About Sarah J. Rhoades
In my practice I assist clients in securing and enforcing their intellectual property rights in the U.S. and international jurisdictions. I counsel clients on developing strategies for protecting their IP assets and then represent them in patent, copyright, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, and related business matters. I also provide IP-related contract preparation and licensing services. I serve as local counsel for intellectual property disputes, particularly patent, trademark and copyright disputes and past experience includes a Markman Hearing before the Honorable Carolyn Ostby in the District of Montana, Great Falls Division. I have also represented clients during State and Federal jury trials in Montana.
I am a Registered Patent Attorney and am admitted to practice in the State Courts of Montana, the Federal Courts for the District of Montana, and United States Tax Court.
I am a co-organizer of IP Day in MONTANA a multi-day seminar now entering its fifth year. I am a founding member and Inaugural Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Montana. As part of my ongoing efforts and initiatives as Past-Chair, I began the Explorations Series featuring educational and professional development opportunities on various intellectual property topics. I have presented several Community Copyright Registration Workshops in Missoula, a free presentation created in an effort to help authors and artists secure their legal rights. I am also among the Rocky Mountain School of Photography PROFESSIONAL INTENSIVE instructors.
In addition to these activities, I have presented a number of continuing legal education seminars, serving as a panelist and presenter for the Inland Empire Intellectual Property Institute (IEIPI), at Gonzaga Law School, and for the State Bar of Montana’s Annual Meeting. I am a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the American Bar Association (ABA), the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section, the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the Western Montana Bar Association. I am currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee for the Solo, Small and General Practice Section of the ABA.
I was born and raised on the Dearborn and Missouri Rivers in northcentral Montana. I attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana and the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. I received a Bachelor's degree in Biology with an Environmental Emphasis and then a Juris Doctorate. While still attending law school, I passed the patent bar and became a registered agent before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.