Colorado Law is proud to announce that Sabrina Stavish (’87) is November's Alum of the Month. Stavish is a partner at the Denver-based intellectual property boutique law firm, Sheridan Ross, where she has spent her entire career in trademark brand management and strategy. She has advised clients in nearly every industry on trademarks, copyrights, and domain names.
Stavish, a native New Yorker, attended the State University of New York in Albany where she graduated cum laude with a BS in biology in 1984. After graduating, she contemplated staying in-state and applied to law schools in Buffalo and Albany. However, Stavish was an avid skier and decided to apply to Colorado Law. Once accepted, she called in a favor from a friend with a spare couch in Boulder. She visited on a sunny March day with a foot of fresh powdery snow covering the ground. It didn’t take long for Stavish to become hooked on the Colorado lifestyle and to know that Colorado Law was the right school. Her skis have not been east of the Mississippi since.
At Colorado Law, Stavish initially expected to study environmental law because of her background in biology. However, she quickly developed an interest in intellectual property from her copyright course taught by Professor Emeritus Art Travers. The summer after her first year, Stavish returned to New York and worked for a sole practitioner. While she had a great learning experience, she realized that she wanted to be in Colorado.
After graduation, she clerked for the Boulder District Court before taking her first associate job in 1988. By 1995, Stavish was named a partner at Sheridan Ross. Beyond building a successful legal career during this time, she also married a fellow Colorado Law alum and they had three children.
During her 27 years at Sheridan Ross, Stavish has seen the firm grow from 10 attorneys to more than 50 today. She has filed approximately 3,200 trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She works with clients across the country, and regularly prepares licensing agreements, software agreements, intellectual property transfer agreements, consulting agreements, marketing agreements, and corporate sponsorship agreements for international companies. She has worked with some clients throughout her entire career; one such client is Eagle Claw, a Denver-based fishing hooks company.
When Stavish is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children in their Denver home. Her children also share her love of skiing. Copper Mountain is her favorite place to ski, and she plans on trying helicopter skiing this winter. During the summer, Stavish trades her skis for her road bike. Finally, as much as she loves and calls Colorado home, Stavish always looks for a chance to explore and travel.
What is your fondest memory at Colorado Law?
Moving to beautiful Boulder for a small school experience at a large university. Also, I enjoyed the change from studying science, where memorization was essential, to the challenge of arguing both sides of a legal issue. Most importantly, I met my husband, Ted.
What do you know now that you wish you had known in law school?
To be confident in your abilities and know that you can figure things out. Also, the need to get out and meet others, to be yourself, and to be persistent.
What advice would you give to current students as they prepare to graduate?
Look for mentors that will spend time with you and teach you the law, strategy, and client management.
Who was the biggest influence on your career?
My first real job was with Judge Joseph Bellipanni in Boulder District Court. Judge Bellipanni considered both sides of an issue, had a no-nonsense manner, was not afraid to change his mind, and let people be heard. After a year of watching Judge Bellipanni’s thoughtful work, I felt ready to start work in a law firm.
Of what accomplishment are you most proud?
Managing to create a great family and career. I am proud of my husband and three kids (Sam, Carina, and Luke) and my co-workers at Sheridan Ross, especially my team of trademark/copyright attorneys.