Profile in Brief-- Difference maker Robyn S. Lederman

By Jeanine Matlow Legal News Robyn S. Lederman clearly enjoys her day job. The senior trademark counsel at Cantor Colburn LLP in Troy, an intellectual property boutique, works with clients such as Fox Entertainment Group, MySpace Inc., and Mattel. In her spare time, she is busy helping others through a variety of nonprofits. Lederman realized she wanted to be an attorney while at Michigan State University. "I was drawn to political science courses and law school seemed to be a natural extension of that path," she says. When she went to the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University in New York, she says, "I was fortunate to have teachers that included the author of the reference treatise in the field of copyright, the Commissioner of the NBA, and the co-founder of the Innocence Project." She would practice commercial litigation with a large New York City law firm and have her own family law practice upon returning to Michigan, before finding her niche. Lederman, who also worked as a trademark attorney in Israel, was appointed to serve on the Famous and Well-Known Marks Committee of the International Trademarks Association (INTA), where she has been actively involved in that regard since 2008. The attorney, who resides in West Bloomfield, is married with three children; Dean, Eli and Noa. Her favorite pastimes include yoga, walking nature trails, watching her children play sports, and reading a good book. She currently serves as executive board member and chair of the Missions Committee for the Michigan Israel Business Bridge (MIBB), which aims, in part, to create jobs and diversify the economy in Michigan. "Hopefully, this will keep our kids and other Michigan talent in our state," Lederman says. "We strive to tap into the innovation and industries coming out of Israel and into the North American market by introducing Michigan as a place to set up their U.S. arm, whether for sales and marketing, manufacturing and/or partnerships and collaborations with Michigan companies, hospitals and/or universities." Ron Perry, director of business development for MIBB, says Lederman has taken on a variety of tasks for the organization. "Robyn brings a unique and admirable level of commitment to this non-profit organization," he says. "She is the cream of the crop. She is very, very passionate about what she does. This stems from a real desire to see the economy of Michigan change. She wants her kids and other kids to find it beneficial to stay in Michigan." Lederman also was appointed to serve on the Jewish Education Division of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, which determines financial allocations from federation to the Detroit area Jewish day schools. In addition, she is a committee member of the JCC Day Camp, working to make sure the day camp is available to all members of the community, including those with disabilities. "We have hosted Israeli counselors in our house for the last four summers," Lederman says. So, how does she manage to find enough hours in the day? "Somehow the busier I am the more effective and efficient I am with my time," Lederman says. "I love giving back to the community and getting to know our local organizations and the people involved. It is not necessary to give money donations to promote and affect philanthropy. There are so many people that I now consider friends and colleagues who I would have never met through any other channels," she says. Lederman says her work also doesn't hurt as a marketing and networking tool for her profession, although that is a much more difficult return to measure. More importantly, she says, "I also like to think that my kids see it as a good example of how to live one's best life." Published: Wed, Apr 14, 2010

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