Suzanne Underwald joined Dow Lohnes in 1995. She is a partner in the firm’s Media and Information Technologies group where she represents major entertainment and media companies, including those in the cable and telecommunications industries, on intellectual property, programming, and sports sponsorship matters. Sue’s practice includes drafting and negotiating licensing and distribution agreements with a focus on cable affiliation agreements, digital media distribution contracts, and technology licenses. In addition to being one of the principal outside attorneys for several cable operators in negotiating their network affiliation agreements, Sue represents companies in the formation of strategic cable television and entertainment joint ventures, including acting as the lead intellectual property and content distribution attorney representing Harpo in the creation of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network; Hasbro in its purchase of a 50 percent stake in Discovery Kids Network; and Cox Communications in its venture with Scripps Networks for Travel Channel.
Sue also counsels clients on a broad range of issues related to copyright, right of publicity, and online privacy, and assists clients in clearing rights to content and programming for their publications, websites, and other media products. In addition, she regularly counsels clients on the availability and registration of trademarks and service marks and prosecutes applications for registration of trademarks and service marks through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Sue earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and her bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband, Carl Peterson.