Preetha Chakrabarti

Overview

Creative problem solving is what clients need in this ever-changing technological landscape. Clients ask: “Can I protect this asset?” “How do I fight this competitor” “Will AI impact my business?” That’s where Preetha Chakrabarti comes in. As a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department and Advertising & Brand Protection group, Preetha seeks to offer holistic and integrated counsel to her clients. Her practice cuts across all areas of intellectual property and advertising, consisting of litigation, counseling, licensing, and transactional due diligence as well as trademark prosecution. In particular, she advises clients in the technology, retail, and fashion industries on how best to manage risks when using and developing intellectual property—and then when making consumers and customers aware of such intellectual property.

Preetha is also well known for helping companies understand their obligations regarding the advertising of environmental, social, and governance-related claims, including claims about carbon offsets, greenwashing, bluewashing, waste reduction and recycling, woke-washing, and social issues. She leverages rich experience in counseling companies across multiple industries—including food and beverage, fashion, media and telecommunications, technology, and consumer products—to help clients understand industry-specific challenges and achieve their business objectives.

Preetha also takes pro bono work seriously, and her practice includes cases involving appellate, immigration, family, and employment law as well as IP counseling for nonprofit entities. Preetha currently co-chairs the firm’s Public Service Committee, and she successfully represented Sandra Avery, a woman sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent, low-level drug crime who sought commutation of her sentence from President Barack Obama, reducing her life sentence to time served. Sandra was one of the 95 nonviolent drug offenders to whom Obama granted clemency in December 2015. Preetha was featured in the documentary film The Vanishing Trial by the Families Against Mandatory Minimums and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, released in 2020 in connection with her representation of Sandra. She also received the firm’s 2015 George Bailey Award for her pro bono contributions. In July 2023, Preetha was appointed to The City of New York Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, which works to recruit and encourage diverse and highly qualified persons to serve as a judge of the Criminal, Family, or on an interim basis, the Civil Court.

There are many experiences that form the foundation of Preetha’s interdisciplinary legal practice, but a few stand out: one, her involvement with LawWithoutWalls, a part-virtual collaboration that develops problem-solving and project management business skills necessary to provide effective legal services in today’s global, multidisciplinary, and cross-cultural marketplace. Two, her 2015 selection as a Pathfinder by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a national organization comprised of the legal profession’s top general counsels and managing partners. And three, her service as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 2019-2020.

Preetha is also well known for helping companies understand their obligations regarding the advertising of environmental, social, and governance-related claims, including claims about carbon offsets, greenwashing, bluewashing, waste reduction and recycling, woke-washing, and social issues. She leverages rich experience in counseling companies across multiple industries—including food and beverage, fashion, media and telecommunications, technology, and consumer products—to help clients understand industry-specific challenges and achieve their business objectives.

Preetha also takes pro bono work seriously, and her practice includes cases involving appellate, immigration, family, and employment law as well as IP counseling for nonprofit entities. Preetha currently co-chairs the firm’s Public Service Committee, and she successfully represented Sandra Avery, a woman sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent, low-level drug crime who sought commutation of her sentence from President Barack Obama, reducing her life sentence to time served. Sandra was one of the 95 nonviolent drug offenders to whom Obama granted clemency in December 2015. Preetha was featured in the documentary film The Vanishing Trial by the Families Against Mandatory Minimums and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, released in 2020 in connection with her representation of Sandra. She also received the firm’s 2015 George Bailey Award for her pro bono contributions. In July 2023, Preetha was appointed to The City of New York Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, which works to recruit and encourage diverse and highly qualified persons to serve as a judge of the Criminal, Family, or on an interim basis, the Civil Court.

There are many experiences that form the foundation of Preetha’s interdisciplinary legal practice, but a few stand out: one, her involvement with LawWithoutWalls, a part-virtual collaboration that develops problem-solving and project management business skills necessary to provide effective legal services in today’s global, multidisciplinary, and cross-cultural marketplace. Two, her 2015 selection as a Pathfinder by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a national organization comprised of the legal profession’s top general counsels and managing partners. And three, her service as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 2019-2020.

Career & Education

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Department of Justice: United States Attorneys' Office
Legal Intern, Criminal Division, Southern District of New York, 2011
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson, 2019–2020
- Department of Justice: United States Attorneys' Office
  Legal Intern, Criminal Division, Southern District of New York, 2011
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson, 2019–2020
Brown University, B.A., cum laude, biology and classics
Columbia University, M.A., secondary science education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2012
- Brown University, B.A., cum laude, biology and classics
- Columbia University, M.A., secondary science education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2012
New York
New Jersey
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- New York
- New Jersey
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Professional Activities and Memberships

National Center for Youth Law (NYCL) (Board Member, 2024)

International Trademark Association (INTA), Brands for a Better Society Committee (Member, 2022–2023); Brands & Sustainability Committee (Member, 2024-2025)

National Association of Women Lawyers’ Intellectual Property & Tech Law Affinity Group(Co-Chair, 2021–Present)

New York City Bar Association (Member, Fashion Law Committee, 2015–2018 term; Member, Environmental Law Committee, 2017–2020 term)

New York Intellectual Property Law Association (Member)

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, (Pathfinder Program, 2015; 1L Mentor, 2016)

American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, and Science & Technology Committees (Co-Chair, Cleantech and Climate Change Committee, 2017–2019; Vice-Chair, Food, Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals Committee, 2017–2019)

Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) (Member, Emerging Companies Committee, 2016–2017; 2017–2018 terms)

Fordham University School of Law, Stein Alumni Advisory Board(Member, 2017–2019)

New York Foundling(Junior Board Member, 2010–2018)

Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice(Member, 2010–Present; Advisory Board Chair, 2016–2019)

LawWithoutWalls(Participant, 2012; Alumni Advisor, 2017)
Professional Activities and Memberships
- National Center for Youth Law (NYCL) (Board Member, 2024)
- International Trademark Association (INTA), Brands for a Better Society Committee (Member, 2022–2023); Brands & Sustainability Committee (Member, 2024-2025)
- National Association of Women Lawyers’ Intellectual Property & Tech Law Affinity Group(Co-Chair, 2021–Present)
- New York City Bar Association (Member, Fashion Law Committee, 2015–2018 term; Member, Environmental Law Committee, 2017–2020 term)
- New York Intellectual Property Law Association (Member)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, (Pathfinder Program, 2015; 1L Mentor, 2016)
- American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, and Science & Technology Committees (Co-Chair, Cleantech and Climate Change Committee, 2017–2019; Vice-Chair, Food, Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals Committee, 2017–2019)
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) (Member, Emerging Companies Committee, 2016–2017; 2017–2018 terms)
- Fordham University School of Law, Stein Alumni Advisory Board(Member, 2017–2019)
- New York Foundling(Junior Board Member, 2010–2018)
- Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice(Member, 2010–Present; Advisory Board Chair, 2016–2019)
- LawWithoutWalls(Participant, 2012; Alumni Advisor, 2017)

Preetha's Insights

Press Coverage | 09.10.24

He is the Shoe Surgeon to LeBron, Usher and other stars. Nike says he’s gone too far

Blog Post | 07.26.24
Authorities Go for Gold on Fake Fashion Enforcement as Paris Olympics Begin
Press Coverage | 07.22.24
Nike Fires Warning Shot To Sneaker Artists With Trademark Suit
Blog Post | 07.19.24
Keepin’ it Real: It’s National Anti-Counterfeiting Month

View All Insights

Recognition

City & State New York: The Responsible 100, 2023
Legal 500 United States: Intellectual Property: Trademarks: Non-Contentious (including Prosecution, Portfolio Management and Licensing), 2023, 2024
Legal 500 United States: Media, Technology and Telecoms: Advertising and Marketing: Transactional & Regulatory), 2024
World Trademark Review 1000, 2023
The City of New York Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, 2023
Lawyers Alliance for New York: Cornerstone Award, 2021
New York State Bar Association: Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 2019
South Asian Bar Association: Rising Star Award, 2019
Legal Aid Society: Pro Bono Publico Award, 2016, 2021
Empire State Counsel for Pro Bono Service, 2013 – 2016