Karin Scherner Aldama

Karin focuses her practice on commercial and appellate litigation, with particular emphasis on complex commercial cases and issues relating to intellectual property and privacy protection as well as cross-border disputes. She also has extensive experience with privilege law issues, including in the international context, and is a frequent lecturer on the topic.

Karin represents Fortune 500, large and mid-size companies across a wide range of industries, including the aerospace, software, search engine, and semiconductor industries. In addition to extensive experience representing clients in various state and federal courts, Karin provides representation in alternative dispute resolution, including international arbitration.

Karin is a member of the boards of the Federal Bar Association's Phoenix Chapter and the Herberger Theater Center, and of the Steering Committee of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association’s Maricopa Chapter. She is also active with respect to diversity issues, including by serving on the firm’s diversity committees.

Karin is a contributing author to the firm's IP litigation blog, IP Litigation Update.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Intellectual Property and Privacy

• Successfully represented nutraceutical company in complex dispute involving issues of trademark infringement and breach of contract. Case settled on terms favorable to client.
• Successfully assisted education company in having defamatory and disparaging material removed from third-party website.
• Counseled education company with respect to third-party website that infringed the client’s trademarks and copyrights.

• Assisted defense of multi-national microprocessor manufacturer in multi-district litigation involving antitrust claims brought by a competitor and multiple putative class plaintiffs. Settled.
• Represented internet company in class-action litigation involving breach of contract claims. Settled.
• Defended semiconductor company in dispute involving contract for the joint development of components for optical switch product. Settled on favorable terms shortly after deposition of key witnesses for plaintiffs.
• Obtained dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction of case involving claims of conspiracy, bribery of foreign officials, and defamation. Case settled pending appeal.
• Lead attorney in jury trial for pro bono client asserting civil rights claims against prison officials.

• Successfully vacated recall and restitution provisions of preliminary injunction issued in trademark infringement case. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that district courts must also consider the burden of the recall and whether the public faces substantial danger as a result of the alleged infringement.
• Represents several clients in appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Professional Recognition

• Arizona's Finest Lawyers, 2011

Professional Leadership

• Phoenix Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
  • President, 2009 - 2010
  • Officer, 2005 - 2009
  • Board Member, 2005 - Present
• Arizona Women Lawyers Association
  • Steering Committee 
  • Professional Development Committee, 2010 - 2011
• Foundation of Federal Bar Association, Fellow
• Perkins Coie Strategic Diversity Committee, Member
• Phoenix Diversity Committee, Perkins Coie, Chair, 2008 - 2011
• Admitted to the state bars of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, inactive
• International Association of Privacy Professionals

Community Involvement

• Herberger Theater Center, Board of Directors and Member of Finance Committee
• Women's Metropolitan Arts Council, Member

Related Employment

• Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2001 - 2004
• Georgetown University Law Center, Adjunct Professor, U.S. Legal Discourse, 2000 - 2001
• Georgetown University Law Center, Office of Legal Research and Writing, Senior Law Fellow; 1999 - 2000; Law Fellow, 1998 - 1999

Clerkships

• Hon. Frank E. Schwelb, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2000 - 2001