Bio
Professor Emily Burns is a Visiting Professor at UC Law SF, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Law at Santa Clara University School of Law. She has taught various IP-related courses at UC Law SF since 2009.
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 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. She one day aspires to be a Jungle Cruise Skipper.