Profile: Deborah Hampton, paralegal, Limited Brands, Inc. New York City

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PROFILE

Profile: Deborah Hampton, paralegal, Limited Brands, Inc. New York City [by Regan Morris] Deborah Hampton treats trademarks like living, breathing things that she has helped create—and she’s proud of her creations. LawCrossing talks with the trademark paralegal about her career with Limited Brands Inc., a career that incorporates one of her favorite pastimes—shopping.

Deborah Hampton’s first and only job in-

and this is one of the times I actually get to

it’s a company name. If the company lasts for

terview out of Adelphi University’s Lawyer

incorporate it into what I’m doing for work,”

100, 200 years. I had a hand in that.”

Assistant program in 1982 was with a small

she said. “You have to be aware of who your

boutique intellectual property firm. She

competitors are and reviewing the trendy

Ms. Hampton said to clear a trademark, she

knew nothing about intellectual property and

magazines, the InStyles, the Vogues, etc., to

works with trademark experts and attorneys

trademarks at the time. Now few paralegals

get a sense of what’s hot, what’s not.”

around the world. The more common the name, the more difficult it will be to get it out

know more.

Although her job is relatively new, Ms. HampAn active member of the International Trade-

ton has worked in retail before. Early in her

there as a business or product.

mark Association, Ms. Hampton is respon-

career she worked for Jordache in 1984 and

“The stronger the mark, the more unique,

sible for managing and maintaining Limited

1985. One of the first trademark’s she worked

the more different, the easier that process

Brand Inc.’s Victoria’s Secret trademarks.

on at Jordache was Diesel.

is,” she said. “The more suggestive, the more descriptive or common the mark is the more

Limited Brands’ other trademarks include EXPRESS, Bath & Body Works, The Lim-

“It’s a very strong trademark,” said Ms.

difficult it’s going to be. And because Agere

ited, The White Barn Candle Co., and Henri

Hampton. “I remember getting a rejection

didn’t mean anything and was very unique,

Bendel.

from the trademark office saying that at the

it was a very, very good name to name a

time it was conflicting with another mark

company.”

Ms. Hampton’s job is to conduct global

and I remember drafting a response to the

searches and clearances for new trademarks

trademark office arguing why it should be

Ms. Hampton said she also gets a rush when

and to make sure companies are not infring-

registered and why it shouldn’t be confused

she sees a product in Victoria’s Secret or a

ing on any of Limited Brands’ trademarks

with another mark. And like I said, 20 years

Limited store, where she gets ample dis-

or that Limited is not infringing on some

later it’s still going strong. That’s incredibly

counts and uses them.

other company’s rights. She’s been with

satisfying.”

Limited Brands for just six months, a job she

Ms. Hampton, who has also worked in the

coincidentally got through the LawCrossing

Ms. Hampton said one of her greatest profes-

telecommunications sector for much of her

job search engine. Ms. Hampton was recently

sion accomplishments was being the only

career including a stint at AT&T, said she

named one of the Top 15 Paralegals by para-

non-lawyer on a three-person team respon-

believes she has more responsibility in the

legal author Carole Bruno, who will feature

sible for naming her most recent employer,

corporate world than she might have in a law

the paralegals and their secrets to success in

Agere Systems Inc. She worked non-stop for

firm.

her upcoming book.

almost five months clearing the name around

Ms. Hampton said a “trademark is a compa-

the globe. She likens the experience to having

“In a corporation, the key is you get to know

a child.

your business, the product line and the industry that you’re in and so you get very up close

ny’s greatest asset” and she likes the idea that some of the trademarks she helps create

“It’s a rush,” she said. “It’s almost like having

and personal with it. You get to know the

and protect will be around for 100 years of

a baby. You carry a baby for nine months and

business,” she said. “You have much more

more. With Limited Brands, her shopping

then it’s out there, it’s on its own and it grows

client contact I think. Or you can have more

takes on new meaning

up. You’ve got to let it go. It will succeed or

client contact than in a firm situation. You’re

fail, and I think one of the milestones of my

working with the business people, you work

career is always going to be Agere. Because

with the marketing people and you work with

“Shopping is definitely one of my passions,

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PROFILE

public relations.”

But you can never avoid your clients in a corporation, because they work right down the hall. The most important aspect of corporate trademark work is “getting to know your product inside and out.”

And Ms. Hampton prides herself on studying all the trends in retail and about what products Limited Brand is selling.

For paralegals interested in trademark work, Ms. Hampton said it’s most important to get involved, find a mentor or two and get as much education as you can. Start by joining the International Trademark Association, she said, and checking out for seminars on the organization’s website. If your company or firm won’t send you to the seminar, pay for it yourself and go on vacation time, she said.

In 2004, she served as co-chair of the International Trademark Association’s Trademark Administrators conference. Ms. Hampton said she was honored by the opportunity, especially since she had been attending the conferences since 1986 and was always awed by the panelists and speakers.

“You have to be pro-active,” she said. “I think there’s a tremendous amount that we can do as non attorneys. I think we have to always remember we’re not attorneys but I think we’ve got a tremendous amount of things that we can contribute. And we can have exciting-financially personally and professionally-rewarding careers.”

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