Partner Bethany Stevens represents start-ups, mid-size companies, and global brands in the retail, fashion, lifestyle, fitness, and technology industries. Clients turn to Bethany for advice regarding their corporate structuring and compliance, contract negotiations and licensing agreements, broad-based brand and intellectual property portfolio management, as well as complex business and intellectual property disputes.
Prior to founding WSC, Bethany was Counsel in WilmerHale’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice group, where she represented some of the world’s largest technology companies in significant patent infringement disputes involving smartphones, Wi-Fi chips, and an array of other industry-leading technologies.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and is a member of the International Trademark Association, Los Angeles Chapter of Ellevate Network, and UCLA Law Women LEAD. She has presented to various groups regarding issues facing small and emerging businesses, and has co-authored articles appearing in Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine and Competition: The Journal of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Bethany graduated magna cum laude from Ohio State University, where she was a Medalist scholar. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. At UCLA, Bethany completed externships with the Honorable Laurie Zelon of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, and with the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles.
Intellectual Property and Brand Protection
Bethany develops, manages, and protects the domestic and international intellectual property portfolios of many innovative brands across industries to ensure they have appropriate and valuable intellectual property protections in place, and to leverage their IP assets in connection with a broad range of transactions. In this capacity, she regularly advises clients regarding their trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets, as well as related transactions and disputes.
Bethany also devises and implements comprehensive, personalized strategies for her clients to protect their brand integrity and to stop fraud and brand dilution. Such strategies often include efforts to halt the importation and sale of counterfeit goods, to liaise with and support branding, marketing, and advertising teams, and to monitor and enforce intellectual property rights against would-be infringers throughout the world. Calling upon her extensive litigation experience, Bethany also represents clients in intellectual property disputes, including in matters in state and federal court and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Trademark Trial and Appeals Board.
Litigation
Bethany has broad litigation experience in state and federal courts in matters involving intellectual property infringement, general commercial and contract disputes, state and federal antitrust claims, and business torts, such as false advertising and unfair competition. She represents clients in all phases of litigation, from pre-suit investigation through to resolution. Bethany effectively advocates for informal and creative pre-litigation resolutions when possible, and vigorously pursues litigation when avoidance isn’t an option, all while mitigating the risk to her clients.
Corporate Counseling
Bethany handles all aspects of business formation and governance, and advises regarding compliance obligations and best practices, including with respect to data privacy and protection. She also drafts, negotiates, and advises regarding commercial contracts and agreements, and performs audits and due diligence to support the same. Above all, she best positions her clients to focus on what’s important – growing their businesses, securing customers, and mitigating risk.
Giving Back
Bethany serves on the Board of Trustees for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and counsels the organization on intellectual property and branding matters. The Foundation shares the nationwide mission and focuses on leading the fight to end epilepsy – their vision and call to action.
Bethany also partners with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) at the La Kretz Innovation Campus and provides office hours to companies driving the innovation and growth of Los Angeles’ green economy.
Prior Affiliations
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Heller Ehrman LLP
Community Activities
Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, Board of Trustees
Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
