Kay Collins is an intellectual property attorney practicing in the areas of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition. She has been associated with Santangelo Law Offices for twelve years.  Kay specializes in trademark law.  She has managed all aspects of trademark selection, clearance, registration and protection for a variety of clients.  She has prosecuted over 200 trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and also pursues and defends infringement actions.  Kay helps clients develop a global trademark portfolio strategy and works with foreign trademark counsel in prosecuting international trademark applications.  In addition Kay counsels clients on trade dress, product configuration, trade secret and copyright protection, as well as domain name strategies and dispute resolution.

Kay’s transactional experience includes conducting trademark clearance searches and preparing trademark opinions, negotiating and preparing licenses, coexistence agreements, co-branding agreements, confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-competition agreements, intellectual property and technology transfers, database user agreements, purchase agreements, manufacturing agreements, and work made for hire agreements.   She works with intellectual property issues in mergers, acquisitions and like contexts.

In addition Kay has litigated trademark disputes, prepared cases for litigation before the Federal District Court of Colorado and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, drafted a variety of pleadings and motions, researched and written trial and appellate briefs, negotiated and prepared settlement agreements, assisted as a trademark specialist in trials and appeals and resolved inter partes disputes before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Kay was a key individual in the firm team that successfully defended 1 800-SKI-VAIL against Vail Resort's attempt to own all uses of the term "VAIL" in the case of Vail Resorts, Inc. v Vend Tel Co. A representative work that a client has permitted to be listed includes a Brief for Defendants-Appellees in the Vail Associates, Inc. v. Vend Tel Co. case. 

Prior to joining Santangelo Law Offices, Kay practiced business and real estate law in Fort Collins.  Kay enjoys the cutting edge aspect of intellectual property law and loves the creativity of her clients.  When not practicing law, Kay likes to indulge the right side of her brain by writing humorous rhymes.  She also has a passion for mission work, and has made several trips to the Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, where she works with AIDS patients and records the life stories of the inspirational people she meets. 

Practice Areas
Intellectual property, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition

Education
Juris Doctor, University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO 1979
Bachelor of Arts in History, Cum Laude, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 1976, Phi Alpha Theta; Phi Kappa Phi.

Admitted to Practice
All Colorado courts, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado and U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Membership
Member, Larimer County and Colorado Bar Associations (Intellectual Property Section)
Member, International Trademark Association Member, Board of Directors TEAM Fort Collins (drug and alcohol prevention for youth) Elder, Fort Collins First Presbyterian Church, Member Missions and Outreach Center, Active volunteer with Faith Alive USA, Inc. (organizes fundraising and mission trips to Jos, Nigeria), past member of the Eighth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission, Volunteer, Poudre School District in many capacities.