Thomas Jefferson School of Law 1996 Graduate to be Next Lawyers Club of San Diego President
June 1, 2018
A 1996 graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law is the next Lawyers Club of San Diego President, taking office July 1, 2018. Recipient of multiple Director’s Scholarships for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Cotman was also on the Honor Roll each semester and received Honorary Recognition in the National Dean’s List. She was awarded the Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Scholastic Excellence in Torts, the American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Procedure II and was a Participant in the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, ATLA, & Intra-Mural Mock Trials. During law school she also served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable John S. Rhoades in the United States District Court, Southern Division, and as a Certified Legal Intern for the Office of the District Attorney in San Diego. She graduated 8th in her class in December 1996 and passed the bar June of 1997.
Cotman’s initiative, industry, intelligence and integrity are key to her success as female owner of ARC IP LAW, PC, a boutique intellectual property (IP) law firm in La Jolla. Her collaborative approach with clients and within her practice cultivates long relationships and inclusivity.
With clients spanning industries from medical devices to fashion, she represents companies, both established and startups, in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret portfolio development and monetization; Intellectual Property litigation including infringement proceedings and cease and desist matters; licensing negotiations; Non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s); International Trade Commission (ITC) customs enforcement anti-counterfeit efforts; internet agreements (such as end user license agreements and terms of use) and general contract and business matters and disputes. She collaborates with her husband and Patent Agent Joe Mayo on proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board for inter partes reviews and other patent matters. As a team, Cotman and Mayo have presented multiple times to the students at UCSD on intellectual property and actively mentor individuals interested in intellectual property as a profession.
Her Lawyers Club involvement over the years has included VP Community Relations, co-chair of Professional Advancement, Bylaws, and Membership committees, participation in numerous other LC Committees including Annual Dinner, Mentorship, Leadership Development, Awards, Community Outreach, Women’s Advocacy, Work Life Balance, and Champagne and Chocolate, among others. As Past President and Board Member of La Jolla Bar Association Cotman worked closely with the board to provide many MCLE presentations for the members. Cotman has served pro bono as a Temporary Judge in San Diego Superior Court Small Claims since 2007.
She holds a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law 1996 where she graduated with honors, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from California Coast University (while attending law school), a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing (BSBA) from Chapman University in Orange County, and an Associate of Arts (AA) in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
She is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, was President of the La Jolla Bar Association in 2008, has been a VIP member with National Association of Professional Women and is involved in a number of intellectual property related organizations such as INTA and AIPLA. Cotman has presented and moderated at the Asian Patent Attorney Association (APAA) annual meeting which is attended by patent attorneys from around the world.
To maintain a level perspective and manage stress of running a law practice, she is an avid yogi who attends regular classes and occasionally teaches handstand acrobatics class at Prana Yoga in La Jolla, does ballet when she can fit it in her schedule, and enjoys regular outdoor activities such as jogging, surfing, hiking, and bicycling to work.