Of Counsel
Cara advises entrepreneurs, startups, and companies on trademark, patent, and broader intellectual property matters. She helps clients build, protect, and manage IP portfolios that support their brands, products, and business objectives.
Her trademark practice includes trademark clearance, selection, U.S. and international registration, portfolio expansion and maintenance, proper trademark use, opposition and cancellation proceedings, and enforcement. Cara also assists clients with monitoring unauthorized use, counterfeit product takedown requests, cease and desist letters, and settlement discussions. Her experience includes managing a global consumer product company’s portfolio of more than 1,800 trademarks.
As a registered patent attorney, Cara prepares and prosecutes utility and design patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Her patent work experience includes surgical techniques and medical devices, such as surgical robots, stapling systems, electrosurgical instruments, suturing devices, and clip appliers. She also advises on invention harvesting, prior art analysis, patent portfolio due diligence, license agreements, claim strategy, and portfolio development.
Cara also counsels clients on related commercial agreements, including privacy policies, terms of use, service level agreements, sponsorship agreements, and sweepstakes and contest rules.
Cara serves as a mentor through the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Success in Law School Mentoring Program and as an Advisory Network Member for Penn State University’s Propel Business New Venture & Innovation Program.
Explore recent thought leadership, news, and other updates.
At the 2025 Estate Law Institute, hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, McNees attorneys Alison Smith, Kendra McGuire, Courtney Wentzel, and Cara Mia Pinto will join the region’s judges, attorneys, and professionals for two days of presentations and discussions on the strategies and challenges in trusts and estates, guardianships, and other fiduciary topics in Philadelphia, […]
The 2026 Super Lawyers rankings recognize nine attorneys in their Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists for Pennsylvania. The attorneys span across four of the firm’s Pennsylvania offices and six practice areas. Since 1991, Super Lawyers has recognized attorneys nationwide across areas of practice, basing their Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists on peer recognition […]
This article is based on insights shared by attorneys Cara Pinto and Alison Smith during their presentation at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Estate Law Institute on November 13, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pa. Estate planning is often viewed as a process that ends at death, with assets transferred and administration completed through probate or trust administration. For many forms of […]
This article is based on insights shared by attorneys Cara Pinto and Alison Smith during their presentation at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Estate Law Institute on November 13, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pa. Many of today’s most valuable and sensitive assets exist primarily in digital form and may include communications such as emails, digital media such as photos, operational materials […]
Advises inventors, entrepreneurs, and companies on patent, trademark, and trade secret matters. Supports IP strategy, portfolio management, and commercialization.
Advises companies and individuals on intellectual property protection and commercial contracts. Focuses on trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters.
Represents businesses on IP protection and licensing. Advises on trademark, copyright, franchising, technology, and artificial intelligence matters.
Supports attorneys and clients in intellectual property matters, namely, trademark and copyright matters. She works on applications, maintenance, and searches.
