Professor Emily Burns is Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, and a Visiting Professor at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She has taught various IP-related courses for over 15 years.
A true trademark geek at heart, Professor Burns has practiced trademark law for over 20 years, most recently as Senior Trademark Counsel for YouTube, where her practice included clearance and prosecution of trademarks domestically and internationally, offensive and defensive trademark disputes in a wide array of tribunals, instituting anti-counterfeit protections with customs authorities worldwide, and overseeing numerous high profile global rebranding projects. Professor Burns also has strong intermediary liability expertise, applying concepts such as parody, commentary and criticism, and First Amendment protection of artistic works in advising on content moderation and content clearance issues.
Prior to joining YouTube, Professor Burns was a member of the Litigation and Trademark practice groups at Cooley LLP.
Professor Burns has participated in many formal and informal mentorship programs, focused mainly on working with law students and early career attorneys who are underrepresented in the tech and legal industries. She has been a proud mentor in the Tech Edge JD program since its inception.
Professor Burns received her law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she served as Lead Articles Editor of the San Diego Law Review, and interned for Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
B.A. San Diego State University
Intellectual Property
Content Moderation
Civil Litigation
Admitted to the State Bar of California
Member, California Lawyers Association
Committee Member, International Trademark Association
World Trademark Review Team of the Decade (with Google, 2016)
World Trademark Review Industry Awards, North America Team of the Year (with Google, 2011)
World Trademark Review Industry Awards Internet and Telecommunications Team of the Year (with Google 2015, 2018)
World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017)
Member, Legal Writing Institute