Headshot of Cassandra LaRae-Perez

Cassandra LaRae-Perez

Cassandra LaRae-Perez joined the Gravel & Shea corporate team in 2018 as Special Counsel after practicing with another prominent Vermont law firm for nearly 14 years. At Gravel & Shea, Cassandra’s practice is dedicated to food & beverage and intellectual property laws. In collaboration with the firm’s full-service team, she provides guidance on a complete suite of legal needs tailored for New England’s food and beverage producers, ranging from general business issues such as labor and employment questions, litigation and real estate to topics specific to the food industry, including FDA or USDA and Vermont state licensing and regulatory compliance, product recalls, certifications, labeling, distribution, co-packing, nondisclosure and other agreements, and manufacturing practice requirements. Cassandra also manages an extensive international trademark portfolio for companies inside and outside the food and beverage industry, helping her clients protect their intellectual property in the United States and around the globe.

Cassandra is also an adjunct professor at the University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law where she teaches trademark law.

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Education

  • Boston University School of Law, J.D. 2002, cum laude
  • University of California, San Diego, B.A. 1991, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts (2002)
  • Vermont (2003)
  • New Hampshire (2009)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont (2010)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire (2010)

Membership & Affiliations

  • Board Member, Vermont Specialty Food Association
  • Member, Food and Drug Law Institute
  • Executive Committee, American Inns of Court, Central Vermont Chapter (Present)
  • President, American Inns of Court, Central Vermont Chapter (2015-2016; 2020-2022)
  • Program Chair and Counselor, American Inns of Court, Central Vermont Chapter (2013-2015)
  • Committee Member, Program Awards Committee, American Inns of Court (2013-2015)
  • Committee Secretary, Vermont State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (2012-2019)
  • Board Member, Vermont Asylum and Immigration Advocates/Vermont Refugee Assistance (2004-2014)
  • Member, Chittenden County, Vermont, New Hampshire and American Bar Associations

Honors

  • Victor J. Garo Public Service Award, awarded as alumna by Boston University School of Law (2010)

Additional Education

  • Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, FSMA PCQI
  • Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Diploma Candidate
  • Wine Scholars Guild, French Wine Scholar
  • University of Burgundy, Center of International French Studies, France
  • Leiden University, Law School, Netherlands
  • Birmingham University, England

Presentations

  • Co-packing Contracts in the Specialty Food Industry, Panel Moderator, Vermont Specialty Food Association Spring Annual Meeting (June 2022)
  • Intellectual Property Basics, Webinar, Center for Women In Enterprise (January 2021)
  • Food and Beverage Regulatory Update, Vermont Specialty Food Association, Fall Annual Meeting (October 2020)
  • Crisis Ready Recordkeeping for Vermont Food Producers, Vermont Specialty Food Association, Spring Annual Meeting (July 2020)
  • COVID-ERA Financial Assistance for Vermont Food Producers, Vermont Specialty Food Association, Spring Annual Meeting (July 2020)
  • SBA Relief Options for Vermont Attorneys, Vermont Bar Association and Vermont Association for Justice Joint Webinar (April 2020)
  • Paycheck Protection Program and the CARES Act, Webinar (April 2020)
  • Cannabis in the Specialty Food Industry, Panel Discussion, Vermont Specialty Food Association, Spring Annual Meeting (June 2019)
  • Food and Beverage Law, Vermont Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting (March 2019)
  • CBD in Food and Beverages – FDA, TTB and USPTO Regulatory Status, Vermont Cannabis Solutions Industry Meeting (May 2019)
  • Food and Beverage Recalls – Make Like a Scout and Be Prepared, Webinar (April 2019)
  • Impact of Blockchain Enabling Regulation in Vermont on Food Safety, Webinar, University of Vermont Extension (November 2018)