Meet the team: Sabrina Rak, Senior Associate, Trade Mark Attorney

As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talked to recently appointed trade mark attorney and senior associate Sabrina Rak about why she chose a career in IP, the challenges involved in advising pharmaceutical clients on global brand protection, and success at the EUIPO.

Sabrina toyed with a career as a vet growing up and considered studying biology or chemistry before setting her sights on the law. While studying for her degree, she had the chance to work at one of the leading IP boutiques in Munich and decided her future was as a trade mark attorney.

“There were no lawyers in my family but I loved crime series as a child and that inspired me to pursue a legal career,” she explains. “I think I would have enjoyed being a public prosecutor but working alongside trade mark attorneys, I found IP grabbed my interest - I could see how strategic the work was and the importance of strong brand protection to a company’s success.”

Sabrina went on to qualify in 2019 and over the last seven years has mainly advised on trade mark and competition law, supporting clients in the strategic development, registration and enforcement of their intellectual property rights.

A global perspective 

“Every case is different and presents a new challenge, mixing legal analysis and commercial insight,” she says. “I love the international nature of my work – I’ve advised a lot of US clients, including start-ups from Silicon Valley, as well as Chinese businesses and those from across Europe.

“I have acted for a number of large pharmaceutical and life sciences companies that typically operate in a global marketplace. From the outset, I support trade mark clearances in Germany and the EU, helping clients build a pathway towards worldwide protection. Because securing a trade mark that works identically at a global level can be challenging, it’s important that our searches are conducted with an in‑depth understanding of the specific requirements of the pharmaceuticals sector, while at the same time tailoring each search to the client’s individual branding strategy, risk profile, and commercial objectives.“

Sabrina also represents clients in proceedings before German courts, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the courts of the European Union.

“One of the most interesting cases I have worked on involved a well known fashion brand where we obtained a decision from EUIPO that demonstrated the company’s established reputation in the EU for jewellery and perfumes and prevented other businesses from using similar trade marks to provide other types of goods and services. The bar for this is high, requiring substantial, concrete evidence that a significant proportion of consumers in the EU recognises the mark.”

As well as advising established brands, Sabrina also enjoys working with new ventures. “Some of the most memorable matters are those where I can help shape a brand from the earliest stages, guiding the client through trade mark clearances and filing strategies, through to global protection,” she explains.

“Naturally clients will want to have quick and clear answers as to how they can proceed. The challenge for a trade mark attorney is to deliver that without compromising on quality - a constant but motivating aspect of my job.”

Sabrina joined Mewburn Ellis in April this year, attracted by the firm’s “progressive and youthful spirit”.

“Trade mark attorneys are seeing digital tools and AI in particular, making a lot of difference to our working lives. It is getting easier to filter and prepare information quickly and efficiently,” she says.

“We are seeing rapid changes and I’m intrigued to see how these advances will continue to shape what we do. One of the key things that attracted me to Mewburn Ellis is that they are so open to new ways of working and new technology. It's a very modern and progressive firm.”

Trade mark attorneys in Germany train for eight to ten years before qualification. Sabrina passed her First State Examination in Bavaria after studying law at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and undertook a two-year legal traineeship in Munich and San Francisco before completing her Second State Examination.

“Like a lot of lawyers in Germany, I am quite ambitious – there is so much studying involved in qualification and exams are tough so you have to be committed to make it,” she says. “I’ve brought the same attitude to my work with clients – I always do my best every day to come up with pragmatic and effective solutions.”

Exploring new places

When Sabrina isn’t working, she loves to explore Munich’s vibrant restaurant scene.

“When I have the opportunity, I enjoy finding new places to eat,” she says. “We have great restaurants here in Munich, so there’s a lot to choose from. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, discovering the world, whilst also appreciating those quiet moments at home or simply catching up with friends.”