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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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