Sara Gates

Sara Gates is a Senior Managing Associate in Dentons' Intellectual Property and Technology group. Her primary practice area is Intellectual Property Law, with a focus on intellectual property matters and complex commercial litigation.

She litigates high-profile cases involving claims of copyright, trademark and trade dress infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, false advertising, defamation, and a variety of other contractual and tort claims before federal and state courts and arbitration forums. She also defends clients in class action matters. Her practice spans a variety of fields, including entertainment, media, publishing, retail and luxury goods, securities, and technology.

In addition, she regularly counsels clients on intellectual property matters, including copyright registrations, prepublication review and clearance, recordations and termination notices, and trademark searches, filings and responses to office actions.

Before joining Dentons, she co-authored seven amicus briefs filed on behalf of industry organisations in cases before the US Supreme Court and several US Courts of Appeals. She also worked as a law clerk for the General Counsel of the US Copyright Office and, prior to law school, was a writer and editor at HuffPost. While at law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal.

Her recognition includes being recognised in Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, and Technology Law, 2027; Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Patent Law, 2024–2027; World Trademark Review 1000 – The World's Leading Trademark Professionals, Recommended for Next Generation, New York, 2026; and selected to the "Rising Stars" list, New York Super Lawyers magazine, 2020–2024.

She is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), serving on the Copyright Committee (2026–2027), Brands and Innovation Committee (2024–2025) and Young Practitioners Committee (2020–2021, 2022–2023). She is also a member of the Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA), the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).

She holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law (2017) and a BA from New York University (2012).