Atlanta attorney Katie Bates of the law firm Meunier Carlin & Curfman LLC has been selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (“ABF”), an honorary organization of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars who demonstrate the highest principles of the legal profession and outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities.

Katie’s practice spans all substantive areas of intellectual property law, including copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret law, along with advising clients on cybersecurity and privacy matters.  She litigates cases throughout the United States and has established herself as a skilled advocate for clients involved in high-stakes intellectual property disputes.  Informed by her work on IP disputes, Katie provides her clients with trusted advice on how to protect their IP assets and develop long-term protection and capitalization strategies.  Before joining Meunier Carlin & Curfman, Katie was with an AmLaw 100 firm in Atlanta.  

Katie is a Barrister in the Atlanta IP Inn of Court; an Associate Member of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society whose membership is limited to less than one-half of one percent of North American lawyers, judges, and scholars; and seven times has been named by Super Lawyers for her Intellectual Property practice.  Katie is a Member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s IP Law Section and has been Chair of the State Bar IP Law Section’s Copyright Committee since 2014. 

Katie is active with the non-profit Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she most recently served as President of the Board of Directors and remains a Member of the Board, and with the non-profit Coralwood Foundation, where she has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2015.  Katie is a regular community volunteer and supporter, serving such organizations as the Girl Scout Council of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Science Festival, the Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, and with social service projects directed to addressing hunger and underserved populations.

The American Bar Foundation (“ABF”) is an honorary society composed of just one percent of lawyers in each jurisdiction.  ABF Fellows are attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars who have demonstrated excellence in their careers and dedication to their community.  Members are nominated by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation.  ABF Fellows support the research of the American Bar Foundation and sponsor seminars and events of direct relevance to the legal profession.