual Property and Information Technology, Central Ohio Chapter, Association of Corporate Counsel - May 17, 2006
• Copyright Issues in the Digital Age and Information Technology Trends for Corporate Counsel, Central Ohio Chapter, Association of Corporate Counsel - May 17, 2006
• The Technology Factor: Web Site and Intellectual Property Issues for Nonprofit Organizations, GroundWork Group - May 5, 2006

Community Leadership

• Columbus Zoo, Board of Trustees, Association Board, Past President
• Children's Hunger Alliance, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Incoming Vice Chair
• Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), Board of Trustees, Secretary, Executive Committee
• Stewart Alternative Elementary, Tutor
• International Center for the Preservation of Wild Animals (the Wilds), Past Board
• Junior League of Columbus, Past President, Past Board
• Hands On Columbus (formerly FirstLink, Inc.), Past President, Past Board
• United Way of Central Ohio, Past Board, currently Resource Development Committee, Women's Leadership Council
• Leadership Columbus, 1989