Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California; Juris Doctor (JD)
Master of Business Administration (MBA) from California Coast University in Santa Ana, California
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BS) from Chapman University in Orange, California
Associate of Arts (AA) in Fashion Design from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
American Bar Association (ABA)
Federal Bar Association (FBA)
2015-2018 board member of the Lawyers Club of San Diego
Past president of the La Jolla Bar Association (LJBA)
Judge Pro Tem San Diego Superior Court San Diego Traffic and Small Claims
National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) VIP Member
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Device Alliance
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
International Trademark Association (INTA)
California Women Lawyers (CWL)
San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA)
Board member of the San Diego Circus Center (SDCC)
Corpus Juris Secundum award in Torts 1992-1993
Outstanding Student for School of Business and Economics award
Director’s Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement: 1992-3
Director’s Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement: 1995-6
Honor Roll: Fall 1992 to Spring 1995
Honorary Recognition in the Nation Dean’s List: 1996
Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Scholastic Excellence in Torts
American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Procedure II
Recognized in Who’s Who of American Women and 2,000 Notable American Women
Law School Participant in Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, ATLA
Intra-Mural Mock Trials
Mock Trial Team Winner TJSL
Ms. Cotman, owner and president of ARC IP Law, PC, brings a broad range of education and experience to the table. Her professional hands-on approach incorporates each client’s unique needs and perspective into her evaluation and assessment of what is necessary to build and protect a successful business and intellectual property portfolio. Ms. Cotman’s approach inspires confidence from her clients.
Since becoming an attorney in 1997, Ms. Cotman has made thousands of court appearances, successfully representing clients before the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO), the United States District Court and Superior Court. She has handled a wide variety of intellectual property matters, including patent litigation, licensing agreements, copyright, trade secret matters, inter partes review of patents, enforcement and anti-counterfeit before the international trade commission, and enforcement of intellectual property rights through customs. With more than 18 years of litigation experience, Ms. Cotman has also represented clients in trademark, copyright, patent, business litigation and dispute resolution. Her clients span all industries from medical device companies, service organizations, and fashion and range from startups to well established entities.
Ms. Cotman is licensed to practice law in California before all state courts, United States District Court (federal courts) in the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts; the Supreme Court of the State of California; the U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, the Fourth District Court of Appeal; and United States District Court.
In addition to her dedication and commitment to her firm and clients, as the female owner of a boutique intellectual property law firm in La Jolla, California, Ms. Cotman is committed to community involvement. Ms. Cotman has held the positions of President, board member, and social committee member in the La Jolla Bar Association in the past, and currently a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the Lawyer’s Club of San Diego. Serving on the board of Lawyers Club from 2015-2018, she has been co-chair of the Professional Advancement Committee (2015-16), co-chair of the Policy and Bylaws Committee (2016-17) and is actively engaged as a mentor. In addition she serves on a number of additional committees with the Lawyers Club of San Diego, including the annual dinner, champagne and chocolate, bench bar, networking, leadership development, diversity, reproductive rights and women’s advocacy, membership development and equality and action committees. Lawyers Club San Diego provides resources for advancing women in law and society, and is committed to various charitable organizations that further women in society, Ms. Cotman also serves pro bono as a Temporary Judge in the San Diego Superior Court Small Claims and Traffic Divisions.