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Practice Focus
Maria’s practice concentrates on the rapidly changing areas of technology and intellectual property litigation, transactions and counseling. She also provides strategic counseling and general corporate representation to start-up and emerging companies. A significant portion of Maria’s practice involves advising clients on matters involving domain names, consumer privacy, electronic contracting, intellectual property protection, licensing and transferring, web site development and maintenance, web site audits, co-branding, strategic alliances, hosting, data protection and electronic communications in the workplace.
Maria's practice also includes litigation involving non-competition agreements, theft of trade secrets, unfair and deceptive business practices, and trademark and copyright infringement in both state and federal courts. She also practices before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Maria lectures and writes regularly on intellectual property, Internet, e-commerce, electronic communications and related topics.Sample Matters
Counsel to a number of businesses in connection with privacy and data security regulation and compliance, including consumer privacy, data security breaches, and e-commerce-related issues.
Counsel to software and web site developers with regard to development, license and maintenance agreements.
Counsel a number of businesses in connection with the recovery of domain names from cybersquatters and on domain name strategies, domain name acquisition and the protection of intellectual property rights on the Internet, including through international proceedings of ICANN.
Education
B. A., Wellesley College
J. D., Boston College Law School
Honors
Maria was the recipient of The Boston Lawyers Group Award as the first Latina to become a partner in a member firm in 1996. The Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys recognized her in 2003 with its Las Primeras Award for her unique contributions, vision and leadership within the Latino community in Massachusetts. In 2005-2006, Maria was selected by Law & Politics as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, and in 2007 a New England Super Lawyer, both in the field of Intellectual Property. She was selected as one of the "Top Ten Women Lawyers in Boston" by Women's Business Boston in 2007. She received the 2007 Diversity Heroes Award given by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the Massachusetts Bar Association at their annual Excellence in the Law event, which celebrates achievement and distinction in the profession.
Memberships and Admissions
Maria is admitted to practice in Massachusetts. She is a former Trustee of the Boston Bar Foundation, and a member of the Boston Bar Foundation Society of Fellows. Maria chaired the Boston Bar Journal's Board of Editors (2001-2004) and served as a member of the Council of the Boston Bar Association (1999-2002). She is a member of the Boston Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys, and the Hispanic National Bar Association, where she formerly chaired its Internet/E-Commerce Committee.
Community Involvement
Maria has been active in a number of community organizations, including The YMCA of Greater Boston, where she has volunteered as a tutor/mentor in its Education & Training Program, and as a panelist in Bar-sponsored programs. She is Past-President and a former member of the Board of Directors of the South Shore Women's Business Network in Massachusetts. Maria is currently serving on the Wellesley Development and Outreach Council, an advisory council to the Board of Trustees, the President and the Office of Resources and Public Affairs of Wellesley College. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Boston Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, ALPHA. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Boston/International Institute of New Hampshire.
Maria is a native of Managua, Nicaragua, and is fluent in Spanish.
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