Megan C. Hymore
Partner
Megan is an intellectual property, advertising, and venture attorney in Ulmer’s Venture Law Practice Group. She counsels founders at all stages, from invention and entity formation to exit or IPO.
Megan provides definitive and actionable IP advice relating to clearance, use, ownership, agreements, protection, and enforcement strategies related to trademarks, trade dress, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. On the trademark side, Megan assists a wide range of clients, from those choosing a company name and forming a legal entity to those with an established global trademark portfolio who are actively licensing and asserting their trademarks and trade dress. On the advertising side, Megan helps clients with regulatory compliance such as advertising claim substantiation (e.g., ESG-related claims), ratings & reviews, and influencer marketing. Megan is also a registered patent attorney and helps clients discover patentable subject matter.
Megan spent her first 12 years practicing law as in-house counsel for The Procter & Gamble Co. Leveraging this brand-building experience, Megan uses a creative and progressive approach to the development of IP, and helps startup, venture-backed, and growth-stage companies develop comprehensive IP, branding, advertising, and regulatory strategies that support their vision and business needs.
An investor herself, Megan enjoys helping companies preparing to raise capital check the IP and competition due-diligence boxes as well as create a right-sized, executable IP roadmap and budget.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Miami University
(B.A.S., 2004)
- Chicago-Kent College of Law
(J.D., 2007)
Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Identifies and advises clients with respect to the risks and rewards of IP ownership, prosecution, and protection strategies.
- Counsels clients as to securement, ownership, licensing, avoidance of infringement, dispute resolution, and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
- Manages large IP portfolios, including extensive patent portfolios, for domestic and international corporate clients.
- Helps navigate partnerships and development with external parties by supporting commercial contracts as well as mergers and acquisitions.
- Provides regulatory (FTC, FDA, EPA) compliance guidance, such as advice regarding packaging, labeling, advertising claims, ratings and reviews, influencers, and endorsements.
- Provides guidance regarding marketing, advertising, charitable donations, promotions, contests, sweepstakes, claim substantiation, ratings and reviews, testimonials, and endorsements.
- Resolves advertising disagreements between competitors and successfully manages advertising disputes before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau (U.S.).
- Handles consumer complaints alleging false advertising, such as threatened class actions and California CLRA claims.
- Negotiates celebrity talent and influencer agreements, branded entertainment and media deals, and sponsorship agreements.
- Resolves advertising disagreements between competitors and successfully manages advertising disputes before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau.
- Handles consumer complaints alleging false advertising, such as threatened class actions and California CLRA claims.
Involvement
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- NextUp (formerly Network of Executive Women)
- Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (Class XXIV)
- Ohio Women’s Bar Foundation (Leadership Institute, Class of 2018-2019)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Alloy Development Co. (formerly HCDC, Inc./Hamilton County Development Co, Inc.) (Mentor)
- Miami University College of Engineering and Computing (External Advisory Council)