Kevin J. Collette

Bio
Articles
Professional Activies
Credentials
Hobbies & Interests

Assisting businesses with strategies to grow domestically and internationally while helping to protect, enforce and obtain trademarks and other I.P. rights.

With a Seattle presence, Kevin is a well-known business, trademark and franchise lawyer. He advises clients on a full range of legal issues including business and deal structures; trademarking; franchising; advertising, selling, licensing and distributing goods, services, technologies and intellectual properties; start-up and emerging businesses; mergers and acquisitions; real estate; and bringing businesses into the U.S. or to international markets.

Kevin represents numerous traditional businesses as their business attorney, from startups to multi-national companies, through all stages of growth. He has a large domestic and international trademark and intellectual property practice with thousands of successful registrations and enforcements. Kevin is a highly respected franchise and distribution lawyer, working with franchises throughout the U.S. and in most countries around the world. He has long been recognized as one of Seattle’s leading technology lawyers.

Kevin served as Chair of our Business Practice Group for 23 years, and currently leads the firm’s Trademarks, Franchise, and Technology Teams. Kevin’s practice emphasizes being a responsive problem solver and trusted advisor with a positive attitude. He is a deal maker who understands business realities and technologies. Present a complex problem and goal to Kevin and he will provide the options and devise the strategy and proper vehicle for your solution in Humanese Over Legalese.™

Representative Experience

Obtained thousands of trademark registrations and licenses in U.S. and foreign countries.
Established numerous franchise concepts with registrations in U.S. and in foreign countries.
Handled hundreds of sales, mergers, and purchases of businesses.
Prepared numerous patent, software, technology and Internet licenses and agreements.
Created numerous business-to-business and business-to-consumer arrangements and outsourcing arrangements, software and hardware, I.T. consulting, e-commerce, website hosting and development, telecommunications, Internet and eCommerce agreements relating to terms of use, privacy, social networks, data scraping, cloud computing, advertising and domain name agreements.
Formed and maintained hundreds of business entities.
Undertaken collateralization of numerous foreign and domestic loans.
Negotiated hundreds of leases in office buildings, shopping centers and malls.
Prepared numerous relationship documents, including employment, shareholder, deferred compensation, stock option, profit interest, invention, confidentiality, strategic alliance, non-intervention, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements.
Long-term representation of over 35 years with clients in trade groups such as franchising, distribution, advertising, freight forwarders, manufacturers and foundries, real estate developers and brokers, investors, family trusts, software developers, inventors, retailers, restaurants, consultants, computer services providers, and home medical providers.
Former Northwest U.S. and Western Canada Alumni Chair of BYU Law School
Former National Representative of Beta Theta Pi

Honors & Awards

Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) – one of the select attorneys to be awarded the designation by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives, an affiliate of the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation (2004-2010)
Washington CEO Magazine, “Top Lawyers in Washington”
Seattle Magazine, “Top Lawyer”
Named to Washington Super Lawyer® list
Recipient of the Who’s Who Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for Unwavering Excellence (2017)
Listed in the following:
- Continental Who’s Who Registry of National Business Leaders – VIP Member
- Madison’s Who’s Who
- Madison’s Who’s Who Among Professionals and Executives – Honors Edition
- International Executive Guild’s Who’s Who
- Who’s Who in America
- Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America
- Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys
- International Who’s Who
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Men of Achievement
- Directory of Intellectual Property Lawyers and Patent Agents
- Who’s Who in the Computer Industry
- Washington’s International Trade Directory
- International Who’s Who of Professionals
- Fellow of North American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- International Registry of Outstanding Professionals
- Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals
- Who’s Who Legal U.S.A.

Articles

Six Questions to Ask if You’re Wondering Whether to Protect Your Trademarks in the Metaverse (June, 2022)
CBD Update 2020 – U.S. Trademark Registrations Still Denied for Foods and Dietary Supplements with Hemp-Derived CBD (November, 2020)
Why the Supreme Court Approved a U.S. Trademark for Booking.com (July, 2020)
Final Rule on Joint Employer Status (January, 2020)
No More ‘Double-Dip:’ FIPA Ensures Franchisees Receive ‘Fair and Reasonable Prices’ in Washington (October, 2019)
New U.S. Trademark Rule Requires U.S.-Licensed Counsel for Foreign Applicants (July, 2019)
How Do You Register and Enforce U.S. Trademarks? (April, 2019)
Copyright Registration Now Required to Recover Infringement Damages (April, 2019)
Guide for Starting a New Business in Washington State (March, 2017)
7 Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Brand (February, 2017)
Limited Partnerships in Washington State (July, 2016)
Trademark Registration - When You Should Consider Registering With the State? (June, 2016)
Guide for Businesses Using Testimonials and Endorsements (June, 2016)
How to File Foreign Trademarks Properly in the United States (June, 2016)
Online Privacy Issues for Franchisors and Franchisees (June, 2015)
Licensor's Quality Control (May, 2013)
Cease and Desist Letter for Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition or Claim of Dilution (May, 2013)
U.S. Franchising Basics (April, 2012)

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Professional Activities

Member, International Trademark Association (Public Information Committee)
Member, International Franchise Association (and Supplier Forum)
Member, various American Bar Association sections including Forum on Franchising, Small Business, Intellectual Property, Corporate Governance (Current Events and Emergency Issues Committee), and Cyberspace law sections
Former President and Emcee of Northwest Entrepreneurs Network
Former Northwest U.S. and Western Canada Alumni Chair of BYU Law School
Former National Representative of Beta Theta Pi

Frequent speaker and author on such topics as:

drafting contracts in plain English
trademark protection and enforcement tips worldwide
starting and growing business enterprises
franchising and distribution strategies
representing franchisees
advanced licensing, cloud computing
eCommerce and Internet issues
advanced start-up business issues
strategic alliances and when to use them
entity selection and formation inside strategies
using limited liability companies (versus S Corporations)
raising private and venture capital
mergers and acquisitions
law office management
professional responsibility
use of technology in the practice of law

Credentials

Education

Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
(J.D., cum laude, 1980)
University of Washington
(B.A., cum laude, 1977)
Phi Beta Kappa

Admitted to Practice

Hobbies & Interests

Kevin joined Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland in 1980 upon graduation from law school. He loves the firm, the people, the client contacts and the practice of law.

Part of a Group on a Bike, Ahead of the Pack in Practice

Kevin has been mountain biking for many years. He and fellow bikers often meet at trails, then start pedaling. “We try to go to places we’ve never been,” says Kevin. “Most of the riding we do is single track with plenty of mud.” He also enjoys hiking, basketball, baseball, golf, church and family activities. Kevin is very active in community service for individuals and the those in need.

Long before most lawyers knew something called the “New Economy” existed, Kevin was representing technology clients driving that economy. He helped form and was President and Emcee of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, a nonprofit organization of financiers, managers, marketing specialists and other professionals that help emerging businesses obtain capital and management talent and refine their business plans.

Practice Areas: