Kyle Anne Citrynell has a national litigation and transactional practice in the areas of arts, entertainment, 

media, publishing, and technology, and intellectual property law. Kyle has litigated copyright, trademark, 

trade dress, trade secret and patent matters, and cases involving business torts and unfair competition, 

as well as employment and products liability. She has worked with for-profit and tax-exempt 

organizations from formation and as corporate counsel and in the negotiation and memorialization of a 

wide variety of licensing, merchandising, distribution and franchising transactions for inventors, artists, 

film and event producers, performers, musicians, authors, magazine, book and website publishers, 

software and multimedia creators, and radio and television stations, among others. 

Kyle has written and lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally, in her areas of practice 

concentration, including as a contributor to Louisville's business newspaper, Business First, and Audience 

magazine. 

Kyle graduated from Duke University (B.A. '77; J.D. '80) and came to Louisville in 1980 to work with the 

Kentucky Arts Commission and Fund for the Arts to establish Professional Services to the Arts which 

provided legal, accounting, banking and insurance services to artists and arts groups.

• Litigated and managed over 50 copyright infringement cases on behalf of an internationally recognized sculptor against major retailers, catalog companies, and importers.
• Litigated and managed over 14 copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of high-end, popular jewelry design company against retailers, wholesalers, and importers.
• Represented plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets, interference with contracts and prospective business advantage, deceptive trade practices, and unfair competition.
• Represented plaintiffs and defendants in products liability cases involving industrial and medical devices.
• Represented plaintiffs and defendants in technology cases involving software and website design, development and contract issues.
• Filed and prosecuted over 700 trademark applications, and represented petitioners and respondents in opposition and cancellation proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
• Acted as domestic representative for foreign applicants and law firms on behalf of their United States trademark applications.

Recognition

• Recognized as one of 2019 and 2023's "20 People to Know in Law" by Louisville Business First
• Named in Louisville Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Louisville in Copyright/Trademark, Information technology and Media law, 2016
• Named in Kentucky Super Lawyers Magazine in the area of Intellectual Property, Business Litigation, Business/Corporate, 2013-2014
• Named in Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine in the area of Corporate Counsel, 2008
• Named in Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine in the area of Intellectual Property, 2007
• Kentucky Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Recognition 2014–2015, 2011-2012, 2002-2003 and 1998-1999
• Recipient, A.B. Duke Scholarship

Presentations

• Enforcing Copyrights, Practicing Law Institute (PLI), 2021-2023
• "Identifying and Protecting Intellectual Property Assets”: New Venture Seminar, College of Business, University of Louisville, 2012
• Introduction to Visual Communications, Kentucky Community & Technical College System, 2012
• The Food for Thought Lecture Series-The University of the Arts (Philadelphia), 2011
• "A Primer for Recognizing and Protecting Intellectual Property – Copyrights, Trademarks and Trade Secrets”

              o   Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NEW), 2011

             o   Mid-South Sculpture Alliance 2017, 2018, and 2019

             o   Louisville Area Fiber & Textile Artists (LFTA), 2011

             o   Louisville Visual Art Association, 2009

             o   MBA Program, Bellarmine University, 2009

             o   MFA Program University of Kentucky, 2010

             o   Women Who Write Conference, 2010

             o   The Food for Thought Lecture Series-The University of the Arts (Philadelphia), 2011

• "Copyright Issues in Public Art”, Ed Hamilton – Morgan Professor Seminar, University of Louisville, Department of Fine Arts, 2011
• "The Transformation of Fair Use: A Survey of Recent Cases”, Defense Research Institute, 2010
• “The Crossover of Intellectual Property and Estate Planning and Administration”, Louisville Bar Association, 2012
• "30 Years as a Intellectual Property Attorney”, Arts Professions, University of Kentucky, 2009
• "Possession is Nine Tenths: Build Your Intellectual Property Portfolio", Louisville Graphic Design Association, 2007
• "Inventory, Register, Police, Enforce—Getting Ready for a Knock Off Invasion”, Buyer’s Market of American Craft, Philadelphia, 2006
• "Jurisdiction, Declaratory Actions and the Fine Art of Forum Shopping", Defense Research Institute Commercial Litigation Seminar, 2002
• "Introduction to Copyright Law and Lexicon", Lorman Education Services, 2001
• "Cooperation to Compete - Cross Border Solutions to Borderless Commerce", Internet and E-Commerce Conference, Association Compagnia Delle Opere, Saronno, Italy, 2000
• "Trade Secrets: Recognizing and Avoiding 'Abandoning' Disclosures", Defense Research Institute Annual Meeting, 1998
• University of Louisville Independent Study Instructor, The Law and The Arts, Spring Semester, 1981

Publications

• “Brain Candy Kyle A. Citrynell”, PURE UNCUT CANDY | Louisville’s All-inclusive Art Browser – April 2013 Issue
• "Spot Light Kyle Citrynell”, Leo Weekly Arts & Entertainment Guide 2012, August, 2012
• "Asset Protection: Intellectual Property is a Booming Practice Area for Law Firms as Businesses' Needs Grow", Business First of Louisville, March, 2007
• "Graphic Design Program to Cover Copyright, Other Issues", Business First of Louisville, February, 2007
• "A Dilemma in Sponsor Liability: Trademark v. Tort", Defense Research Institute, The Business Suit, 2002
• Copyrighting Culture, Louisville Lawyer, Spring, 1984
• Copyright Law, West's Federal Practice Manual, Vol. 4, Supp., 1986
• Federal Communications Commission, West's Federal Practice Manual, Vol. 3, Rev. 2d Ed.

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Louisville Bar Association
• Legal Netlink Alliance: Executive Committee (2006-Present) Chair, Global Meetings (London, 2019, New Orleans 2021) Member, Joint Venture Committee (2021-2023)
• Defense Research Institute: Member, Commercial Litigation Committee, Commercial Litigation Diversity Subcommittee, Women in the Law Committee: 6th Circuit Review Editor for the Defense Research Institute Commercial Litigation publication, The Business Suit
• Louisville Visual Art Association: Board of Directors (2003-2009,) Executive Committee (2006-2008,) and Chair, Art Auction (2006-2007)
• Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NEW): Core Team (2011-Present)
• ART FM, Inc.: Board of Directors (2012-Present)
• Speed Art Museum: Board of Governors (2011-2017)
• Louisville Orchestra Audience Association: Board of Directors, Vice President (1983-1984)
• Afterimages Repertory Dance Company: Board of Directors (1983-1995)
• Kentucky Citizens for the Arts: Board of Directors (1981-2005)

Admissions and Courts

• Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit 
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court District of Colorado
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. of Ohio

Education

• Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina (B.A., Public Policy Studies, 1977; J.D., 1980)

Practice Areas

• Arts
• Entertainment
• Media and Publishing
• Technology
• Intellectual Property
• Copyright
• Trademark
• Trade Secret
• Unfair Competition
• Licensing
• Merchandising
• Franchising and Distribution
• Complex Litigation
• Business Torts
• Products Liability

Languages

• French
• Italian