Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Stites & Harbison was named to The Patent Lawyer Magazine’s 2024 Top 10 Patent Firms and IP Practices in North America-South list for the third year! Stites & Harbison’s patent attorneys counsel clients on matters relating to domestic and international intellectual property issues and assist them in securing domestic and international patent rights. Click the link below for more information. https://lnkd.in/e_Q2kjin #patentlawyer #intellectualproperty #patents

From Churchill Downs to the Kentucky Oaks, IADC members connected at the Derby! Sarah Spurlock, Trent Spurlock, Past President Rob Hunter, Acacia Perko, Whitney Frazier Watt, and Dana Hulbert Dana Hulbert connected in the wild while attending various Kentucky Derby events. #IADConnects is all about collegiality, connection, and doing so casually. This is the perfect example of all three. When you are a member of the IADC, you always have a friend somewhere! 

How is NFL superstar Travis Kelce blocking the registration of his own trademarks? Like many celebrities, Kelce has filed trademark applications for his various catchphrases and nicknames, only to face initial refusals due to the likelihood of confusion with his existing marks. While it may seem like a no-brainer for a celebrity to trademark their name and catchphrases, there are often obstacles that arise in such cases, as one of the most basic and fundamental purposes of trademark registration is to establish exclusive rights for a particular mark. In this Stites & Harbison Client Alert, author Donovan Gibbs, JD explores how entities can navigate and overcome these trademark registration hurdles. Read the full Client Alert at the following link: https://lnkd.in/eARgy7_J #trademarklaw #traviskelce #intellectualproperty

How can employers prepare for and ensure compliance with the latest changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act? On April 23, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to increase the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees, with future increases planned. This change, which is effective July 1, 2024, will also impact highly compensated employees and includes overtime protection for millions of lower-paid salaried workers. Similar past efforts have faced legal challenges, and this latest adjustment may also be contested. In this Stites & Harbison Client Alert, author Shannon Hamilton details the final rule’s elements, significance, and potential impacts on employers. Read the full Client Alert below: https://lnkd.in/eHVpz6tE #employmentlaw #FLSA #DOL

As Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis Program continues to unfold, what are the next steps for businesses looking to participate? On April 17, Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 829, amending Kentucky's Medical Cannabis Program to expedite the licensing process for medical cannabis businesses and allowing businesses to apply for licensure as early as July 1, 2024. New emergency regulations were also filed to guide the application process for cannabis business licenses, which will be open from July 1 to August 31, 2024. These steps aim to ensure that medical cannabis products are available to patients by January 1, 2025. In this Stites & Harbison Client Alert, author Jennifer Cave details these updates and how they may impact businesses looking to enter Kentucky's medical cannabis industry. Read the full Client Alert at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gkecFiCV #medicalcannibas #cannabislaw #kentuckycannabis

Stites & Harbison recently appointed Carol Browning as Chair of the firm’s Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Litigation Group. Carol is a Member based in Stites & Harbison’s Louisville, Ky., office. She is an accomplished trial attorney who has tried more than 35 cases to jury verdict in multiple jurisdictions. Carol’s practice includes drug and medical device litigation, products liability, and medical malpractice defense. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, North America’s preeminent organization of trial lawyers. Click the link below to learn more. https://lnkd.in/eN6HMD_r #litigationattorney #productsliability #stitesattorneys

As a firm, we are always looking for ways to help our clients accomplish their sustainability goals and objectives. We are pleased to leverage our involvement with CEBA to do so.

What is the scope of the FTC's final rule on non-compete agreements, and what does it mean for businesses and employees? On April 23rd, the FTC issued a final rule banning the use of non-compete agreements nationwide, with limited exceptions. Set to take effect 120 days after publication in the Federal Register, this rule is already being faced with legal challenges. In this Stites & Harbison Client Alert, authors Robin McGuffin and Zachary Losey discuss the intricacies of the FTC's rule, its key points, and its complications. Click below to read the full Client Alert: https://lnkd.in/eJkBGtU6 #FTC #noncompetes #corporatelaw 

Stites & Harbison is proud to be a small part of the Lex Mundi Pro-Bono Foundation!