Michelle Sara King Joins FairWinds Partners as Vice President of Policy and External Relations

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FairWinds Partners Wednesday announced that Michelle Sara King has joined the firm as Vice President of Policy and External Relations.

King, who most recently directed government relations for the International Trademark Association (INTA), will be responsible for all external relationships including with technology, policy, and regulatory bodies, and will advise and advocate directly for FairWinds clients on issues critical to their domain name strategies.
 
"FairWinds is extremely fortunate to have Michelle join us," said President and CEO Nao Matsukata. "Her experience, expertise, and her well-established industry credentials solidify our ability to serve our clients during this critical period of Internet expansion.
 
"Michelle will keep a close eye on ICANN developments that impact our clients and will provide a global perspective on the changing regulatory environment as more governments weigh in with their respective views."
 
"I am passionate about policy issues and excited for the opportunity to continue my work within the Internet and intellectual property spheres," said King. "I look forward to helping FairWinds provide its clients with policy expertise and working with external partners on the development and growth of policy in these areas, which are central to our global economy."
 
For over seven years, King represented INTA in Washington, D.C. on all intellectual property issues, including trade and economic investment, intellectual property enforcement, Internet oversight and governance, and trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Free Trade Agreements.
 
She worked directly with policymakers on Capitol Hill and in state governments to draft, analyze, and support trademark legislation and served as liaison to key agencies and offices, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR), and the Departments of State and Commerce.
 
King also serves as co-chair of the Women in Government Relations, Telecommunications, Technology and Intellectual Property Task Force (WGR), and is the immediate past chair of the American Society of Association Executives Government Relations Section Council.
 
Before INTA, King worked for the American College of Nurses-Midwives and the American Association of Health Plans. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Bryn Mawr College and received her law degree from the American University-Washington College of Law.