In two years the Internet Law Center will celebrate its 20th year. This year, however, the firm is celebrating a somewhat bittersweet milestone — our first retirement. After fifteen years of helping this firm as a legal assistant with a specialty in trademark filings, Raun MacKinnon Burnham has taken her final bow.
According to SevenReflections.com, the name Raun means: “You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.” That certainly describes Raun.
A native of greater Philadelphia, she spent her younger years traveling and performing as a folk singer, folk-rock singer, and, ultimately, as a singer-songwriter. During this time, she toured with concert groups, played college and university concerts, and toured in small clubs, as well as doing studio work. After she married her husband Jerry, the two toured for six years together.
A promotion for a 2011 show Raun did in Michigan stated: “Raun has worked] with John Prince, Steve Godman, Michael Johnson, Chubby Checker, Jane Olivor, Hall & Oates, The Mamas & the Papas, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Jerry Jeff Walker [and] Yes. Raun MacKinnon is a living legend.”
In 1988, she and Jerry relocated to Los Angeles, where she fell victim to a great tragedy. She began her 30-plus-year career in the legal industry working at LA powerhouse Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. In 2007, she joined online gaming studio Meteor Games, whom I represented, as their legal coordinator. Meteor Games, however, struggled and in 2009, Raun was included in the first wave of layoffs. She called me that day and the firm has been thrilled that she has been on-board ever since.
After a few years, she and Jerry moved north to a small town across the Puget Sound from Seattle.
She has been a great help as this firm has grown, handling a variety of projects with diligence, patience, and grace – especially with trademark filings. In addition, during the inaugural season of Cyber Law and Business Report, Raun was our first guest to appear to explain her use of the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to fund her “Pocket Mass,” CD, which was a musical mass for chorus and light instrumentation.
We will certainly miss working with a “living legend” but we offer Ruan and Jerry this Irish toast:
May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed,
and may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.
Much happiness to you and Jerry in retirement.