Kristen Roberts The Paleo Lawyer

Karen Pendergrass Business September 9, 2015 | 0

Working tirelessly to protect the intellectual properties of her clients, Kristen Roberts, The Paleo Lawyer, is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Trestle Law is widely believed to be some sort of advanced life form. Her encyclopedic knowledge of intellectual property law in addition to her flawless opera voice can lead to no other conclusion; she must be an alien life form sent to Earth to help small businesses, like the Paleo Foundation, flourish.

Thanks for taking the time from your busy interplanetary schedule to meet with us on Earth, Kristen. Can you tell us a little more about yourself, how you came to be a lawyer and your practice?

I didn’t really go to law school to be a lawyer. I know that sounds crazy, but I started off convinced I was going to be a famous singer. I needed to know how to negotiate my own contracts, so naturally, law school was a necessity. I also worked for a record label doing licensing.

I didn’t like that I didn’t have any say over the terms of the agreements, so I also thought law school would be helpful if I ever decided to work for a record label again. Once I started working in the “entertainment industry,” I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I much prefer working with small-medium businesses and business owners. It feels more natural to me and allows me to connect with them on a more personal level.
What other associations are you a part of? Can you talk to us about them and what you do for them?

I am involved locally with a couple of lawyer’s organizations, specifically, Lawyers Club of San Diego. Our mission is to advance the status of women in law and society. I’m a member of several committees, including the Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee.

I’m pretty passionate about closing the wage gap between women and men, especially in professions like the law. Additionally, I’m a board member of my law school’s alumni association board of directors, and I teach intellectual property as an adjunct professor at my alma mater.

What inspired you to specialize in intellectual property rights?

Well, I’m not a patent attorney. Just want to be sure that’s clear. I wound up really falling in love with trademarks because branding has always fascinated me. There’s always something new happening in the law, and it’s sort of the one area where law and creativity merge. Plus, I love seeing my client’s brands out there in the marketplace. I always support my clients whenever I can.

In addition to intellectual property, what other legal services do you specialize in?

I specialize in general counsel service for all businesses. My largest client has over 2,500 employees. I handle employment agreements, disputes, etc., as well as various business transactions, contract reviews, etc, My background is in general civil litigation, so that helped me become a better transactional attorney.

How did you come to find the Paleo community, or did it find you?

Actually, I discovered the lifestyle with the help of my younger sister, Mary. She is all about science and really liked that the Paleo lifestyle was supported with scientific reasoning, not just the typical *eat less* approach. My introduction to the business owners boils down to my first client, Steph Gaudreau, owner of Stupid Easy Paleo.

To say that she’s been a supporter is a gross understatement. She encouraged me to start my practice and really build it in the Paleo community. I don’t know what I’d be doing without Steph. She’s also one of my dearest friends.

After working with the Paleo community, did you find that you started eating clean as well?

I actually got into working with Paleo businesses, because I was already living the Paleo lifestyle. I started out doing a 30-day challenge, and never looked back. I also have been CrossFitting for about 4 years, so my foray into this area of the law was really natural. It helped that I knew a lot of the people already.

How many Paleo businesses are you currently representing?

Well over 20.

Talk to us a little about what you do for the Paleo Foundation.

I help the Paleo Foundation protect and police its intellectual property portfolio, mainly its trademarks and certification marks. I like to think of myself as a resource to all of my clients, helping in any way I can. I want my clients to do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call me.

How can we, the Paleo community, help you with your practice?

I’m always looking for more great clients in the Paleo community. Honestly, by helping you all, I feel like I’m helping others become healthier, happier people! My next goal is to start representing athletes in the Paleo world. Endorsement deals, representation agreements, things like that.

If it’s okay, can I ride on your spaceship? No pressure or anything.

You can most definitely ride on my spaceship. But it’s really a Prius.

Any words of wisdom, words to live by?

I like to live by the words of Walt Disney since it pertains to small business owners (including myself): “You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”