Kathryn Gusmer Cole

Kate serves as Co-head of the firm's Intellectual Property team. She provides strategic leadership and counsel on complex intellectual property matters for domestic and international clients, including start-ups, private equity groups, and large private and public companies. Her broad IP experience positions her to serve as a valued business partner to her clients on a variety of IP transactional and litigation matters. She represents clients in matters relating to IP development, portfolio acquisition, and complex licensing, and leads teams in advising on the IP aspects of various debt and equity investments. Clients look to Kate for her collaborative approach to deals, ensuring that both sides work together on creative solutions to reach a mutually positive outcome. Kate also routinely assists clients in protecting their IP rights through enforcement and litigation, with experience in federal courts throughout the country in IP disputes including patent, trademark, and trade secret litigation.

Kate is ranked in IAM Strategy 300 as a leading IP strategist in licensing and M&A, and is recommended by IAM Patent 1000, where clients note that she is “an adept litigator as well as deal lawyer” and describe her as “brilliant – she is responsive, thorough, and careful but very creative. She has an extremely strong skill set when it comes to IP and corporate matters, so she can efficiently and effectively solve any problem that comes her way.” She has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Business North Carolina Legal Elite, North Carolina Super Lawyers, and World Trademark Review 1000, with clients commenting that she is “extremely customer focused and looks for – and accomplishes – business wins.” “She always takes a business-sensitive tack on disputes, looking for the best value proposition for the client. She communicates promptly and responsively, and works closely with her patrons.  I have had uniformly excellent results from her and her team.” Kate has also been named a Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Achievement Award winner for her significant contributions to her firm, industry, and community.