Maritza Kidd
Academic and Professional Credentials
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Venezuela 1991, J. D.
Procedure Law Specialization, Universidad Central de Venezuela 1998
Admitted to the California State Bar
Registered Patent Attorney, Venezuela.
Admitted to the Venezuelan Bar Association
Founder and first Vice President of Venezuelan Association of Procedural Law
Background and Experience
Ms. Kidd has worked in the intellectual property field since 1991, in Venezuela and later in California. Her experience has given her a broad understanding of the process and tools needed to prosecute patents and trademarks. She has a demonstrated track record in the US, helping intellectual property firms improve their ability to deliver quality services.
Her practice in intellectual property law, includes U.S. and foreign patent prosecution with an emphasis on medical devices and treatment systems, trademark prosecution, patent landscape searches, investment and transactional due diligence, and other agreements. Ms. Kidd joined Vista IP Law Group, LLP in 2006 as an Associate, where she continues her dedication to excellence in intellectual property law.
Ms. Kidd helped successfully transition a major intellectual property portfolio from one law firm to Bingham McCutchen LLP, in 2002. She assisted partners with patent and trademark prosecution, maintained client records, and handled foreign patent prosecution matters. During her tenure at Bingham McCutchen, she became a member of the California State Bar.
In 1994, Ms. Kidd (Couto) was a founding partner of Couto, Baudin & Associates, a law firm specializing in intellectual property law and corporate law issues. Ms. Kidd, her partners, and associates provided patent and trademark prosecution and litigation services. While working in the legal system in Venezuela, Ms. Kidd founded the Venezuelan Association of Procedural Law and became its first Vice President. The association held training sessions and seminars for attorneys, teaching how to avoid pitfalls when dealing with Venezuela's Civil-based legal system. High-ranking judges, who were members of the association, trained hundreds of attorneys. Prior to this, Ms. Kidd served as a corporate attorney for Periodico El Mirador, a Venezuelan newspaper, in 1992. During this time she prepared and maintained corporate legal documents, including licenses, contracts, stock agreements, and intellectual property portfolios. She also advised the board of directors on legal matters relating to the corporation and its intellectual property.