Michael C. Cerrati

 

Mr. Cerrati practices in Belzer PC’s Hilton Head, South Carolina office, regularly advising domestic and international trademark and copyright owners on the proper selection, clearance, use, licensing, and protection of their intellectual property both in the U.S. and abroad. He frequently prosecutes trademark applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, together with state trademark filings, and coordinates foreign trademark filings worldwide. He manages intellectual property portfolios for established corporations and assists startups and entrepreneurs in developing strategies for branding their new businesses. He also serves as U.S. counsel for a number of leading intellectual property firms from Europe to Southeast Asia, assisting with the prosecution and protection of their clients’ trademarks in the U.S.

 

Mr. Cerrati litigates intellectual property and business disputes in state and federal courts. He has handled all aspects of litigation, from trademark and copyright litigation in federal court to successfully representing corporations and regional lenders in contentious litigation proceedings in state court. He routinely represents trademark clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, as well as in domain name disputes in a variety of forums. Mr. Cerrati’s litigation experience allows him to counsel clients effectively on complex business decisions and guide them through transactions with an emphasis on minimizing future conflicts and protecting the trade secrets, methods, systems, products, and intellectual property developed over the course of the relationship.

 

Prior to joining Belzer PC, Mr. Cerrati was a partner at Jolley Law Group, LLC, where he founded the firm’s intellectual property practice.  Mr. Cerrati is admitted to practice law in South Carolina and California.  He is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), a member of the South Carolina Bar Solo and Small Firm Section Council, and a board member of The First Tee of the Lowcountry.  He graduated from the University of Vermont in 2001, and Southwestern University School of Law (Los Angeles, CA) Cum Laude in 2005.  Before returning to his home on Hilton Head, Mr. Cerrati worked in private practice and in-house at music and film studios in Los Angeles gaining a strong foundation in the entertainment industry. This knowledge enables him to represent artists, musicians, producers and executives in this rapidly developing industry.