Five minutes with… Sharon Urias, Greenspoon Marder

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Five minutes with… Sharon Urias, Greenspoon Marder

Sharon-Urias-Headshot-NEW-2022.jpg

Sharon Urias tells us why she still has to explain the difference between copyright and trademarks

Welcome to the latest instalment of Managing IP’s ‘Five minutes with’ series, where we learn more about IP practitioners on a personal as well as a professional level. This time we have Sharon Urias, partner at Greenspoon Marder in the US.

Someone asks you at a party what you do for a living. What do you say?

I am an IP lawyer that specialises in trademarks.

Talk us through a typical working day.

My typical working day is not very exciting. I usually have several scheduled calls throughout the day with clients or other attorneys, and meetings with my associate and paralegal. I am often revising or drafting briefs, motions, letters, or other documents. I rarely get through my daily ‘to-do’ list because new items always come up.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am in the process of settling a trademark infringement case and preparing for depositions in another infringement case.

Does one big piece of work usually take priority or are you juggling multiple things?

I typically juggle multiple things at once. Priority goes to the matter(s) with the nearest deadlines, not necessarily the biggest piece of work.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role and what is the most stressful?

The most exciting aspect of my role is working through novel and challenging legal issues and developing winning strategies, particularly in trademark cases.

Tell us the key characteristics that make a successful IP lawyer/practitioner.

I think one of the most important characteristics of a successful IP lawyer is the ability to think outside the box and think of creative strategies and solutions for clients. It goes without saying that a successful IP lawyer also needs to stay up to date on current law.

What is the most common misconception about IP?

Confusion between copyrights and trademarks! I have explained the difference between the two countless times.

What or who inspires you?

I am inspired by clients with exciting, innovative ideas. I love being a part of the whole process, from conception to reality, seeing new ideas and concepts come to life.

If you weren’t in IP, what would you be doing?

I would just be a commercial litigator wishing that I were in IP!

Any advice you would give your younger self?

Stay focused not just on the area of practice that interests you, but also on the industries that inspire you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, it takes time to develop the confidence and expertise to achieve success!

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

In major recent developments, the court also ruled on another request concerning access to documents and appointed a new panel to the Court of Appeal
A new foundation in Chile is giving women in the IP community the mentorship, and visibility they’ve long lacked
The EUIPO is keen to stress the benefits of mediation as a means of resolving IP disputes, but do roadblocks remain?
Åsa Gustafson, global patent paralegal manager at Zacco, provides insight into the world of a paralegal, explains how she keeps abreast of legal developments, and reveals a passion for weaving
Alif Gultom and Andrew Diamond of Januar Jahja & Partners explain why Indonesia must adopt reforms against bad-faith filings and safeguard its trademark system for the future
In the third episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss the ‘Women in IP’ network and the current state of diversity within the profession
Practitioners, including two ex USPTO directors, say the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act could restore clarity and predictability to US patent law, though concerns remain
News of an alliance between two Malaysian law firms and the launch of a self-help video aimed at supporting IP professionals through menopause were also among the top talking points
Speakers at the EUIPO’s IP Mediation Conference discussed how lawyers can act in tandem with clients during mediation, and the importance of showing a united front
A report that revealed top legal LinkedIn influencers are generating hundreds of thousands in advertising value is the push lawyers need to up their social media presence
Gift this article